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''Ogbuefi'' Ojiako Ezenne (1857–1944) was a member of the
''Ogbuefi'' Ojiako Ezenne (1857–1944) was a member of the Igbo tribe
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 si ...
who was appointed by the Colonial government to serve as Warrant Chief (1914–1921) and then Paramount Chief
A paramount chief is the English-language designation for the highest-level political leader in a regional or local polity or country administered politically with a chief-based system. This term is used occasionally in anthropological and arch ...
(1921–1944), of Adazi-Nnukwu Adazi-Nnukwu is a town in Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a countr ...
, now part of Anambra State
Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State ...
in Nigeria. As the new protectorate government, did not in all cases impose a new royal family on native populations, but recognised the ancient ruling families based on Ofo seniority across villages, Ojiako Ezenne as the holder of the ''Ofo Ozo Okpalaekili'', the oldest Ozo
The Nze na Ozo society (pronounced ''Nzeh nah Orzoh''), is the highest and most important spiritual religious and social grouping in the Igbo society of Southeast Nigeria. Initiation into the aristocratic Nze na Ozo society marks the person as n ...
title in Adazi-Nnukwu, became the first African to serve as President of the Agulu Customary Court in 1914, having already served as clan chief between 1907 and 1914 of Amolu Clan, the senior clan in Adazi-Nnukwu. Ojiako Ezenne was a contemporary of Warrant Chiefs such as Muoyekwu Onyiuke of Nimo, Amobi of Ogidi and Nnama Orjiakor of Nibo. Identified by the Colonial Distinct Office, as serving with an excellent record, Ojiako Ezenne on February 1, 1915, chaired the meeting of forty-five Warrant Chiefs in South-East Nigeria that enacted laws terminating the practice of slavery
Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...
in South-East Nigeria, thus pitting him in direct confrontation with the Aro slave dealers.
Ojiako Ezenne had more than 37 wives and was survived by 86 children. Among his children were Okamigbo Ojiako who served as Nigeria’s first Ambassador to Germany in addition to serving as the second Igwe of Adazi-Nnukwu. Another son, Obudume Ojiako Obudume Ojiako http://atduusa.org/convention.htm, served as the third Igwe (Adama) of Adazi-Nnukwu. A sister, Mbafo Ezenne, was married to the late Amanyanabo Owokori VII of Abonnema. He was also a brother-in-law to the Aro politician Igwegbe Odum.
References
{{Reflist Igbo families 19th-century Nigerian people 20th-century Nigerian people People of colonial Nigeria Igbo royalty People from Anambra State