Eze Ukwu Explained

Eze Ukwu
Obi of Otolo
Reign:1840–1862
Coronation:1840
Birth Date:8 1799 df=yes
Birth Place:Nnewi
Death Place:Igwe palace Nnewi
Successor:Igwe Okafo
House:House of Nnofo
Religion:Animism

Eze Ukwu (1799–1862) was the 15th Obi of Otolo and Igwe of Nnewi kingdom.[1] 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.[2] Unlike most Igbo monarchies, there were kings of Nnewi before the arrival of Europeans.[3]

Reign

During his reign, important events took place. He declined to accept the advice of his uncle, Eze Enwe, to bring to consummation a war fought half-way against the Amichis. Eze Enwe therefore took up the job.[4] He invaded the Amichis and conquered them, crowning this achievement with the capture and execution of Nwamkpi, their leader. He successfully waged another war against Ųkpo and participated in the successful invasion of Orifite.[5] These successes qualified him for the heroic title of "Onuo ora", which entitled one to the possession of Ikponasato, that is, eight very small bells.

Besides okafo, the first son of Eze Ukwu, he had also the following sons - Eze Oruchalu and Unaegbu. When Eze ukwu died, Igwe Okafo, his eldest son, became the sixteenth chief.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of Nnewi Monarchs - The Official Nnewi City Portal. www.nnewi.info. 2015-09-17. Nnewi. Admin.
  2. Web site: Nnofo Royal Lineage - The Official Nnewi City Portal. www.nnewi.info. 2015-09-17. Anthony-Claret. Onwutalobi. 19 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210619102604/https://nnewi.info/nnofo-royal-lineage/. dead.
  3. Web site: Nnewi Monarchy - The Official Nnewi City Portal. www.nnewi.info. 2015-09-17. Anthony-Claret. Onwutalobi. 23 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210623190027/https://nnewi.info/nnewi-monarch/. dead.
  4. Web site: History - The Official Nnewi City Portal. www.nnewi.info. 2015-09-17. Anthony-Claret. Onwutalobi. 10 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151110082005/http://www.nnewi.info/nnewi-history. dead.
  5. Book: Alutu, Dr. John Okonkwo. Nnewi History (from the Earliest times to 1980/82)29. Fourth Dimension Publishers. 1986. 9781562242. Nigeria. 29.