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Nigerian Chieftaincy

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336: 147: 312: 113: 167: 131: 198:, were essentially coalitions of these individual city-states. Due to this, a great deal of local power was concentrated in the hands of rulers that remained almost permanently in their capitals. These rulers had sacred functions - a number of them were even considered to be sacred themselves - and therefore often lived in seclusion as a result. Their nobles, both hereditary and otherwise, typically also had functions that were tied to the religious traditions of the kingdoms that they served. 97: 380:, their relative antiquity, how expensive they are to acquire, whether or not they are hereditary, and a number of other such customary determinants are commonly used to ascribe hierarchical positions. A number of kingdoms also make use of colour-coded regalia to denote either allegiance to particular title societies or individual rank within them. Examples of this phenomenon include the 46: 375:
Chieftaincy titles are often of differing grades, and are usually ranked according to a variety of diverse factors. Whether or not they are recognized by the government, whether they are traditionally powerful or purely honorary, what the relative positions of the title societies that they belong to
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in Nigeria during the 19th century, the anti-European chiefs used a variety of tactics to work against foreign influence, utilizing both direct and indirect forms. The colonial government responded by favouring the pro-European chiefs and supporting more amenable claimants to the Nigerian titles in
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During the early European forays into Africa, Nigerian chiefs - both monarchs and nobles - came to be divided into two opposing camps: the anti-European chiefs on the one end (who wanted nothing to do with the Europeans and wanted them to leave, by war if necessary) and the pro-European chiefs (who
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As a general rule titles did not always pass from father to son; many royal and noble families did however provide a number of titleholders over several generations. In the south, the titles held by nobles were often not the same ones as those that had been held by others in their lineages. Some
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Although dominated by the titled men mentioned above, several kingdoms also had parallel traditions of exclusively-female title societies that operated in partnership with their male counterparts. Others would reserve specially created titles, such as the
372:- and by way of them official recognition - from the governors of the states of the Federation as the culminations of their coronation and investiture rites. Thus installed, they then have the power to install inferior chiefs themselves. 260:
an attempt to frustrate the anti-European chiefs. Minor wars were fought with the anti-European chiefs, while pro-European chiefs prospered through trade with Britain and so were politically safe as a result. During the
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and their titled subordinates currently derive their powers from various Chiefs' Laws, which are official parts of the body of contemporary Nigerian laws. As a result, the highly ranked amongst them typically receive
272:, which involved native chiefs becoming part of the administrative structure to ease administrative costs. Through this method, the colonial government was able to avoid any rebellions against its authority. 205:. These bodies combined the aforementioned priestly functions with judicial ones, and also traditionally provided advisers to the monarchs in question. Some of these societies, like 299:- were all royals or nobles in the Nigerian chieftaincy system. This has continued to operate since their time as a locally controlled honours system alongside its 235:
chiefs had even been untitled slaves, and therefore had had no titled forebears prior to their eventual ascension to the ranks of the aristocracy.
280: 88:, the chieftaincy as a whole is one of the oldest continuously existing institutions in Nigeria and is legally recognized by its government. 300: 221:, the emirates of the old caliphate were usually divided into districts, and these districts were in turn ruled by nobles known as 252:
favoured maintaining friendly relations with the Europeans, even if it meant sacrificing certain amounts of political power).
