Nigeria has been a democratic nation since its independence in 1960. However, the country has a storied chieftaincy system of traditional monarchs – many of whom still hold power today. The Yoruba, Hausa-Fulani, and Igbo all have their own royals as glamorous as the next. Whether they are appointed or the throne was inherited, Nigerian traditional chiefs are beacons of cultural traditions.
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Nigerian Traditional Monarchies
Traditional monarchies in Nigeria include those historically practiced by the many ethnic groups of the country. The Yoruba, Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, and others have extensive accounts of their traditional monarchies, some of which are ancient. These kingdoms’ founding usually includes a god, or their offspring, as the one to establish it. Consequently, the sovereign would have a significant religious role as well as a social and political one.
READ MORE: 12 African Gods and Goddesses: The Orisha Pantheon
Generally, the traditional Nigerian monarchies would come from sovereignty over a city-state. They were primarily centered within their capital, rarely ever leaving the seat of their government. Depending on the culture surrounding the monarch, specially selected aristocrats would rule over some districts within the state or the whole state itself. The functions of government would then depend on the sanctity of the monarch.
Empires that did emerge throughout Nigeria’s history would be a coalition of various city-states that have banded together for some reason or another. The empires of Nigeria include the…
- Benin Empire
- Fulani Empire
- Kanem Empire
- Oyo Empire
Some of these empires, such as the Oyo and Fulani Empires, predominately consisted of one or more of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria. Moreover, the titles of traditional monarchs would depend on the people associated with them and their relevant language.
Today, traditional monarchies have changed in function. Post-colonial Nigeria became a constitutional federal republic with a new presidential system. While some offices are recognized as being official in the eyes of the federal government, not all monarchs are. Being federally recognized simply means one is a representative of the city (or state) one rules. If they are not federally acknowledged, the traditional monarch does not have any legal powers but they do hold incredible social, political, and economic sway.
There are several Chief’s Laws unique to states in Nigeria today that offer protections and limitations for traditional monarchs.
Major Royal Families in Nigeria
The most influential royal families of Nigeria have shared history, both old and new. Most belong to Ruling Houses, under which are their respective branches of families. These leading families have historical and formal ties to their government institutions, although they may not necessarily hold any constitutional powers. The Egiri and Jiboso are examples of such houses, which have a traditional presence in Egba Gbagura. Other prominent royal families of Nigeria include the…
- House of Alaagba
- House of Giesi
- House of Nnofo
- House of Oranmiyan
- House of Oruwari-Briggs
- House of Princewill
The royal families of Nigeria play an active role in the country’s chieftaincy system. The system itself dates back to pre-colonial Nigeria, where royals and nobles ruled kingdoms and major city-states. Modern Nigerian kings are often selected by their traditional kingmakers, who are usually comprised of a council of elders.
The Yoruba Royal Families
The Yoruba people are an African ethnic group in southwestern Nigeria and parts of Benin. With a thriving cultural scene, the Yoruba are the second-largest ethnic group in Nigeria. The royal families of the Yoruba got their start ruling over sixteen kingdoms from their respective capital cities in Yorubaland. Meanwhile, others like the House of Oranmiyan began with the Oyo Empire. Yoruba royalty can trace their lineages to significant figures in their people’s history. Some can even claim descent from a god!
READ MORE: African Mythology: Gods, Culture, Heroes, and Myths
The Ooni of Ife
The Ooni of Ife is one of the most paramount royals of the Yoruba, if not the most significant in Yorubaland. The role of the Ooni of Ife is said to be over eight centuries old, with the Ooni being viewed as a direct descendant of the Yoruba god-king and creator, Oduduwa. Coincidentally, the Ooni is counted as the 401st orisha within the Yoruba religion, granting them sacred status.
The current Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, is the 51st to hold the title. He became the Ooni in 2015 after being elected from a group of eligible heirs from the Giesi Ruling House. As the Ooni, he is responsible for making prayers on behalf of his people to the Orishas. This spiritual role is especially highlighted during religious festivals and celebrations.
The Oba of Lagos
The Oba of Lagos is the ceremonial king of the city of Lagos. He holds no significant political power, but he does influence politics. The first Oba of Lagos was Ashipa, who gained the title from the Oba of Benin. Naturally, becoming the Oba of Lagos allowed Ashipa to maintain the interests of Benin with Lagos. By the 19th century, Lagos was independent of Benin’s oversight.
Although independent from Benin’s interests by the 19th century, Lagos and its Oba had to contend with British occupation by 1861. It remained as Lagos Colony within British colonial Nigeria until 1960 when Nigeria finally gained independence.
The current Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, is the 23rd Oba. He has been in power since 2003 and is a member of the Alaagba Dynasty.
The Alake of Egbaland
The Alake of Egbaland holds a similar role and status to the Ooni of Ife. Much like the Ooni of Ife, it is believed that the Alake of Egbaland is a descendant of Oduduwa. The Alake belongs to the Yoruba Egba people of western Nigeria. Since the 19th century, the jurisdiction of the Alake is primarily within Abeokuta.
