In various Anioma communities, the Eze title has always been the prestigious pathway to elevated status, also, it embodies the core social and spiritual aspirations.
Men, via junior roles usually ascend to the alo and nkpisi positions. While they acquire skills and wealth, they are also given the honor in the eligibility of the Eze title.
Aside being a spiritual quest, this journey wasn’t just a merely social climb, this position is a culmination into a resurrection and ritual death and a symbol into mortality rebirth. The Eze wasn’t just regarded as a godly figure but simply also simply a leader.
The Eze is also an “Ichie”, a man who has joined the ranks of the ancestors by transcending human limitations. Men are excluded from respected burial traditions and seen as status-less when they live without titles. The importance of the title of Ezeship extends beyond the title holder, it anchors the community in unity and traditions.
Men holding the Eze title are adorned with red caps with eagle feathers and exempted from labor, they are recognized as “His Highness”. This is a well remarkable social fabric and it was central to Anioma, the Eze marks as a moral spiritual guidance and these titles doesn’t pass to offsprings. It entails every man to work towards it and earn his place, this further symbolizes the belief of Igbo that one can never purchase true immortality except through accomplishments and never by inheritance.
The communities of Anioma is historically connected to the broader Igbo tradition through the Eze title, particularly by the Umunri kingship system. This influence is traced to legendary Eze Nri. The Eze title system gave Anioma model organization where council of elders that are locals, men with Eze and Ozo titles weren’t just political representatives but also custodians of culture.
When europeans who were traders and missionaries got to places like Ahaba and it’s environs, it was fondly known as Ani Ndi Eze which translates “A land of Kings”, showing the robustness of title taking which shows only one thing but a place where many men were prosperous.
Taking the Eze title is beyond personal achievement, it grants men legacies that are revered, it also secures the family continuity of the men and when they are no more, their Ikenga is carved to represent a sign of strength and spirituality. It will be preserved amoung ancestral relics. The present day Igbo speaking people of Anioma communities preserved deep heritage connections through this practice showing both collective identity and individual worth in a world that is rapidly evolving.
Ohadike, D. C. (1994). Anioma: A social history of the western Igbo people