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In the South, the nobles ruled the states on a day-to-day basis on behalf of their monarchs by way of a series of initiatory
39: 31: 17: 762: 878: 35: 217:, have survived to the present day as aristocratic social clubs within their respective tribes. Meanwhile, in the 311: 648: 85: 279:, which was part of its lawmaking system. These houses have since been replaced by the largely ceremonial 893: 883: 586: 581: 454: 364: 30:"Nigerian aristocracy", "Nigerian chiefs", and "Nigerian chieftaincy" redirect here. For other uses, see 635:
The Roots Of Political Instability In Nigeria: Political Evolution and Development in the Niger Basin
146: 767: 316: 363:, one-time presidents of Nigeria, have belonged to the noble stratum of the Nigerian chieftaincy. 571: 284: 676:
The History of the Yorubas, from the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the British Protectorate
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nationally controlled counterpart, which is itself within the gift of the Federal Government
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Following Nigeria's independence in 1960, each federated unit of the country had a
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Today, many prominent Nigerians aspire to the holding of a title. Both Chief
340: 269: 240: 223: 171: 101: 53: 469: 296: 191: 135: 123: 57: 848:"Traditional Institutions and Traditional Rulers in National Development" 843: 486: 481: 423: 179: 73: 49: 264:, anti-European chiefs were slowly replaced with pro-European ones, and 716:"Native Authorities and Local Government Reforms in Nigeria Since 1914" 554: 213: 187: 763:"Jeje Oladele and others versus Oba Adekunle Aromolaran II and others" 544: 474: 820: 611: 385: 320: 508: 496: 491: 81: 77: 96: 45: 737:
Nigerian Political Parties: Power In An Emergent African Nation
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Nigerian pre-colonial states tended to be organized as
870: 649:"The Most Prominent Secret Societies In Nigeria" 80:. Consisting of everything from the country's 748:Ebenezer Obadare and Wale Adebanwi (2011), 807: 750:Nigeria At Fifty: The Nation In Narration 690:"Gender and Female Chieftaincy in Anioma" 592: 287:- including the leading troika of Chief 268:came to be governed by a system known as 841: 399: 334: 323:, his wife Aduke, daughters Atinuke and 310: 165: 145: 129: 111: 95: 44: 687: 182:. The empires that did exist, like the 14: 871: 813: 647:Ndeche, Chidirim (16 September 2018). 646: 231:) that were subject to the monarchs. 40:Nigerian chieftaincy (disambiguation) 32:Nigerian aristocracy (disambiguation) 713: 24: 714:Egbe, Enyi John (1 January 2014). 688:Uchendu, Egodi (22 January 2006). 25: 910: 27:The chieftaincy system of Nigeria 816:"Nigerians go crazy for a title" 448: 255:At the point of the increase in 36:Nigerian chiefs (disambiguation) 835: 814:Ewokor, Chris (1 August 2007). 790:"Traditional States of Nigeria" 782: 528: 409: 755: 742: 729: 707: 681: 668: 640: 627: 599: 281:Councils of Traditional Rulers 13: 1: 768:The Supreme Court of Nigeria 7: 587:Nigerian traditional states 582:Nigerian traditional rulers 565: 455:Nigerian traditional rulers 436: 404: 365:Nigerian traditional rulers 347:, speaking at Asbury Hall, 10: 915: 735:Sklar, Richard L. (2004), 376:(if any) are in the royal 124:14th and 16th Emir of Kano 91: 29: 846:Adedokun (3 April 2017). 104:, the 1st Amanyanaboh of 76:system that is native to 674:Johnson, Samuel (1921), 317:Antonio Deinde Fernandez 306: 879:Social class in Nigeria 572:Social class in Nigeria 248:, for their womenfolk. 160:Western House of Chiefs 593:References and sources 352: 332: 175: 163: 152:Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti 143: 127: 109: 65: 852:The Palace of Oke-Ila 633:Ejiogu, E.C. (2011), 400:Nigerian titleholders 338: 314: 169: 149: 133: 115: 99: 84:to its titled family 48: 415:Nigerian sovereigns 378:orders of precedence 327:, and family friend 319:, the Apesin Ola of 174:, an Oloye of Lagos. 70:Nigerian Chieftaincy 18:Nigerian chieftaincy 390:White-Capped Chiefs 361:Umaru Musa Yar'Adua 262:Scramble for Africa 120:Muhammadu Sanusi II 894:Nobility in Africa 884:Society of Nigeria 794:worldstatesmen.org 443:Native Authorities 353: 333: 184:Kanem-Borno empire 176: 164: 144: 128: 110: 66: 615:. 