The current Alake of Egbaland, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, has been Alake since his election by kingmakers in 2005.
The Hausa-Fulani Royal Families
The Hausa-Fulani people are the largest ethnic group within Nigeria. Their royals can trace their noble roots back to the kingdoms of Hausaland, the Hausa Bakwai. These included states such as the Sultanate of Kano and the Zaria Emirate. The Fulani Empire later conquered the northern region of Nigeria, which was comprised of Hausaland, in the 19th century, encouraging intermarriage between the Fulani and native Hausas.
The Emir of Kano
The Emir of Kano is historically the leader of the city-state of Kano. Kano is the second-largest city in Nigeria after Lagos. As the capital of the Kano State, Kano has been a kingdom, a Sultanate, and an Emirate throughout its extensive history. Given its optimal commercial location, Kano greatly benefited from the trans-Saharan trade and rapidly became one of the most influential kingdoms in medieval Africa.
The current Emir of Kano is Muhammadu Sanusi II. As the Emir, he is the spiritual leader of the Tijani Sufi order of Sunni Islam within Nigeria. Since Tijaniyyah is the largest Sufi order in West Africa, Muhammadu Sanusi II is an extraordinarily influential figure in modern Kano. He is a member of the Fulani Dabo Dynasty.
The Emir of Zazzau (Zaria)
The Emir of Zazzau – in more recent times, Zaria – is the traditional ruler of the eponymous metropolitan within Kaduna State. Zazzau was one of the original Hausa Bakwai, with a considerable influence over the trans-Saharan slave trade. Its most legendary ruler was Queen Amina, who renamed the city “Zaria” in honor of her younger sister. Under Amina, Zazzau expanded through territorial conquest.
The current Emir of Zazzau is Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli. He was titled Emir following the death of Shehu Idris in 2020. As with other Nigerian Ruling Houses and their traditional rulers, the Emir of Zazzau holds little constitutional power. However, they do influence the day-to-day lives of Nigerians through religion, economics, and politics.
The Igbo Royal Families
The Igbo people are native to southeastern Nigeria and are considered the third-largest ethnic group in the country. The royal families of the Igbo can be traced back to the 11th century CE, although archaeology goes back much further. A popular Igbo proverb is “(the) Igbo do not have kings,” which isn’t quite true since several Igbo communities have a monarch figure, and historical records, such as those from the Kingdom of Nri, suggest otherwise.
The Nigerian-Biafran Civil War of the ’60s saw that many Igbo within Nigeria faced discrimination and violence encouraged by the federal government. Since then, a new wave of Igbo nationalism has emerged and with it came renewed calls to reestablish the Republic of Biafra. Biafra as it was, was under a presidential system of government. Such a system echoed the traditional Igbo political structure, which was more of a democratic republic than a monarchy.
The Obi of Onitsha
The Obi of Onitsha is the traditional ruler of Onitsha, located within the Anambra State. The role of Obi is federally recognized in Nigeria. Generally, the Obi is expected to act as an intermediary between Onitsha and the state and federal governments. In the 19th century, Onitsha acted as an influential trading post for the British Royal Niger Company; its leverage continued until the devastation of the Nigerian Civil War.
The current Obi of Onitsha is Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe. He has been in power since 2002.
The Ojukwu Family
The Igbo Ojukwu family arguably rose to prominence in 1967 when the military officer Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu became the first president of the Republic of Biafra. His father, Sir Louis Phillip Odumegwu Ojukwu, was a business magnate during the British colonial period of Nigeria, which initially gave the Ojukwu family significant economic influence.
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu announced the Republic of Biafra in 1967 during the Aburi Accord, which was meant to broker peace within the divided Nigerian Armed Forces. Due to prolonged misunderstandings on either side, an eastern region of Nigeria seceded under Ojukwu and the country plunged into civil war. As the war went on, Ojukwu escaped to the Ivory Coast. He returned in 1982 as a private citizen and, although he had a poor political career upon his return, he remained an influential figure until he died in 2011.
Ojukwu married three separate times and had seven children between his relationships. These include his children with the equally influential Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu – Afamefuna, Chineme, and Nwachukwu – and his son with his first wife, Elizabeth Okoli, Debe Sylvester Ojukwu.
The Lineage and Succession of Major Royal Families
Royal families in Nigeria today have a very different system of succession than they used to. During and after British colonization, most monarchs and chiefs became appointed positions. However, this is not the case across the whole of Nigeria, since several kingdoms follow the inheritance succession of the throne. In our modern day and age, the succession of Nigerian royal families ranges vastly.
Here is a quick breakdown of the applicable succession practices that surround each of the monarchies we’ve covered. The Ojukwu family is not covered because, while undoubtedly eminent and respectable, are not royalty.
