Nnama

Nnama is the name of an Igbo Royal family from Nibo, Awka LGA, in Anambra State, Nigeria. Other variations include Nnama-Orjiakor. They are part of the Umu-eleh clan (umunna) in Umuenechi, Umuanum, Nibo. This clan is part of the greater Umu-Nzekwe clan.

Colonial administration

Nnama Orjiakor was the ruler of Nibo for many years before being appointed a Warrant Chief and Paramount Ruler in 1896 by Queen Victoria of England during the colonial administration of Nigeria by Lord Lugard.

Amongst notable Royal personalities also honoured by Queen Victoria were Onyeama of EKE, Obi of Onitsha, Idigo of Aguleri, Eze of Ukpo, Agwuna of Enugu Ukwu, Onwurah of Awka, Kodilinye of Obosi, Nwodo of Ukehe and Ojiako Ezenne of Adazi-Nnukwu.

Nnama was appointed the Chief Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal for Awka province in 1896 and served in that jurisdiction till his death in 1945. He was also elevated as a Judge in the Provincial Customary Court of Appeal for the Old Onitsha Province in 1898. The colonial province of Onitsha covered the geographical area known today as Anambra and Enugu States of Nigeria.

Royal families

The British did not impose new Igbo royal families but recognised the ancient royal families who signed the "Instrument of Surrender" as the Royal Niger Company and the Queen's Battalions conquered towns and villages in Eastern and Southern Nigeria.

Prior to the British conquest of Nibo, Nnama was the Deputy Chief Judge of the legendary "Omenuko" Court headed by Okoli Ijeoma of Ndike, a warlord ruling over all the towns in what is now known as Anambra State from 1856 until the British conquest of the heartland in 1896. Nnama sealed a lifelong blood treaty with this warlord in 1876 through the marriage of his sister to Crown Prince Nwene Ijeoma.

Surrender to the British

Nibo was the first town to capitulate to the British Army. Nnama sent emissary to Okoli briefing him of the mighty military strength and arsenal of the British Battalion and informing him that the Nibo War council had decided not to wage a futile war but to surrender. Okoli sent a "flag-staff" message to NNama and, after wishing him farewell, vowed that he would never be ruled by any other king: white, red or black. He kept preparing for war. After the "bloody massacre" of Agulu town warriors, Okoli a continued to fight the British until his army was badly broken. He dressed up in his royal robe, sat on his royal throne and put himself down after drinking from the royal cup. When the British army arrived at Ndike, Okoli was gone at his word.

Record

Nnama's record is documented in some of the colonial records of the British administration for old Awka and Onitsha provinces. He was mentioned in the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (page 124 of the expanded edition). Nnama's Court called "Obi" which was constructed in 1876 still stands as a historical monument in Nibo town.

His son Crown Prince Joshua Orji Nnama became a missionary and leader of the Anglican Church in 1913, and spent his life converting people to Christianity in an area extending from present day Anambra State to as far as Rivers State. He and his wife Selina Mgbafor (maiden name Ezekwe, a princess of the Ezekwem family in Ezeawulu, Nibo) built the All Saints Anglican Church Nibo, which is part of the Niger Diocese of the Nigerian Anglican church.

The Descendants of Nnama are too numerous to be listed as the Nnamas constitute a clan living in Nigeria, Europe and United States. The ancestral home of the Nnamas is the Nnama Royal Court at Nibo, Awka LGA, Anambra State of Nigeria.