%0 Journal Article %T (Re)Venturing into the Public Sphere: Historical Sociology of ¡®August Meeting¡¯ among Igbo Women in Nigeria %A A Odoemene %J Africa Development %D 2011 %I %X August meetings, the annual mothers¡¯ congresses held in the month of August, witness massive home-coming of ¡®Igbo women¡¯ to their marital rural hometowns, where they unite with their rural-based colleagues for community development purposes. However, they have of recent delved into the hitherto public sphere domains exclusive to the men-folk. Indeed, these truly typify the rise of women as a social force and their conscious pursuit of development. But, how truly participatory are they? To what extent have they empowered the women-folk in the public sphere? This study articulates the idea of the public sphere within the Igbo context and develops a comprehensive analysis and view of the agency of women¡¯s participation therein, by focusing on their grassroots initiatives and the crucial roles they play in societal development. It analyses the history and evolution of the ¡®August Meeting¡¯, throwing light on its structure, functions and operational modes. It further demonstrates the degree of this meeting¡¯s autonomy from men¡¯s groups, and highlights the factors that inhibit these women in further negotiating a space in the public sphere. It concludes that the ¡®August Meeting¡¯ has a critical mandate in Igbo political affairs and represents the socio-economic and cultural development initiative of women. %U http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ad/article/view/74109