Ife-Ife
The Ooni of Ife was once a primogeniture inheritance. After colonization, the rule of Ife circulates through four distinct Ruling Houses, as recognized in a 1957 Chief’s Law Declaration. Once a king needs to be selected, viable options are chosen from those Ruling Houses:
- Giesi
- Lafogido
- Ogboru
- Osinkola
The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, belongs to the Giesi Ruling House. His ascension was debated by other Ruling Houses, who could contest the monarch selection made by the kingmakers.
Lagos
All Obas of Lagos can trace their lineage back to Ashipa, who was a military commander and magnate beneath the Oba of Benin. He is also credited with establishing Lagos as its very first king. Since the 18th century, the ruling Alaagba Dynasty has claimed matrilineal lineage to Ashipa. This is the case with the current Oba, Rilwan Akiolu.
Egbaland
The royal family of Egbaland can claim descent from the first Alake of Egbaland, Okukenu Sagbua. Though kingmakers appoint the next Alake, they have to choose from the eligible male members of the family. For example, the current Alake, Gbadebo III, had to be elected in favor of his younger brother and other suitable male relatives.
Kano
The Royal House of Kano is currently led by the Dabo Dynasty. The Dabo Dynasty grew in influence during the early years of the Kano Emirate and has maintained power since the 19th century. Before then, when Kano was still a Kingdom and a Sultanate, the founding Bagauda Dynasty retained power. Therefore, an Emir of Kano is always selected from the Dabo Dynasty, founded by the khalifa, Shehu Ibrahim Dabo.
To learn about the early Kano rulers, such as their names and dates, we must rely on the 19th-century Arabic manuscript, Kano Chronicle.
Zazzau (Zaria)
As with the Yoruba Ooni of Ife, the Emir of Zazzau (Zaria) is traditionally selected by kingmakers from one of four Hausa-Fulani Ruling Houses:
- Barebari
- Katsinawa
- Sullubawa
- Mallawa
The current Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, belongs to the Mallawa Ruling House. His predecessor, Shehu Idris, belonged to the Katsinawa.
Onitsha
The Obi of Onitsha is an appointed post where potential candidates are restricted to the descendants of Eze Chima (Umuezechima). The hereditary role of the Obi is of great importance since it is state and federally recognized, which means that the Obi is the representative of Onitsha on those levels. The current Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, was assigned his royal role in 2002.
Cultural and Political Roles of the Royal Families
Royal families are keystones to understanding their respective cultures. Much remains true regarding their country’s politics and the history surrounding them. Nigerian royalty has an immense sway over the public, as many royal members are involved in regional economics and religious activities. More specifically, monarchs could be sacred themselves and hold official religious offices on top of their representative positions.
When functioning in an official capacity as a religious leader, Nigerian monarchs participate in holy festivals and celebrations. In many instances, their people rely on them to voice their prayers. For reference, the Emir of Kano maintains the role of a khalifa for the Tijjani Sufi order in Nigeria; the Ooni of Ife is viewed as a spiritual leader as well, though through the lens of the Yoruba religion. These traditional roles have remained despite British colonization in the 19th century.
Since Nigerian independence, traditional rulers have been working diligently with elected officials to work in tandem. The government of Nigeria largely recognizes the sovereignty of traditional monarchs in exchange for their cooperation and implementation of laws and policies. Hence, the political side of Nigerian royal families is mutually dependent on federal and state governments.
Challenges and Contemporary Issues
The royal families of Nigeria have faced challenges in the past and present. The most prevailing issue for the country, and by extension the royals, in the 21st century, has been the economic situation. As argued in “The Nation as Corporation: British Colonialism and the Pitfalls of Postcolonial Nationhood in Nigeria” by Benjamin Maiangwa, Muhammad Dan Suleiman, and Chigbo Arthur Anyaduba, Nigeria was used as a massive business endeavor by imperial Great Britain for its cash crops. While, yes, there is much wealth in Nigeria – it is, after all, the most populous country in Africa – the lingering effects of corporate colonization impact various public sectors in unseen ways.
More obvious challenges include those posed by terrorist groups, such as Boko Haram, Igbo marginalization, and political unrest among Biafran nationalists. These issues do not impact Nigerian royalty alone, but the country as a whole. In the face of these challenges, the royal families of Nigeria and their traditional rulers act as a force to preserve their people’s heritage.
Wrapping Up the Nigerian Royal Family Tree
The Nigerian royal families share an abundant, complex history. While delegated to their specific regions and peoples, they are found throughout the whole of Nigeria and unite with the national government in times of trouble. Traditional rulers hold age-old positions, those hereditary and assigned, despite the shaky ground colonization left them on.
In the end, traditional monarchies are central to Nigerian heritage and the richness it entails. Whether the monarch is a spiritual leader, a representative, or simply symbolic, the traditional rulers of Nigeria provide hope for their people. That, at least, has been the prevailing truth in the past and the present.