Women, work, woodfuels: energy utilisation patterns in an African city

Christiana Ekanade, University of Ibadan

Despite the vast research on woodfuel consumption by households, not much is known about the fuel’s relative importance to urban women’s economic activities in the face of perennial fossil fuel dislocations. The general picture that emerges from a review of literature is that this cohort’s consumption is so negligible and therefore easily discountenanced by researchers. This study focuses on Urban women‘s changing access to these fuels, constraints affecting consumption and the impact of institutions of restraint on their livelihood. An analysis of primary data generated by focus group discussions, interviews and sample weighing in addition to secondary data suggest woodfuels’ heightened significance to income generation in the wake of governmental calls to reduce consumption. The implications of these are further outlined and add nuance to the growing body of research on this ancient fuel’s modern day role in livelihood strategies.