Collectivising within the maternal framework: Prayer Warriors Forum of Rumuekpe

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how the Prayer Warriors of Rumuekpe, Rivers State, Nigeria, a women human rights defenders group demonstrated their ability to contribute to the peace process despite the patriarchal structures that impede them and conditions of extreme violence. The women saw the need to adopt methods that were in their feminine domain and therefore framed their collective action as maternal. Motherhood is a cultural role already assigned to them, and they decided to utilise it to prevent backlash and victimisation from men in the community. Primary and secondary data sources have been used in this study. Primary data included field notes and 30 interviews with men and women in Rumuekpe. Secondary data included books/book chapters, essays, journal articles, and research reports relevant to the theme of this paper. Findings show that women played an important role in the peace process. The paper demonstrates that amid gendered limitations and obstacles arising from conditions of extreme violence, women find their voices even if it is through processes like collectivising within a maternal framework, which aligns with the stereotypical idea that women are primarily mothers.