13 October 2013 577:Nigerian heraldry 382:Red-Capped Chiefs 357:Olusegun Obasanjo 349:Buffalo, New York 343:, the Ugonabo of 257:British influence 16:(Redirected from 906: 863: 862: 860: 858: 839: 833: 832: 830: 828: 811: 805: 804: 802: 800: 786: 780: 779: 777: 775: 759: 753: 746: 740: 733: 727: 726: 724: 722: 711: 705: 704: 702: 700: 685: 679: 672: 666: 665: 663: 661: 644: 638: 631: 625: 624: 622: 620: 603: 497:Awujale of Ijebu 465:Sultan of Sokoto 370:staffs of office 266:Colonial Nigeria 203:secret societies 196:Sokoto caliphate 54:Adeniji Adele II 21: 914: 913: 909: 908: 907: 905: 904: 903: 869: 868: 867: 866: 856: 854: 840: 836: 826: 824: 812: 808: 798: 796: 788: 787: 783: 773: 771: 761: 760: 756: 747: 743: 734: 730: 720: 718: 712: 708: 698: 696: 686: 682: 673: 669: 659: 657: 645: 641: 632: 628: 618: 616: 605: 604: 600: 595: 568: 531: 451: 439: 412: 407: 402: 309: 295:and Alhaji Sir 293:Obafemi Awolowo 277:House of Chiefs 94: 43: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 912: 902: 901: 896: 891: 886: 881: 865: 864: 834: 806: 781: 754: 741: 728: 706: 680: 667: 639: 626: 597: 596: 594: 591: 590: 589: 584: 579: 574: 567: 564: 563: 562: 557: 552: 547: 542: 537: 530: 527: 526: 525: 524: 523: 522: 521: 516: 514:Obi of Onitsha 511: 501: 500: 499: 494: 492:Alaafin of Oyo 489: 479: 478: 477: 472: 467: 450: 447: 446: 445: 438: 435: 434: 433: 432: 431: 426: 421: 411: 408: 406: 403: 401: 398: 329:Nelson Mandela 308: 305: 289:Nnamdi Azikiwe 285:First Republic 93: 90: 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 911: 900: 897: 895: 892: 890: 889:Tribal chiefs 887: 885: 882: 880: 877: 876: 874: 853: 849: 845: 838: 823: 822: 817: 810: 795: 791: 785: 770: 769: 764: 758: 751: 745: 738: 732: 717: 710: 695: 691: 684: 677: 671: 656: 655: 650: 643: 636: 630: 614: 613: 608: 602: 598: 588: 585: 583: 580: 578: 575: 573: 570: 569: 561: 558: 556: 553: 551: 548: 546: 543: 541: 538: 536: 533: 532: 520: 519:Igwe of Nnewi 517: 515: 512: 510: 507: 506: 505: 502: 498: 495: 493: 490: 488: 485: 484: 483: 480: 476: 473: 471: 468: 466: 463: 462: 461: 458: 457: 456: 453: 452: 449:Post-colonial 444: 441: 440: 430: 427: 425: 422: 420: 417: 416: 414: 413: 397: 395: 391: 387: 383: 379: 373: 371: 366: 362: 358: 350: 346: 342: 341:Chinua Achebe 337: 330: 326: 322: 318: 313: 304: 302: 298: 294: 290: 286: 282: 278: 273: 271: 270:indirect rule 267: 263: 258: 253: 249: 247: 246: 242: 236: 232: 230: 226: 225: 220: 216: 215: 210: 209: 204: 199: 197: 193: 189: 185: 181: 173: 172:Agbani Darego 168: 161: 157: 153: 148: 141: 138:, the Ugo of 137: 132: 125: 121: 118: 114: 107: 103: 98: 89: 87: 83: 79: 75: 71: 63: 59: 55: 51: 47: 41: 37: 33: 19: 855:. Retrieved 851: 837: 825:. Retrieved 819: 809: 797:. Retrieved 793: 784: 772:. Retrieved 766: 757: 749: 744: 736: 731: 719:. Retrieved 709: 697:. Retrieved 693: 683: 675: 670: 658:. Retrieved 654:The Guardian 652: 642: 634: 629: 617:. Retrieved 610: 601: 529:Other Chiefs 470:Emir of Kano 410:Pre-colonial 389: 381: 374: 354: 297:Ahmadu Bello 274: 254: 250: 243: 237: 233: 228: 222: 212: 206: 200: 192:Benin empire 177: 136:Jaja Wachuku 69: 67: 899:Upper class 694:Asian Women 487:Ooni of Ife 359:and Alhaji 180:city-states 74:chieftaincy 873:Categories 857:17 October 842:Abolarin, 827:16 October 799:17 October 774:17 October 721:16 October 699:16 October 660:17 October 619:16 October 555:Nze na Ozo 351:, in 2008. 214:Nze na Ozo 188:Oyo empire 58:18th Eleko 739:, p. 234. 545:Eso Ikoyi 475:Etsu Nupe 821:BBC News 752:, p. 32. 678:, p. 70. 637:, p. 63. 612:BBC News 566:See also 437:Colonial 405:Monarchs 388:and the 386:Igboland 325:Abimbola 321:Egbaland 291:, Chief 194:and the 140:Ngwaland 82:monarchs 509:Eze Nri 245:Iyalode 229:Hakimai 158:of the 134:Prince 92:History 78:Nigeria 72:is the 550:Ogboni 540:Hakimi 535:Waziri 460:Lamido 419:Lamido 339:Chief 315:Chief 241:Yoruba 224:Hakimi 208:Ogboni 190:, the 186:, the 170:Chief 150:Chief 122:, the 117:Alhaji 102:Jaja I 86:elders 56:, the 38:, and 560:Ichie 394:Lagos 345:Ogidi 307:Today 227:(pl. 219:North 156:Oloye 154:, an 106:Opobo 100:King 62:Lagos 859:2019 829:2019 801:2019 776:2019 723:2019 701:2019 662:2019 621:2019 211:and 68:The 52:Sir 844:Oba 504:Eze 482:Oba 429:Eze 424:Oba 392:of 384:of 60:of 50:Oba 875:: 850:. 818:. 792:. 765:. 692:. 651:. 609:. 303:. 34:, 861:. 831:. 803:. 778:. 725:. 703:. 664:. 623:. 331:. 162:. 142:. 126:. 108:. 64:. 42:. 20:)

Index

Nigerian chieftaincy
Nigerian aristocracy (disambiguation)
Nigerian chiefs (disambiguation)
Nigerian chieftaincy (disambiguation)

Oba
Adeniji Adele II
18th Eleko
Lagos
chieftaincy
Nigeria
monarchs
elders

Jaja I
Opobo

Alhaji
Muhammadu Sanusi II
14th and 16th Emir of Kano

Jaja Wachuku
Ngwaland

Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
Oloye
Western House of Chiefs

Agbani Darego
city-states

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