… Says Chief Odumegwu  Ojukwu instituted Igbo Ezeship in the Diaspora

The Diaspora king of Ndigbo in Ghana, HRM Dr Chukwudi Ihenetu, granted an interview where he spoke in details about the activities of Ndigbo  in Ghana.

HRM Ihenetu  also stated  that Eze Ndigbo  Gburugburu,  the late Ikemba Chief Emeka  Odumegwu  Ojukwu, created Diaspora  Kingship for Igbos in other to preserve  their culture in foreign  land

He also speaks on the  annual  New Yam festival, which started  in 2010, which has become a celebration of  African rich culture from Igbo perspectives.  He speaks further 

May we meet you, sir

Thank you for coming  to the Obi Ukwu Obieziokwu palace of Eze Ndigbo in Ghana.

I am His Royal Majesty Eze Amb.Chukwudi Ihenetu. I am the Diaspora king of Igbo community in Ghana. 

Over 12 years on your throne, and counting, would you say you have met your expectations as king of Ndigbo in Ghana?

Not yet, expectations of everyone is the day God is going to call you home. The purpose of Diaspora throne is that we are still on it as we haven’t fully achieved our goals, but we believe in God that we keep meeting our goals every day.

One of the things we have achieved very well now is that we have town hall meetings educating our people first of all to know that they are living in a  foreign land, that we are foreigners living in Ghana and we must respect rules and regulations of the land, and not to violate it. We have achieved this.

If you recalled about 13 years ago, many at times people complains about Nigerian misbehaving, doing one or two things that are against rules and regulations of the land, and for the past 12 years, on this throne. we kept cleaning up the mind of the people to  let them know that when you are a foreigner, you do what the owners of the land want  and not to do what you like. We have achieved this and that’s very important.

One thing about education is that when you enlightened some one, you also transfer that knowledge to someone else. That’s why, as new people are coming in, those already armed with the knowledge are transferring it to the newcomers.

We have also achieved good relationships with our host nation, Ghana, in the area of tradition, culture, and government. we have been able to convince our host nation that we are not here to compete with the authority or challenge their laws. but to live in peace and harmony so as to engage in our commerce and trade, manufacturing, and entrepreneur. 

Before, many many years back, you see some Ghanaians fighting Nigerians in the streets and market because some of our people did not understand that they are not Ghanaians and that they needed to conform with the laws of their host country, Ghana. 

So Ghanaians, most especially those who had one or two things against Nigerian, should know that we are brothers and sisters. We are the same. We have been able to educate our Ghanaian friends who were disturbing us at the market that we are not here to challenge them but to engage in legitimate trade, which would also help to boost their economy. When you talk about business, it is all about competition. What I have in my store may not be what you have vice versa. So we need one another in a symbiotic manners. My goods may not be the same as yours. The source may also differ. Some buy from  manufacturers, others may buy from distributors. price of people that got from manufacturers would certainly differ.  Formerly, some of our Ghanaian friends in the market are threatened to their business, but we are strategic partners with the sole aim of growing the economy.

Again, we have achieved an introduction of Igbo culture to people across the world. 

What is Igbo culture all about?

Igbo culture is all about celebrating our Igbo New Yam festival, celebrating unity, love among ourselves, celebrating peace and love among ourselves, and celebrating being your brothers keeper.

Our culture and tradition are all about love and coming together. So, the history of Ndigbo is  a powerful history that many people want to emulate. 

We that are Igbos always want to give out goods to our brothers on credit, the same way we also give to some of our Ghanaian brothers. So we are not afraid of ourselves that our brothers would run away with the goods because we have structures, like local government meetings, town unions, and town hall meetings of our communities.

So, at that level, the chairmen of the community meetings can serve as guarantors for such a person to deliver on time effectively.

The introduction of our culture bin Ghana has also given us a sense of belonging here. We thank the people of Ghana for accepting us even as we insist that Igbo culture is not here to challenge Ghana tradition but to enable our son’s and daughters to be connected to their roots.

