I made the comment under a post but got no answer, I thought I'd make a thread so I could get answers directly from Igbo's.

So. Back in secondary school I learned that Igbo people are traditionally Republican, due to their historical belief that Chukwu is the only being that deserves to be bowed down to/submitted to without question. And, for this reason, Igbo hamlets/villages usually had a council of elders that made decisions (typically comprised of important/influential members of society). And that it was for this reason that British indirect rule couldn't work on the Igbo's (as opposed to the Hausa's who had a caste system already in place) because there was no 'king' who had an absolute say over his people.

Then apparently the word 'Eze' is supposed to mean 'king'. (I stand to be corrected) but later I learned on Nairaland that the title Eze Nd'igbo is just a title given to the leader of an Igbo community outside Igboland.

When this whole Nnamdi Kanu saga started, I saw people saying he's a Prince, his father is a king, etc which contradicted my earlier knowledge about Igbo's.

Then we have the Obi of Onitsha.

So my question is, could someone please kind of explain to me how these all relate and where kings actually stand. Are they just ceremonial leaders? Or are there different 'sub ethnic' groups within Igboland with completely different cultures?

KingEbukasBlog Analice107 butterflyl1on johnydon22 bennyann MrPresident1 come and answer this.

4kings:
KingEbukasBlog Analice107 butterflyl1on johnydon22 bennyann MrPresident1 come and answer this.

Gonna reply this tomorrow

4kings:
KingEbukasBlog Analice107 butterflyl1on johnydon22 bennyann MrPresident1 come and answer this.

Ceremonial leaders

KingEbukasBlog:


Ceremonial leaders

Are the positions hereditary or through appointment?

KingEbukasBlog:


Ceremonial leaders

Is it after the arrival of democracy or before that the title of a King became ceremonial? Are there ancient history attached to it or is it a new development? Is there any sort of folk tale on how kings lost relevance? On how the Republican system replaced monarchy in Igboland or have Igbo's always been republican? If they're just ceremonial kings what is the relevance of the throne? The crown? When the topic of the Obi of Onitsha made it to the front page, I saw people bowing to him. Doesn't that contradict the 'no kings in Igboland' I learned earlier?

(Forgive me, I'm just very inquisitive)

johnydon22:


Gonna reply this tomorrow

Eagerly awaiting your response

AnonyNymous:

Is it after the arrival of democracy or before that the title of a King became ceremonial? Are there ancient history attached to it or is it a new development? Is there any sort of folk tale on how kings lost relevance? On how the Republican system replaced monarchy in Igboland or have Igbo's always been republican? If they're just ceremonial kings what is the relevance of the throne? The crown? When the topic of the Obi of Onitsha made it to the front page, I saw people bowing to him. Doesn't that contradict the 'no kings in Igboland' I learned earlier?

(Forgive me, I'm just very inquisitive)

I really don't know exactly . But I think the introduction of a system of goverment, the unification of a country etc normally weaken the authority or power the monarchs have . It's just the same thing everywhere .

johnydon22:


Gonna reply this tomorrow

Still awaiting a detailed response from an Igbo Nairalander