Nri was a kingdom created by the Igbo long ago. The government was a theocracy. The government officials were priests. The religion of this kingdom was Odinani. The economy was based on farming, hunting, and trade. Nri was a slave free zone. The Nri artists were great sculptors.
Nri was started about a millennium ago by a king named Eri. Nri had at least 19 different kings. People working for the king would go to other kingdoms and ask them to join Nri. The leaders of these kingdoms would join by taking a ritual oath. Nri weaken because of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The British took over Nri in 1911.
If you want to know about the Igbo click here.
Nri king was the chief priest. B4 a new king could take the throne, 7 years had pass. In those 7 years the king that died would tell the priest which person should be the next king.
There was taboos (actions you shouldn't do) . If anyone did a taboo they would become spiritually unpure. A whole community could be excommunicated for taboo breaking. Violence was seen as polluting the earth, so it was discouraged.
There was a priesthood that worked for the king. They carried "staffs of peace" they cleaned up areas they were spiritually polluted. Men purchased titles, which gave them authority over legal matters. They became the nobility. They nobility had scars that look like sun rays and it purified them.
Economy
The nobility traded with people on the coast of West Africa. The coastal West Africans trade seashells with the nobility. The nobility imported or exported ivory. If any enslaved African step foot on Nri, they became free.
Religion
If you want to know about Odinani click here.
They used "bronze casting techniques" to make sculptors. They made a lot of elephant head sculptors. They also made sculptors of birds, snails, lizards, etc. Their art influenced people in surrounding areas.
This kingdom has a long history. It had great art, religion, and government. It was anti-slavery and its economy was booming. I give this kingdom an A+.
https://www.academia.edu/9934430/THE_UMUNRI-ENUGWU_UKWU_ANCESTRAL_CONNECTION_A_HISTORICAL_PERSPECTIVE?auto=download
http://www.igbofocus.co.uk/html/nri_is_the_focus_in_igbo_.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Nri
Igbo Celebration
Nri Kingdom
High Chief of Nri
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