The Monarchy of Nnewi concerns the monarchical head of state of Nnewi, which is a traditional and hereditary monarchy with a tetrarchy system. The Kingdom of Nnewi has been a monarchy since 15th century. [1] Chiefdoms were set up at various dates in the four quarters, but it was naturally in Otolo - the original settlement of Mmaku, the grandfather of Nnewi - that the first chiefdom was established under the reign of Mmaku in 1498. Mmaku's wife was Ifenweugwu and his son, Ikenga. Mmaku was on his death succeeded by Ikenga, who married Ifite and begot a child he named Nnewi. Later, Isu, Ifite and Ichi were begotten. [2]
Until now, the ruling house of Otolo which is as well that of the entire Nnewi is in Nnofo family in Otolo, Nnewi. In the other three quarters of Nnewi, his influence is also felt although there are Obi in Uruagu, Umudim and Nnewichi quarters.
The role of the Monarch is limited to the four quarters of Nnewi, and have no part in the formal governance of the Anambra State. The Monarch and the members of the Royal Family undertake a variety of official, unofficial and other representational duties within Nnewi, Nigeria and abroad. [3]
Since 1477 till date, the List of Igbo monarchs gives a list of Igbo chieftains and kings from their earliest known history up to the current monarch.
Chief Kenneth Onyeneke, Igwe Orizu III became King on 2 June 1963 [4] on the death of his father, Chief Josiah Nnaji, Igwe Orizu II.
Line of succession to the Nnewi Throne | Names of Monarch | DOB | Death | Reign |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | Eze Mmaku | 1477 | 1529 | 1498–1529 |
2nd | Eze Ikenga | 1503 | 1577 | 1529–1577 |
3rd | Eze Nnewi | 1530 | 1607 | 1577–1607 |
4th | Eze Okpala | 1560 | 1629 | 1607–1608 |
5th | Eze Digbo | 1563 | 1635 | 1608–1631 |
6th | Eze Otolo | 1566 | 1639 | 1631–1639 |
7th | Eze Enem | 1598 | 1675 | 1639–1651 |
8th | Eze Nnofo | 1600 | 1685 | 1651–1685 |
9th | Eze Udude | 1625 | 1710 | 1685–1710 |
10th | Eze Agha (Onuo Ora) | 1650 | 1745 | 1710–1745 |
11th | Eze Agha Jnr | 1685 | 1763 | 1745–1747 |
12th | Eze Nnwa | 1701 | 1791 | 1747–1791 |
13th | Eze Oguine | 1740 | 1831 | 1791–1831 |
14th | Eze Chukwu | 1769 | 1840 | 1831–1840 |
15th | Eze Ukwu | 1799 | 1862 | 1840–1862 |
16th | Igwe Okafo | 1830 | 1891 | 1862–1891 |
17th | Eze ifekaibeya Igwe Iwuchukwu | 1855 | 1904 | 1891–1904 |
18th | Eze Ugbonyamba, Igwe Orizu I | 1881 | 1924 | 1904–1924 |
19th | Chief Josiah Nnaji, Igwe Orizu II | 1901 | 1963 | 1924–1962 |
20th | Chief Kenneth Onyeneke, Igwe Orizu III | 1925 | living | 1963- |
Nnewi is a commercial and industrial city in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. It is the second largest city in Anambra state after Onitsha. Nnewi as a metropolitan area has two local government area, which are Nnewi North and Nnewi South, all centred around the Nnewi town. Even Ekwusigo local government area is now part of Nnewi urban area, as urbanization continues to spread from Nnewi to neighbouring communities. The Nnewi town which is the only town in Nnewi North comprises four villages: Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and Nnewichi. Nnewi had been the centre of economics and commerce, being at a time the fastest growing industrial city east of the Niger, being the home of many industries such as The Ibeto Group, the Chicason Group, Cutix Cables, amongst others. The first indigenous car manufacturing plant in Nigeria is located in the city while the first wholly Made-in-Nigeria motorcycle, the 'NASENI M1' was manufactured in Nnewi.
