We Are Not Igbos, Stop Giving Our Children Igbo Names – Agbor Monarch, Ikenchukwu

Agbor Monarch has admonished his subjects to stop promoting Igbo culture such as taking Igbo titles, wearing Igbo title insignia, and red caps and giving Igbo names to their children.

The Dein of Agbor Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Dr. Benjamin Ikenchukwu Keagborekuzi I, who himself bears an Igbo name, enjoined his subjects to stop promoting Igbo culture, describing the Agbor culture as ‘unique and peculiar’.

“I am back and happy to be in the midst of my subjects. This kind of gathering gives me joy because it is an opportunity for me to learn more from my people.”

The Agbor Monarch Ikenchukwu has urged his subjects to cease endorsing Igbo culture and to instead, preserve the uniqueness of Agbor culture. At a recent ceremony in which he was blessing the new Iregwa of the Ogbemudien Community, Pa. Bogi Abagi.

The Dein of Agbor Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Dr Benjamin Ikenchukwu Keagborekuzi I, spoke of his wish to reinvigorate Agbor culture while decrying the practice of giving Igbo names to children.

He spoke of the need to recover the lost glory of the Agbor Kingdom and for all indigenes to embrace change, and to instead pronounce and write native Agbor names for their children. He also went on to call for the discontinuation of wearing Igbo red caps as they are not native to the Agbor Kingdom.

“Soon, I will start driving away my palace chiefs who are fond of coming to the palace, wearing in red caps. Agbor traditions should be respected and preserved for future generations. Parents and the elderly should teach our children and the youths the culture of Agbor. The Igbo red cap should also be dropped as it is not a native cap for Agbor Kingdom. ”

The Chairman of Ogbemudien Community, Hon. Simon Okpali, praised the Dein for his wisdom, while the Onu-Otu of Ogbemudein Community, Julius Ehiabor, expressed his approval of the leadership of the new Iregwa. Mr. Johnbull Okwuogori Aghaulor appealed to the Iregwa to lead truthfully, and Pa. Abagi thanked the Dein, humbly requesting the help of all sons and daughters of Ogbemudien Community.

Agbor is the most populous city among the Ika people. It is located in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, in the South-south geo-political zone of Nigeria. It is estimated that Agbor has a population between 70,000 to 90,000 of which approximately 30% are Igbos. Agbor is the headquarters of Ika South Local Government Area and the Ika or Delta Igbos have direct influence on the Agbo culture and ways of life.