Ibusa Traditional Titles and Honors

In Ibusa as a male child grows from childhood to manhood, he takes a series of hierarchically graded titles. The three most important titles are the Nkpisi, Alo, and Eze or Ozo or Nze or Obi.

Note: Eze title is also called Nze or Ozo or Obi or Ime Mmuo.

Some people call Ozo men redcap chiefs.  Some refer to them by the greeting of Igwe. It is also important to note that only Ibusa men whose fathers are dead have the prerogative to take the ALO and EZE Titles.

The rigid order of taking is as follows: Nkpisi, Alo and Eze.

MGBA NKPISI

All persons who have taken the title of Nkpisi are members of a group that operate at the level of the minimal lineages but have social and political consequences at the Ogbe and town levels.

Only freeborn Ibusa men are allowed to take this title. It is the title at the bottom of the hierarchy of titles. It is a title that gives the individual the right to full Ibusa citizenship and the right to enjoy the democratic freedom available in the unwritten constitution of Ibusa. For example, the person can attend meetings and talk during deliberations. If an Ibusa man killed him, he was entitled to compensation. He has right to live in Ibusa except he has committed an abomination whose sanction is life ostracism. He can be Diokpa of his lineage or Ogbe or Ibusa if he lives long enough to be the oldest man and if he satisfies the other constitutional conditions.

NDI ICHIE OR NKPA ALO

A man becomes a member of the Ndi-ichie group if he takes the Alo title mentioned above. Ndi-ichie deals with disciplinary matters related to all members of their group and those below their group. They also participate in decision-making process in Izu Ibusa, that is the traditional Ibusa political forum.

Eze

The Eze title is the highest and it involves the payment of a heavy sum of money and liberal feasting accorded to members of the Nze association. Ndi Eze is a strong political decision-making group in Ibusa. In Ibusa political forum, they are called upon to decide major issues and they play a major role in deciding land cases. They constitute a major group in the leadership and authority structure of Ibusa.