Prince AkwekeAbyssinia Nwafor Orizu (GCON)(; 17 July 1914 – 1999) was a Nigerian Politician, who served as President of the Nigerian Senate from 1963 to early 1966, during the Nigerian First Republic. Orizu was also Acting President of Nigeria from late 1965 until the military coup of January 1966. He was a member of the Nnewi Royal family. His nephew Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III is the current Igwe (King) of Nnewi Kingdom. Nwafor Orizu College of Education in Nsugbe, Anambra State, is named after him.
Alor is one of the seven communities comprising the Idemili South Local Government of Anambra State in the southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is surrounded by seven neighbouring towns, namely Oraukwu, Nnobi, Abatete, Ideani, Uke, Adazi Ani and Nnokwa. Alor has several rivers which names in most cases are derived from the major idol of the village touched by the river – Mmili Ezigbo, Mmili Nwangene, Mmili Ọhọsha, Mmili Ideọhwọlọ, Mmili Iyiogwgwu, and Mmili Ọbịaja.
The New Yam Festival of the Igbo people is an annual cultural festival by the Igbo people that is held at the end of the rainy season in early August.
Otolo is a town in Nnewi North, Anambra State, Nigeria. Otolo is the premier quarter in Nnewi among the four quarters of Nnewi town. Others are Umudim, Uruagu and Nnewichi.This is true in terms of population, seat of political power and, apparently even, concentration of wealth. Otolo is ruled by a monarchy, the Nwosu family which is a part of a larger nwakanwa family has ruled Otolo for centuries. The current traditional ruler Chief Chukwuemeka Ofili Nwosu is the son of the late chief A.B.C Nwosu, former lawyer and general in the now deposed Biafran army. Chief Ofili Nwosu has three children with his first wife Chief Mrs Ebele Nwosu. Next in line to the throne of Otolo is the first son of Chief Ofili Nwosu and heir apparent to the throne, Prince Nwosu Chukwudumebi obidimma, Princess Adanna Nwosu who is the first daughter of Chief Ofili and also the ADA of Otolo, Prince Chukwukamso Nwosu who is the last child of the three children. The Nwosu family is a very large and dense family which is also part of the even larger Nwakanwa family which is also part of an even larger Obiuno family.
Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III is the 20th Obi of Otolo and Igwe of Nnewi kingdom. He is the traditional supreme ruler and spiritual leader in Nnewi, an Igbo city in Nigeria. He is a member of the Nnofo Royal lineage and the successor to his father Igwe Josiah Orizu II, his grandfather Igwe Orizu I, and great-grandfather Igwe Iwuchukwu Ezeifekaibeya. Unlike most Igbo chiefs, there were heads of Nnewi before the arrival of Europeans. In Anambra State, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III is the vice chairman of the Anambra State House of Chiefs and as of 2015 one of the longest-serving tribal Kings in the world.
Igwe Iwuchukwu Ezeifekaibeya (1855-1904) was the 17th Obi of Otolo and Igwe of Nnewi kingdom in the present day Anambra state of Nigeria. He is the traditional supreme ruler and spiritual leader in Nnewi, an Igbo city in Nigeria. He is a member of the Nnofo Royal lineage and the successor to his father Igwe Okafo. Unlike most Igbo monarchies, there were kings of Nnewi before the arrival of Europeans.
Igwe Orizu I was the 18th Obi of Otolo and the Igwe of Nnewi kingdom. He was the traditional supreme ruler and spiritual leader in Nnewi, an Igbo city in Eastern Nigeria. Eze Ugbonyamba was crowned the King of Nnewi and he took the ofo of Nnewi after his father's death in 1904. He was a member of the Nnofo Royal lineage and the successor to his father Igwe Iwuchukwu Ezeifekaibeya. Igwe Orizu I died in 1924 and was succeeded by his first son Igwe Josiah Orizu II. One of remarkable events of his reign was the arrival of the British in 1905.
