50 YEARS ON THE THRONE OF EZE CHUKWUEMEKA ERI: A GOLDEN JUBILEE OF ANCESTRAL HERITAGE, AND THE 2026 WORLD ERI FESTIVAL — TIME TO CONFRONT THE IMPENDING EXTINCTION OF THE IGBO LANGUAGE!
It was a moment of profound joy, cultural pride and unprecedented jubilation as His Royal Majesty, Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, the revered Eze Digboo, Ezeora 34th, and Aka Ji Ovo Igbo, marked an extraordinary 50 years on the ancestral throne of the Eri Kingdom. To witness this historic milestone, in the continued exercise of his royal responsibilities, was indeed a rare privilege. I consider myself particularly fortunate to have been part of this memorable occasion, which also provided an opportunity to offer prayers in honour of our forefathers at the historic Obu-Gad Palace, Enugwu Aguleri, the ancestral seat of the Eri Kingdom.
Beyond the pomp and pageantry, the occasion was a profound reminder of our shared ancestry and historical connections. According to the enduring Eri traditions of origin, Aguleri occupies a significant place in the ancestral history of Ndi Igbo, with generations of descendants dispersing across different geographical territories, establishing settlements and maintaining bonds of kinship. It was equally heartwarming to encounter people from related ancestral communities, including Igbanke in present-day Edo State and communities within Igala, whose historical and cultural connections form part of the wider conversations surrounding our ancestry.
We earnestly pray for God’s continued protection, good health, wisdom and longevity for our revered royal father, that his reign may continue to be peaceful and consequential.
However, beyond the celebrations, one particular issue that featured prominently in conversations among participants arrested my attention: the alarming decline of the Igbo language and the frightening prospect of its eventual extinction.
Indeed, the prediction that Igbo could face extinction within the next 40 to 50 years, if the present trend remains unchecked, is no longer a matter to be dismissed as an academic exaggeration. Scholarly research has already identified the declining transmission of Igbo to younger generations, particularly within the family setting, as a serious threat to its survival.
Although I did not engage extensively in the debate, my reservation was informed by an experience that has continued to trouble me. I recall watching a South-East State Governor addressing his predominantly Igbo-speaking kith and kin throughout an election campaign, exclusively in English. I watched with particular curiosity the expressions of some members of the audience as they struggled to follow the sophisticated English language in which their leader communicated with them. Their body language appeared to convey a rather disturbing message: Let us endure this campaign, collect whatever has been promised, and return to our homes. It happened just last week .
That experience was particularly revealing. What greater evidence of our growing linguistic disconnect could there be than a situation in which a leader cannot, or chooses not to, communicate with his predominantly indigenous-language-speaking audience in their mother tongue?
The contrast is equally striking when one considers political engagements in parts of Northern Nigeria, where presidential aspirants and governors frequently communicate with their audiences in Hausa, even during major political campaigns and public engagements. This is not an argument against the use of English, which remains an important language of national and international communication. Rather, it is a question of cultural consciousness, identity and the deliberate preservation of our heritage.
My question to Ndi Igbo is simple but fundamental: How long shall we continue to celebrate our ancestry, organise elaborate cultural festivals, honour our traditional institutions and proclaim our rich heritage, while allowing the very language that gives expression to our identity to gradually disappear?
A people who abandon their language gradually surrender an indispensable part of their history. As the elders would say, onye chefuo ebe o si, amaghi ebe o na-aga — whoever forgets where he comes from may lose direction about where he is going.
Our traditional rulers, political leaders, religious institutions, schools, parents and, indeed, every conscientious Igbo person must rise to this challenge. Let us speak Igbo to our children at home, promote its use in our schools, encourage its adoption at public functions and deliberately make it relevant to contemporary education, science, technology, governance and commerce.
The 2026 World Eri Festival and this historic Golden Jubilee should therefore inspire something more enduring than celebration: a renewed commitment to preserving our ancestral identity. After all, a people whose language dies must confront the danger of losing an essential vessel through which their history, values and collective consciousness are transmitted.
Let us not wait until the language is lost before we begin to mourn its disappearance. The time to rescue Igbo is NOW!
Sign:
Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Esq. (KSC)
Dunu-Ezeugosinachi
November 9, 2026.