Eze Ukwu

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Eze Ukwu
Obi of Otolo
Reign1840–1862
Coronation1840
PredecessorEze Chukwu
SuccessorIgwe Okafo
Born(1799-08-00)August 1799
Nnewi
Died15 August 1862(1862-08-15) (aged 63)
Igwe palace Nnewi
HouseHouse of Nnofo
FatherEze Chukwu
ReligionAnimism

Eze Ukwu (born 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[edit]

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.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Admin, Nnewi. "List of Nnewi Monarchs - The Official Nnewi City Portal". www.nnewi.info. Retrieved 17 September 2015.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Onwutalobi, Anthony-Claret. "Nnofo Royal Lineage - The Official Nnewi City Portal". www.nnewi.info. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  3. ^ Onwutalobi, Anthony-Claret. "Nnewi Monarchy - The Official Nnewi City Portal". www.nnewi.info. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  4. ^ Onwutalobi, Anthony-Claret. "History - The Official Nnewi City Portal". www.nnewi.info. Archived from the original on 10 November 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  5. ^ Alutu, Dr. John Okonkwo (1986). Nnewi History (from the Earliest times to 1980/82)29. Nigeria: Fourth Dimension Publishers. p. 29. ISBN 9781562242.