Igwe Josiah Nnaji Orizu II (1902–1962) was the 19th Obi of Otolo and Igwe of Nnewi kingdom. He took the ofo of Nnewi in 1924 after his father's death. He is a member of the Nnofo Royal lineage and the successor to his father Igwe Orizu I , He was the first Igwe to officially become a Christian, although the traditional rulers of Nnewi are the ofo holders and as such, preservers and upholders of Nnewi culture and traditions.
Igwe, is a royal title or method of addressing traditional rulers that control autonomous communities in Igboland. In other words, Igbos approximate the term to the HM style. An Igwe is therefore defined as a holder of a title of respect and honor in Igboland. Such a person is otherwise known as an Eze. The foremost and one of the most respected Igwe's in Igboland is Igwe of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III.
The ofo is a staff carried by selected Igbo leaders — notably patrilineage priests, kings, onyishi, and some masqueraders — that signifies authority, the right to command, administrative powers, and/or the conferment of leadership and power bestowed by the gods..It is typically six to seven inches long and made of bronze, brass, or wood.
The Nnewi monarchy is a traditional inheritance of the throne based on patrilineality and sonship heredity. In Nnewi the traditional monarch is called the Igwe. The Igwe is born and not made or elected, and the institution of inheritance is the traditional right and primogeniture privilege. The position is neither transferable nor negotiable.
The House of Nnofo is the ruling dynasty of the Nnewi Kingdom, a subnational monarchy that is part of the Nigerian chieftaincy system in Nigeria. The authority of the Nnofo dynasty is primarily in Otolo. In the other three quarters of Nnewi, the influence of the Nnofo monarch is felt but very slightly – a situation which has arisen from the fact that the chiefs in these quarters are virtually autonomous. Royal descent plays an important role in many Igbo societies; authority and property tend to be lineally derived. Among the tribes which recognize a single ruler, the hereditary bloodline of the rulers forms a dynasty.
Igwe Okafo was the 16th Obi of Otolo and Igwe of Nnewi kingdom. He was the traditional supreme ruler and spiritual leader in Nnewi, an Igbo city in Nigeria. He is a member of the Nnofo Royal lineage and the successor to his father Eze Ukwu. Unlike most Igbo monarchies, there were kings of Nnewi before the arrival of Europeans.
Eze Ukwu was the 15th Obi of Otolo and Igwe of Nnewi kingdom. He was the traditional supreme ruler and spiritual leader in Nnewi, an Igbo city in Nigeria. He was a member of the Nnofo Royal lineage and the successor to his father Eze Chukwu. Unlike most Igbo monarchies, there were kings of Nnewi before the arrival of Europeans.
Uruagu is a town in Nnewi North, Anambra State, Nigeria. Uruagu is the second quarter among the four quarters of Nnewi town. Others are Otolo, Umudim and Nnewichi.
Umudim is a village in Nnewi North, Anambra State, Nigeria. Umudim as we know is the third quarter among the four quarters of Nnewi town. Others are Otolo, Uruagu and Nnewichi. Umudim Community has ten (10) Administrative wards as follows.
Nnewichi is a town in Nnewi North, Anambra Statewith villages such as abubor,odida,and two more villages Nigeria. Nnewichi is the fourth of four quarters in Nnewi town. Others quarters are Otolo, Uruagu and Umudim.
Afiaolu is a traditional festival held annually in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria around August. The Afiaolu festival commences on “Eke” day with what is traditionally described as “Iwaji” and Ikpa Nku, this heralds the availability of new yam as well as thanksgiving to God. The festival includes a variety of entertainments including performance of ceremonial rites by the Igwe (king), cultural dance by girls and masquerade dance.
Gerald Mbamalu. is the traditional ruler of Ojoto in Idemili-South Local Government Area of Anambra State, in Nigeria.