Again, we have  created strong legacies for our children unborn.

Most of us here married Ghanaian. My wife is a Ghanaian. She does not understand my culture properly, but establishing my culture within and around has made her understand my culture. My children and some other people of mixed parentage have come to know Igbo culture.

Now, the children nare assimilating both cultures symbiotically.

So far, how has your stay in Ghana been, and how has Igbo people relates with Ghanaians?

My stay in Ghana is so powerful.

Not just me alone but every single Nigerian who lives in this country. We are comfortable in Ghana because our host nation loves Nigerians, and we  Nigerians like our host country Ghana. So our stay here has been comfortable, beautiful and nice. No Insecurity here Ghana is so wonderful that you can move from morning till night in your car without fear of being robbed. People in Ghana related well with us, so our stay here has been great.

Kindly tell us a little background history of Ndigbo 

From oral tradition, we heard that the Igbo people came all the way from Israel. from one country yo another till we get to a country called Nigeria.

We are one of the strong pillars of this country. and we are situated in the southeastern part of the country. Before, it was called the eastern zone of Nigeria, but now it is called the Southeast Geopolitical zone. Igbo tribe is the only zone in Nigeria that the 5 core states speak only one language called Igbo. We are made up of 5 politically demarcated states.

That is Abia,  Anambara Enugu,Imo, and Ebonyi states.  These five core Igbo states are one bloc. We speak one language, and the tradition of Ndigbo is the same. Our performance of breaking of Kolanut Ofo, marital rites,  Umuna, Chieftaincy, Kingship, Ndieze Nwanyi,  Native doctors, and many other things that we have in common. The history of Ndigbo is a tale that is so long that a lot of people would say if they start telling the story, it would take a long time for it to finish.

Ndigbo are people who share love a lot because our culture and traditions are all about love and unity . So, the history of Ndigbo is very powerful, and people want to imitiate them . Igbo are the only tribe in the world that anyway you don’t find an Igbo person, there is no life there, pack your load and run.  Igbos work  so hard to keep friendship and make people around them to be comfortable. They are the only people who want to build house in foreign land and establish businesses. Remember anybody that came into your land and invest, the person is part of you.He doesn’t want to create problem there because, if he causes trouble there, he loses his business and property so Igbos are unifiers. we feel comfortable wherever we are and also make people around  us happy.

Love is the first priority of Igbo man. Unity is second, peace ,third, and making people around us comfortable and many more.

And looking at you as an Igbo king, meaning that you stand absolutely for the Igbos, do you allow other tribes to thrive or come to you for assistance?

Jesus is a saviour of the world, but he started from Israel. So the tribe that made to seat where I am today is Igbo tribe. I am a Nigerian, and Igbo is part of the country . We Igbo believes so much in our country.As soon as we cross the shore of our country, Nigeria, you don’t see yourself again as Igbo, Yoruba, or Efik. you see yourself as a Nigerian.

The Diaspora Igbo throne in Ghana protecting Igbos, defending  Nigerians, in extensions also supports everybody that comes around us in times of need irrespective of the country you are coming from and the tribe you are coming from. Like I said,  Igbo culture is showing love and peace with the people you live with, so I’m not only supporting the Igbo but the entire humanity that comes around me. And remember, my wife is also a Ghanaian. So Ghanaians are also welcomed in my home. People you see all around here are Ghanaians.

For someone to take up this throne or be crowned as king, does he or she have to be from the royal family before he can inherit the throne?

No, this is Diaspora throne and it does not necessarily mean that you must come from a royal family before Ndigbo would choose you to be their Diaspora king. It is all about community decisions based on merit. The community can only decide for those who support the community. Before they do that, they will find out how hardworking you are. they look at the love you show to the people. they look at how  you bring Igbo together, a whole lot of things they look out for before the community chooses who is going to lead them.It does not mean you must come from a royal home. It could be any Igbo man as long as the community love you and they want you to be their king.

