Two women have been inducted as notables for the first time in the history of Canton Kerawa, a chiefdom in the Margui Wandala district of Kolofata Subdivision, Mayo Sava Division, Far North Region.
Kerawa, established in 1900 and sharing borders with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is home to over 20,000 inhabitants. They are primarily engaged in small trade, agriculture, and livestock farming, predominantly from the Madara ethnic group.
Marie Kellou and Fadi Oumaté Mala, a Muslim woman and a Christian woman respectively, were installed as the Chiefdom’s first female notables during a recent ceremony.
The Lamido of Kerawa, Tagama Seïni, said he decided to break the Chiefdom’s long-existing patriarchal tradition in order to fight against illiteracy among the girl children.
“I chose these two women to be inducted into the customary notables of my chiefdom because I am convinced that only women can combat the under-education of young girls,” the traditional ruler said.
“While men provide for the family, women ensure the security and education of the child,” Lamido Tagama Seïni said.
The newly appointed notables have been tasked with addressing challenges such as under-education of young girls, early and forced marriages, and encouraging women to participate in electoral processes.
This move marks a significant departure from tradition, where women were restricted to domestic roles and had limited rights to speak in public.
The induction of a Christian woman into a predominantly Muslim community is seen as a symbol of unity and inclusivity by local authorities.
“By inducting a Christian woman into a predominantly Muslim community I believe that the Lamido wanted to say that Cameroon is one and indivisible,” stated Bouba, the Divisional Officer of Kolofata.
“It is just this living together that we are looking for peace in the world in general and in the northern part from Cameroon in particular. I appreciate this initiative of the Lamido. He will have all the support of the public authorities in this fight against early and forced marriages,” the DO added.
In addition to the induction of women as notables, other innovations within the Chiefdom include the appointment of a young person, Adama Chetima, as the Waziri Prime Minister.
He was tasked with combating drug abuse among youth.
Marie Kellou, one of the newly installed notables, expressed her gratitude and commitment to her new role.
“My name is Marie Kellou. I am a Christian woman. I am honored to be appointed although I am a Christian woman but I find myself in the heart of Muslim women sisters. So this burden, although it is heavy, but I will do my best to convince parents to send their children to school and above all to fight early and forced marriages,” said Kellou.
The ceremony also saw the induction of the Divisional Officer of Kolofata as the representative of the inhabitants of Kerawa in his native village.
