Chieftaincy among the Igbo
A Guest on the Center-Stage
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3913345 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ebere Nwaubani (corresponding author) |
| Year | 1994 |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 347 |
| Publication date | 1994-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The International Journal of African Historical Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0361-7882 • E-ISSN: 2326-3016 |
| Publisher | JSTOR (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.2307/221029 |
| OpenAlex | W2275778936 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 7 |
| References cited | 1 |
A striking feature of the contemporary Igbo political ecology is the overbearing presence of Their Highnesses, the traditional rulers. At least at the local levels, these kings are clearly the most visible and powerful political players. In many areas, their word is law. But more than ever before, these rulers are appropriating monarchical attributes to themselves: brand new titles, thrones, palaces, regalia, the requisite court mannerisms and ceremonials, and the rest of the regal paraphernalia. Even more striking is the fact that the wider society has accommodated, or perhaps simply resigned itself to, the ascendancy of these traditional rulers. Virtually everyone defers to them. Indeed, many desire to be close to the kings, for through them many doors are opened at top government levels for all sorts of patronage. Thus, there are also, and quite visible on the local political scene, the overenthusiastic palace courtiers, especially the recipients of chieftaincy titles. Those who feel that they have arrived in society are rushing, at huge expense, to have the kings confer chiefly titles on them. Chieftaincy installation ceremonies are community-wide festivals; similarly, the burial of a king is a public funeral, funded by the entire community
Center (category theory · Igbo · Linguistics · Stage (stratigraphy · African Studies and Geopolitics · History · Philosophy · Geology · Paleontology
| Unique citing works | 7 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,35 |
| Citation span | 2006 - 2018 (13) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 7 |