Now, looking at you beng Eze in a foreign land, one  would say it is not an easy task. Can you brief us on how this becomes a realty and if there were any predecessors before you.

Sometime in 2010,Igbos in Ghana made me the first Igbo New Yam festival 2010. You can see the picture somewhere over there. You can see that was the first Igbo  New Yam festival in Ghana.

Soon  after this program, the Igbos in Ghana realised that by performance, the type of love I have got our tribe. and they started approaching me to be the first ever Igbo Diaspora king in Ghana. I refused as of that 2010. 

What I looked at first of all was that my children were still little. I don’t want to go into a Chieftaincy issue that would cause a problem for me, or that could lead to tussle. But they kept telling me that you don’t have territory that  we are protecting. That is pure cultural issue. 

Normally, being a king leads to death, litigation, and tussle…

It all depends. There is always litigation over Chieftaincy, so I look at all this areas, I don’t want to lose my life at an early age, I don’t want to put my children in danger. I told them I didn’t want it. that was in 2011.

In 2012, I accepted it to be the first ever Igbo Diaspora king in Ghana and to God be the glory, I was made the Igbo king in Ghana and as a foreigner, we also reached out to owners of the land, the Ga traditional council, and paramount s in Ghana and we made ourselves available and introduce ourselves to them letting them know our intentions and the purpose of Igbo Diaspora king. That it was not made to challenge authority of the land but it is Kingship over tribes like you have the Zamarawas, Malians and Yoruba Kabiyesi in  Ghana and Sariki Hausawa and stuffs like that so ours is called Eze the way you have areas in Ghana where some answered Nana, Nene etc. like the great kingdom of Dagbon. so the Igbos is called Eze or Igwe so  made the paramonces to know who we are and our objectives and by the special grace of God the people of the land loves what we are doing and endorsed it.

To be made a Diaspora king after your people have chosen you have process, Our father’s from home has to recognize the Diaspora king. You know we  have Diaspora structure that crowned Diaspora king. this was founded by Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu of blessed memories. There are king makers that he ordained and Diaspora kings that he ordained and from there many were also ordained so we also flew them in from Nigeria to come and establish the  Igbo Diaspora both one, So they came here to crown me as the 1st Igbo  Diaspora king and also gave me permission to crown other sub kings under me.

The first ever subking I crowned was Eze Samuel Ekezie. from Dansuma, second Eze Kennedy Nwakanma. in Madina,3rd was Eze Chuma Okadigbo,, 4th was Eze Andrew in  Amasama. and now he has been made king in his village back home in Nigeria.5th was Eze Victor  Anyim in Aflao, 6th Size Tony Ulasi,7th was Igwe Kingsley in Central region, 8th Eze Abuchi in Kasuwa,9th is Eze Kingsley also in Ashiama.Thr last but not the least that we did in December 22nd 2024 in Tamale is Eze Collins.

All this are under me being their head. The purpose of all this is to bring our people together and close to their selves because  I alone can not see to everyone so we appoint Eze in different regions and town to oversee the affairs of our people. Before we do this, we visit the paramount traditional king of such communities for endorsement of the new Igbo sub kings. They would tell us the rights and thereafter induct the new sub Diaspora kings. and we then perform our own traditional rites after they have completed theirs. That shows  that the owners of the land have welcomed you to be a foreign chief in their land.

Looking at the Igbo apprentice scheme, would you say it has contributed to the successful ship that we see among Igbo people?

The apprentice scheme has brought wealth  among people of Igbo, reasons:  If Igbo man come, maybe here in Legon. Maybe he has come to sell beed in a small shop. Tomorrow, he will travel hime to bring someone, not from his family but very different home to come and teach him trade. they may be living in a small room. next time, he brings another person, maybe within 6 months, he has brought in 3 persons to teach them how to sell this beed. Now this is my home, I take someone from neighbouring villages and town for apprenticeship. Within 4 years of apprenticeship , I gave him money to go and start his own business. You are no longer serving me. Now, you have learned and mastered the trade.  You can now stand on your own.

But during the service, any payments?

