His sister Iguedo begot Ogbunike, Ọkuzu, Nando, Ụmụleri, and Nteje which are known today as the Umu Iguedo clan. Eri’s first son Nri-Ifikwuanịm begot Agụkwu Nri, Enugwu-Ukwu, Enugwu-Agidi, Nọfịa, and Amọbia. Onoja founded present-day Igala in Kogi state. Nneamaku bore five children Nri-Ifikwuanịm-Menri being the first son also known as Nri, Agụlụ, Ogbodudu, Onogu, and Iguedo the only daughter, while Oboli the second wife bore an only child Onoja. Įri had two wives by the time he arrived at the Ezu Na Omambala confluence, Nneamaku, and Oboli who were the first and second wife respectively. Another pointer is the ObuGad Temple that is situated in Aguleri which was built by Eri in honour of his father Gad. That honour is entitled to him.Īnother fact to bolster this claim is in most Igbo Communities before a King is coronated he must fulfil an age long tradition of visiting and paying homage to Aguleri with his entourage where they spend a compulsory seven days visiting sacred places and making sacrifices to certain deities in shrines. This notion even becomes increasingly bona fide when you consider that in Igbo land it is a well-known tradition that no man can break Kola nuts at a gathering when an Aguleri man is present. So Aguleri might have actually been the Motherland of the Igbos. This location is present-day Aguleri in Anambra state, though at the time it was not known as Aguleri. From Chad, he crossed the Benue river and came to Lokoja, then traversed the river Niger and came ashore near the confluence of the Ezu and Omambala Rivers called Agbanabo or Ezu Na Omambala, here it was spiritually revealed to him that he was to settle. Source: public domainĮri therefore left Egypt, crossed the river Nile and entered southern Sudan from where he entered Chad. OUTSIDE AND INSIDE OF THE OBUGAD TEMPLE IN AGULERI. Before the scriptural mass Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, he sensed the impending onslaught of the Egyptians against the people of Israel his people, as the Egyptians increasingly grew envious. Eri was a high priest to the pharaoh in Egypt. Thus in this theory, he descended from the sky.Īnother explanation of Eri’s ancestry, however, was that Eri is the grandson of the biblical Jacob, and his father is Gad, the 7th son of Jacob. One theory goes that Eri was a divine being sent by Chukwu (God), to make peace, cleanse abominations and provide foods for the Igbo people. It is also generally believed and widely accepted that Eri was the founder of Nri. Nri is widely asserted to be the motherland and cradle of the Igbo ethnicity. The Nri kingdom perfected and employed innovative skills in rituals, economy, diplomacy, administration, and management of a segmented and autonomous people. Unlike most kingdoms of the 12th to 18th century and earlier, slavery was frowned upon, and it was a kingdom where all people were welcomed including outcasts from other communities and were a haven for runaway slaves. Its pacification has its roots in the Nri religious belief that violence was an abomination that polluted the earth. Its philosophy was peace, wisdom, justice, harmony and one with creation. The Kingdom of Nri was very peaceful with a no permanent organized fighting force. It was the base for all Igbo cultural, traditional and economic activities, and at its peak, its influence extended outside of Igbo lands. Albeit, it wielded an undisputed influence over all Igbo territories. This is primarily due to its method of leadership which was a cult-like religious-polity, a theocratic indirect leadership style. The kingdom did not have absolute control over the whole of Igbo lands even at its peak (between the 12th – 15th centuries). Their religious institutions were so highly revered it instilled fear in people. The Nri kingdom is popularly credited as being the cradle for Igbo civilization, culture, and religious practices, the latter being what they were revered for. Although they are found in their numbers in every part of Nigeria, and the world, the states mentioned above are core Igbo lands. The Igbo people are one of the most numerous ethnic groups in the country and predominantly occupy the south-eastern parts comprising of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo states. Nri is an ancient Igbo town in Anambra state, Nigeria. It is among the oldest existing monarchy in Nigeria and had its capital at Igbo-Ukwu. The kingdom of Nri, in the Igbo language called Ọ̀ràézè Ǹrì is a medieval Igbo kingdom that originated around AD900 and presently still in existence, although its influence and territory have significantly waned.
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