Danka7777:

Why are they all Yorubas?

saxywale:
This has been argued several times. It's funny how people like you try to distort history.

GBAM!

ODUA_NEGRO: Thanks.

So I thought previously that the Obi is the highest ranking monarch of the land, now I know better. In any society you can ultimately converge overall leadership and authority in one person on top. If there are three subgroups under the Igbo nation then who is the topmost authority, would it be Eze Aro or Eze Nri?

I understand that Eze Aro is political and authority over sovereingty of Alaigbo. Eze Nri is priest and has authority over spiritual rites and customs of Alaigbo. What role does the third one, Eze Agbo, hold?

odumchi:

No my term has not yet started.

Here's some of what I know:

Pre-colonially, the majority of the Igbo existed in village communities ruled by councils of elders, wisemen, and titled persons. From the northern Nike savannahs to the southern Ikwere marshes, these councils regulated village affairs, levied taxes, and managed inter-village diplomacy. These "polyarchies" carried out the will of the community, and most importantly, prevented tyranny. However, despite the proficiency of these "polyarchies", well-structured and organized monarchies arose in different axes of Igboland: in the Bende axis (Arochukwu area), in the Ika axis (Agbo), and in the Nri-Oka axis (Aguwku-Nri and Onicha).

In these three regions, the traditional roles of the "Eze" tend to differ. For example, in Agukwu-Nri, the Eze Nri (King of all people of Nri ancestry) is more of a priest king than an actual political figurehead because the people of Nri were [traditionally] reknown for their proficiency in native medicine. As chief of all practitoners of Nri medicine, the Eze Nri was very influential, and through the exportation of Nri medical science, his influence range spread to encompass most of what is now Anambra, parts of Imo, parts of Delta, and parts of Enugu.

The Eze Aro (King of all people of Aro ancestry), on the other hand, was the supreme political figurehead in all of Igboland due to the influence that the Aro people once wielded. However, nowadays, as a result of British intrusion, the Eze Aro, although very influential in the cultural context of not only Igboland but Eastern Nigeria, holds a mere fraction of the power that he once had.

Even in the areas where kingship is found, the council of elders is still present. For example, in Arochukwu, kingship (although relegated to a particular village and lineage) is not necessarily passed down from father to son. The Eze Aro is elected by a council of nine distinguished Aro elders, called Okpankpo.

Aside from the afformentioned kings, most of the Igwe, Eze, and Obi that we has today never existed prior to colonization. When the British came, they granted individuals/families authority and made them warrant chiefs. That ultimately evolved into the situation that we have now: towns that have never had a history of monarchy all of a sudden have kings and etc.

Tolexander: that is traditionally. But politically, Ooni supercedes alaafin.
We are naw in the world of politics where tradition has been jetisoned

Odenigbo Aroli:

How did you arrive at this....I bet you are a Yoruba guy..... Typical trait!!

elopee3000: Every king to his people cus my mother in village don't know who is alafin or sultan or oba of Benin she knows only igwe of my town Nnokwa chikina

BROTHERLY, you're from my hometown. So how's Igwe Ajamma? I heard he was flown abroad for treatment while some rumourmongers says he's dead. So what's the latest development?

afam4eva: Their influence is only valid in their respective communities. You can't for instance compare the Obi of Onitsha to the ooni of Ife because of obvious reasons. The Yorubas respect their Obas very much but in Igboland, an Igwe is just like everyone else. The day an Igwe over steps his boundary he will be dealt with severely.

henryblaze25: Oba of Benin might be silent, but the influence that man commands is unspeakable. Am not 4rm Bini but I know his influence and his word is final, Oba ato kpeye! Ise!

saxywale:
I don't really understand what you mean but traditional, Ooni still supersedes Alaafin. Negro has answered the question and Kats has flogged the issue several times on this forum. Even the 1st Alaafin became the 4th Ooni of Ife. Let's not derail the thread.

Andre Uweh: The sultan to me is a religious leader just like Eze Aro and Nri. So in this case minus Sultan, it should be as follows.
Asagba of Asaba
Alafin of Oyo.
Oba of Benin.
Obi of Onitsha.
Shehu of Borno.
Tor Tiv
Etsu Nupe
Obong of Calabar
Olu of Warri.
Olubadan of Ibadan.

Harjibode:
Where. Is OonI of Ife

HAH: if you really know monarchs in Nigeria then you know that the most respected and influencial is Alhaji Ado Bayero emir of Kano