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Kingdom of Nri

Kingdom of Nri
Ọ̀ràézè Ǹrì
948–1911
Nri's area of influence (green) with West Africa's modern borders
Capital Igbo-Ukwu
Languages Igbo
Religion Odinani
Government Elective monarchy
Sacred king
 •  948 Eri
Ézè
 •  1043—1089 Eze Nri Ìfikuánim
 •  1988—present Eze Nri Ènweleána II Obidiegwu Onyeso
History
 •  Established 948
 •  Surrender to Britain 1911
 •  Socio-political revival 1974
Currency Okpogho
Preceded by
Archaeology of Igbo-Ukwu

The Kingdom of Nri (Igbo: 'Ọ̀ràézè Ǹrì') (948–1911) was the West African medieval region in southeastern Nigeria, a subgroup of the Igbo-speaking people. The Kingdom of Nri was unusual in the history of world government in that its leader exercised no military power over his subjects. The kingdom existed as a sphere of religious and political influence over a third of Igboland, and was administered by a priest-king called as an Eze Nri. The Eze Nri managed trade and diplomacy on behalf of the Nri people, and possessed divine authority in religious matters.

The kingdom was a haven for all those who had been rejected in their communities and also a place where slaves were set free from their bondage. Nri expanded through converts gaining neighboring communities' allegiance, not by force. Nri's royal founder, Eri, is said to be a 'sky being' that came down to earth and then established civilization. One of the better-known remnants of the Nri civilization is its art, as manifested in the Igbo Ukwu bronze items.

Nri's culture permanently influenced the Northern and Western Igbo, especially through religion and taboos. British colonialism, the Atlantic slave trade and the rise of the Bini and Igala kingdoms contributed to the decline of the Nri Kingdom. The Nri Kingdom is going through a cultural revival.

The Nri kingdom is considered a center of Igbo culture. Nri and Aguleri, where the Umueri-Igbo creation myth originates, are in the territory of the Umu-Eri clan, who trace their lineages back to the patriarchal king-figure, Eri. Eri's origin is unclear, though he has been described as a "sky being" sent by Chukwu (God). He is credited with first giving societal order to the people of Anambra. Nri history may be divided into six main periods: the pre-Eri period (before 948 CE), the Eri period (948—1041 CE), migration and unification (1042—1252 CE), the heyday of Nri hegemony (1253—1679 CE), hegemony decline and collapse (1677—1936 CE) and the Socio-culture Revival (1974—Present).


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Wikipedia

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