Are Igwes elected, or chosen by oracles?

cris-ngige:
Are Igwes elected, or chosen by oracles?

The answer
https://www.nairaland.com/950035/king-making-igbo-lands

Most 'Igwe' (of which there are thousands now) pay for the title or is hereditary since most of the positions (over 90% of them) stem from British intrusion into Igbo culture (around 100 years ago). They were warrant chiefs who were imposed by the British and collected tax for them and did other bidding. Because of their history, and because of the way 'kingship' is in Igboland, they actually don't hold as much authority as kings from other cultures do. For example they can't make decisions for the community without general consensus, and they aren't seen as any superior to any of their kinsmen. The only one that I'm sure that is said to be chosen by an oracle is the eze Nri.

Thanks to you two for your answers, but, do the elected ones involve religious rituals? Or is it just elections that are involved.

Thanks to you two for your answers. But, do the elected igweships involve some form of religious rites? Or is it just elections that are involved?

There are no elected Igwe. It's either someone buys the title or "inherits" it, depending on the community in question. The rites that go with acquiring the Igwe title are mostly economic, but there may be some religious elements involved (again, depending on the community in question). I don't believe there is any set standard for acquiring Igweship.

The term "Igweship" is not universally accepted in Igboland just like "Obiship". We know traditional rulers as Eze while different communities have different terms for them. In my community it is "Ezeigwe".

Ezes are custodian of the culture and contrary to what some people here have said, most of the warrant Chiefs appointed by the British were from the head family of the village groups who were usually the "Ofo" or "Oho" holders. They just got converted to Eze and their authorities raised from mere moderators to decision takers.

Most 'Igweship' has nothing to do with traditional authority but everything to do with cold-hard cash.

In my hometown of Umuoji Igwe is chosen but you have to meet the elusive criterias....Be educated,have good name,be well connected. Your family name must not have a single stain or else you are blacklisted ! However,the Eze Ani is strictly hereditary from father to son. Nobody fhucks with that one!

The system is different, depending on which community you go to.

In Onitsha, the Obiship is elective, but restricted to Umuezechima village. Having said that, there are about seven hidden Obis that reign alongside the main one.

In Oko, the Ekwueme family has inherited the Igweship but through elections.

In Nnewi, the Ezeship is passed down in the Orizu family, from father to eldest son. Nnewi also has several Obiships that are also hereditary.