‘Eze’ in Igbo Lingo

Generally, ‘eze’ has a common definition: first among equals or ‘primus inter pares.’ In Igbo cosmology, only the supreme spirit is first in all areas; every entity else is first only within a defined domain or in an exact endeavor. Therefore, in Igbo lingo, ‘eze’ is a prefix indicating ‘foremost,’ preference’ or ‘principal’: ezeagụ (a leopard king); ezealụsị (oracle); ezeala (king of the land); ezeanị (priest of Earth deity); ezeanya (master ophthalmologist); ezeji (master yam farmer); ezeakụ (king of wealth); ezeebube (king of glory); ezedike (king of heroes); ezemmụọ (traditional priest); ezenwaanyị (queen—in her own right, or priestess of a river goddess); ezeúgwú (king of the hills); ezeụzụ (master blacksmith), etc.

The culturally complex, innately independent, and socially sophisticated Igbo have their share of mean maniacs in diverse domains, from politics to religion. Anyone can call himself ‘eze’ of a place or thing. People play along, often lightheartedly. However, the handshake exceeds the elbow when anyone removes reasonable restrictions and becomes pan-Igbo ‘ezeigbo’!

My mother’s favorite term for a boy throwing tantrums and mouthing what he would do or not do, is “Ezeigbo”: a megalomaniac. Only a maniac would dream of being a king of devoted democrats and rugged republicans. Igbo sages so dreaded the prospects of such a maniac… sorry monarch… that they stated, “Igbo énwe ézè.” [The Igbo have no (absolute) king]! This is probably why the president is “onyeisiala—not “ezeala”; governor is ‘akanaachị’—not ‘ezeùkwùmba’! Recall that Roman Pontius Pilate reportedly mocked Jesus with “INRI” nailed to the cross: “Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum,” (Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews).

In the 1980s, Biafra’s General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu returned from exile in Côte d’Ivoire. He was honored by his folks as “Ikemba Nnewi,” an apt appellation. At an Aba reception, before a mammoth crowd, a new title popped up: “Ezeigbo Gburugburu.” Obviously, it raised eyebrows. I was vociferous in opposition. Some campus colleagues countered strongly, especially when I wrote “INRI: Ikemba Nnewi, Rex Igborum”! Owele Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik) condemned the cosmetic coronation. Folks caught their breath.

Ezeigbo or Eze Ndiigbo continues to generate pointless controversies in this century. If ‘eze’ is properly place- or profession-defined and rightly so, there should be no hullabaloos. Eze Arọ or Eze Ọnụịcha (Obi of Onitsha) is as a principal of a place as is Ezeigbo na Ghana or Ezeigbo n’Amaerika—whenever we get one!

@OkaaMoe, 9.25.25