Nigerian heraldry

Nigerian heraldry is the system of heraldry that exists in Nigeria. It dates to the country's pre-colonial period, and due to an absence of a central heraldic authority, it is currently largely unregulated.

Components

Although Nigeria's hereditary signifiers are primarily

Vexillology

The flags that have been used to represent the various

A number of kingdoms and clans in Nigeria have also had totems. Mostly taking the form of animals, these generally represented religious and/or social commonalities, and often had a series of taboos associated with them.

For example, leopards are an important totem in many parts of Southern Nigeria. Intelligent and courageous, they were seen in Benin symbolism as the Obas' animal counterparts - The "Lords of the Bush".^[4] Even today, they often still serve as symbols for powerful individuals (such as the Oba of the Akure Kingdom amongst the Yoruba people)^[5] and associations (such as Ekpe amongst the Efik).^[6]

Ideograms

Some kingdoms also made use of ideograms in their traditions. These were often quite unique, and a number of them were passed down by way of heredity thereafter.

Amongst the Yoruba, Solomon's knot is commonly viewed as a royal symbol. In addition to its usage on regal robes, crowns,

Private heraldry is, like the quasi-heraldic customs described above, unregulated in Nigeria. Most of its practices are therefore governed more by loose convention than they are by official statute, and it is technically legal to assume another's arms in the absence of

Much of this heraldry (including a great deal of that which is connected to members of the

The coat of arms of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a legally enforced aspect of the country's identity. It consists of a black shield with a wavy white

since 1978: "Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress" (formerly "Peace, Unity, Freedom").

The various states also have public symbols, known as seals, that are independent of those of the Federal Government. They too are defined and protected by law.

Foreign heraldry

Francis Cardinal Arinze

.

Anthony Olubunmi Cardinal Okogie

.

Lastly, there is an old tradition of Nigerians or their heirs holding or otherwise being entitled to achievements of arms in other heraldic traditions.

Starting with the politician and newspaper publisher Sir

many of the country's most prominent figures over the course of the succeeding three decades were awarded membership in the imperial gentry in a de facto sense by way of knighthoods, although their not having had legal achievements assigned to them by the College of Arms or the Court of the Lord Lyon during their lifetimes due to either their indifference or their lack of knowledge of what was due to them meant that this was not enshrined in heraldic law, nor was this gentry status subsequently regularized or otherwise bequeathed to any of their lineal successors. In fact, many of these knights - like Sir Adeyemo Alakija, Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu and Sir Ladapo Ademola

- did indeed leave behind nationally influential descendants that could well have inherited and used their progenitors' arms in their own careers had they received some upon their being honoured by the British monarch.

Since Nigerian independence in 1960, the knights have been supplanted by clerics as the country's largest body of people that are entitled to claim foreign arms. Both of the cardinals whose arms are displayed here are - by virtue of their religious titles -

Vatican law

.

A unique modern case is that of John Alexander Ladi Thynn, Viscount Weymouth, who is currently the heir apparent to the arms (and associated titles) of his father

Emma, he is of Nigerian descent.^[12]

Links to the Nigerian chieftaincy system

As previously alluded to, many of the people in Nigeria that have, once had or were technically entitled to have arms were or are linked to the country's chieftaincy system. This is very much in keeping with the traditional connections that exist between heraldry and the aristocracy in other countries.

For example, the first five presidents of Nigeria's fourth republic - including current incumbent Chief

seal of the president

).

Sir Ladapo Ademola was himself a

Egbaland, while Sir Adeyemo Alakija and Cardinal Arinze have both also held chieftaincies - the former in the court of Sir Ladapo (his brother-in-law) and the latter amongst the Igbo people

.

For their part Cardinal Okogie is a prince of the

Ladi Jadesimi

, a Yoruba chief.

See also

• South African heraldry

References

1. ^ Sura 55, verse 76."Sura 55". The Quran. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
2. ^ Sura 76, verse 21."Sura 76, The Human (Al-Insaan)". The Quran. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
3. ^ "Sura 18, The Cave (Al-Kahf)". The Quran. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
4. ^ "Oba with Animals, Altar to the Hand (Ikegobo) of Ezomo Ehenua [Nigeria; Edo peoples, court of Benin] (1991.17.113,1996.11)". Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
5. ^ "Akure: City Swallowed By Rocks". The Sun. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
6. ^ "The Most Prominent Secret Societies In Nigeria". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
7. ISBN 1-58008-272-6
   . (Two Nigerian chiefs wear garments with embroidered Solomon's Knots, p. 63.)
8. ^ "Mai Dagin Arewa". British museum.org. 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
9. ^ "National Symbols - Emblem". Nigeria's 50th Independence: Celebrating Greatness. Archived from the original on May 6, 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
10. ^ "Sir Kitoyi Ajasa: The First Knighted Nigerian Who Devoted His Newspaper To Sensitize Nigerians When 1918 Epidemic Was Killing Thousands". Neusroom.com. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
11. ^ Macmillan, Alistair (1920). The Red Book of West Africa. Frank Cass and Co.
12. ^ "Lord Bath's Vicious Family Feud". The U.K. Mirror. Retrieved 14 April 2020.