During service, there is no payment because you come to learn as you have  come to learn, and I will take care of your welfare. for four or five years, depending on what you signed as an agreement. with the parent or guardian of that person.

Remember  that once you settle him and he set up his business, you have also brought wealth into that family.

Thereafter, he would also take in one or two persons.thats how the wealth creation scheme is replicated across Igboland.

That is why in Igboland, we believe in service. and when you serve diligently, you receive blessings to go and prosper, and that’s why wealth is spreading fast in Igboland. we are so much into trade and manufacturing.

It has brought a lot of benefits to Ndigbo home and abroad.

New Yam festival celebration. Give us the historical background, planning, and why the date is fixed at a particular time of the year.

First of all, Igbo believes that Yam is the king of all crops. Our forefathers established a new yam festival to be the best festival, bigger than other festivals, and they celebrated yam bigger than other crops.Thats why in Igboland, we have those crowned bas king of Yam. Your yam barn in those days determines your worth in society. Your yam barn is big, then you are a rich man. 

just like in Ghana here where farmers’ day is celebrated and the winner goes home with a car, farmer  would also be crowned king of Yam. this is a festival that started way back from our fathers, and we don’t want it to die.

The Igbo New Yam festival began several years ago, and to date, it is still in existence. to cut the story short, the festival is a thanksgiving tir.we celebrated yam from June to October. this is the time to harvest yam, so we are now coming together to say God, we thank you for a successful harvest and pray for bigger yield and bumper harvest in the next farming season.

we Igbo that live in Diaspora celebrate  New Yam festival when our fathers back home have celebrated starting From June July Throu August, then we from Diaspora, continues. It would also interest you to know that it is not only in Nigeria here that we have Igbo Diaspora king. we have them in other parts of the world, too. So they celebrate the festival too. Here in Ghana, we started in 2010, but since I ascended this throne on 30th August 2012,  till now, we have celebrated the festival for 12 years. We are also going to celebrate this year.

We do it 3rd Sunday of every September and  Do it would hold 21st of September. It would also interest you to know that this year we have about 20,000 people in attendance. We believe. God, we shall have more than that number in attendance.  The venue we often use is Efusutaland Children Park, so I’m using this opportunity to invite you and your crew member for the grand occasion that would feature masquerades and the best of Igbo culture. Those things you see in African magic are what we display live.

Do you accept the gift or sponsorship of this program?

Igbo New Yam festival is a programme that costs us a whole lot of money as we invite people from all over the world. Last year, we had over 1000 people from Nigeria. Remember, we take care of flight tickets for Royal Father coming for the program. we take care of hotel bills and other logistics to make their stay in Ghana comfortable. We are open to receiving financial support from people. we need sponsorship so that the festival can continue with its razzmatazz. It is a programme that attracts people from all over the world.

How true is the insinuation that one man can marry two sisters? is that truly part of Igbo culture?

In Igbo tradition, one man never married two sisters of the same parentage.infact, it is seen as taboo.

But your  brother can marry the sister of your wife, your brother can marry other females from your wife’s family.  Some family would also tell you that they don’t want you to marry siblings of your wife it all depends on what that family wants.

Kindly tell us about Queen Mother, your wife

I met my wife here in Accra in 1998. we  met around May and we married in August of that same year this is my 26 years in marriage, She is from Central region. She is also Queen Mother in her community Birwa, Central region. we are blessed with 5 biological children and 9 adopted children. My wife’s name is Ugoeze Liberty Ihenetu, Nana the 1st So she is a humble, beautiful and great Ghanaian.and I want to use this medium yo tell my wife that I love her.

What excites you about Lagos City?

Lagos is the New York of Africa. a city where everyone is up and doing. A City whether you are pregnant or old,you jump into moving bus, a City where nobody cares whether you are moving fast or slow, a City where you can pick money in the streets not physical money but opportunity. A city where you live for one year and can survive in any part of the world, a city where you can meet your destiny helper. Lagos is the best city in the world. thank you