Igwe (meaning ''"Sky"''), is a royal title or method of addressing traditional rulers that control autonomous communities in

Igboland Igboland (Standard ), also known as Southeastern Nigeria (but extends into South-Southern Nigeria), is the indigenous homeland of the Igbo people. It is a cultural and common linguistic region in southern Nigeria. Geographically, it is divided b ...

. In other words,

Igbos The Igbo people ( , ; also spelled Ibo" and formerly also ''Iboe'', ''Ebo'', ''Eboe'', * * * ''Eboans'', ''Heebo''; natively ) are an ethnic group in Nigeria. They are primarily found in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States. A siz ...

approximate the term to the

HRH Royal Highness is a style used to address or refer to some members of royal families, usually princes or princesses. Monarchs and their consorts are usually styled ''Majesty''. When used as a direct form of address, spoken or written, it takes ...

style. An Igwe is therefore defined as a holder of a title of respect and honor in

. Such a person is otherwise known as an

Eze Eze (pronounced ) is an Igbo word which means King. Such words as Igwe and '' Obi'', plus others, are used by Igbo people as titles of respect and homage to the Eze. Igwe is derived from the Igbo word ''Igwekala'' or ''Eluigwekala'', "the sky or ...

. Igwe is also invoked as the name of the Igbo Sky Father, the

anthropomorphic personification Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology. Personification is the related attribution of human form and characteristics t ...

of the heavens themselves. Igwe is also used as a

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

by many

as well. Notable people who make use of the word include: Surname: *

Amaechi Igwe Amaechi Dominic Igwe (born May 20, 1988) is an American retired professional soccer player who played as a defender. Career College Born in Belmont, California, Igwe played college soccer at Santa Clara University before signing a generat ...

(born 1988), American soccer player *

Chioma Igwe Chioma Nisa Igwe (born July 21, 1986) is an American former soccer midfielder. The San Mateo, California native is a former member of the United States U-20 women's national soccer team. From the 2011/12 until 2014/15 she played in the Germa ...

(born 1986), American soccer player *

Ekene Igwe Ekene Igwe-Onu (born December 31, 1988 in Adamawa, Nigeria) is a Nigerian footballer. He currently plays for Enugu Rangers Rangers International Football Club, commonly known as Enugu Rangers, is a Nigerian professional association football ...

(born 1988), Nigerian footballer *

Leo Igwe Leo Igwe (born 26 July 1970) is a Nigerian human rights advocate and humanist. Igwe is a former Western and Southern African representative of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, and has specialized in campaigning against and documenti ...

(born 1970), Nigerian humanist and activist Given name: *

Igwe Aja-Nwachukwu Igwe Aja-Nwachuku (March 31, 1952 – November 17, 2015) was a Nigerian politician. He ended his term as education minister of Nigeria on 17 December 2008. He had been appointed education minister eighteen months earlier. He was replaced as educa ...

(born 1952), Nigerian politician Title: *

Igwe Orizu I (Eze Ugbonyamba) Igwe Orizu I (Eze Ugbonyamba; born 1881–1924) was the 18th Obi of Otolo and the Igwe of Nnewi kingdom. He was the traditional supreme ruler and spiritual leader in Nnewi, an Igbo city in Eastern Nigeria. Eze Ugbonyamba was crowned the King of N ...

(1881–1924), Nigerian monarch *

Igwe Josiah Orizu II Igwe Josiah Nnaji Orizu II (1902–1962) was the 19th Obi of Otolo and Igwe of Nnewi kingdom. He took the ofo of Nnewi in 1924 after his father's death. He is a member of the Nnofo Royal lineage and the successor to his father Igwe Orizu I (Ez ...

(1902–1962), Nigerian monarch *

Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu III (born 30 October 1925) is the 20thDr. John Okonkwo Alutu, Nnewi History (from the Earliest times to 1980/82),Fourth Dimension publishers Obi of Otolo and Igwe of Nnewi kingdom. He is the traditional supreme ruler ...

, Nigerian monarch

See also