On a warm afternoon, the ululation, drumming and singing of a choir of two-dozen women can be heard across Gan Gora, a tiny village in Nigeria. ‘We are happy you arrived safely,’ they sing in Hausa, welcoming visitors to the community branch of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Zangon Kataf, Kaduna. One song is from the book of Habakkuk: ‘Oh Lord, how long must I call for help, but you do not listen?’
The Guardian has reported how about 100 women dance regularly, including Rifkatu Dauda Kigbu, 53, hobbling on a fractured knee. This is a weekly meeting of zumunta mata, a fellowship of married women. Their visitors are zumunta mata members from an ECWA in Gonin Gora, a Kaduna suburb.
The first zumunta mata was formed in 1930 to aid women in childbirth. It began a fellowship with millions of members in northern Nigeria, across various denominations. Known for their colourful abayas and singing, the zumunta mata provide spiritual guidance, support during crises, and distribute aid from NGOs.
As Nigeria’s economy struggles and violence intensifies, zumunta mata’s role has expanded. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project estimates at least 2,600 conflict-related deaths took place in Nigeria in 2021. Conflicts over land between Fulani Muslim herdsmen and Christian farmers have exacerbated due to climate change and overpopulation.
The bond within zumunta mata has strengthened. They offer support during crises, manage aid distribution, and provide spiritual and emotional support. Despite challenges, the fellowship maintains a strong support system.
In Gan Gora, meetings provide gospel lessons and testimonies. After dancing, Kigbu advises the women, emphasising dignity and respect. Her husband, Revd Luka Kasai Kigbu, and local pastors express gratitude for the women’s help during a recent farming day.
The women are proud of their support system. Mary Bawa, 68, joined in 1976 and teaches young widows farming skills. Magdalene Israel, 32, recounts escaping a deadly firefight, finding solace in the fellowship.
Despite challenges, zumunta mata remains a beacon of support, faith, and resilience for its members.
Henrietta Blyth, the Chief Executive of Open Doors UK & Ireland, said ‘This is a wonderful example of ‘sisters doing it for themselves’! – it’s something we see happening all over the world in some of the darkest places. Nigeria is, right now, a very dangerous region for Christians, with women and girls especially vulnerable.
‘The love and support these women are offering each other is an example of the church doing what’s it has been put on Earth to do: being a force for hope. This story is an example of why we work tirelessly at Open Doors to help Christian communities stand strong in the face of persecution.’
