The Queen: The Omu of Nigeria’s Delta State I Africa Direct Documentary

Al Jazeera English
Al Jazeera English
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Published 2023-07-05
Her Royal Majesty Obi Martha Dunkwu is the reigning omu of the Anioma people of Nigeria’s Delta State.

An omu, or queen mother, is a leader of women, custodian of the market, a spiritual guide to the community and the traditional ruler – a role that goes back more than 820 years and one that was greatly reduced by colonial rule. This important institution, with its ceremonial practices, comes with its own challenges but remains a significant part of holding communities together.

Chisom Ifeakandu is a Nigerian filmmaker who has worked on several film and TV productions. In 2016, she was one of 20 young African filmmakers to be sponsored by the Africa International Film Festival and the Ford Foundation to study at the Cinefabrique Film School in Lyon, France. She convened The African Way event to showcase young African theatre talent.

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All Comments (21)
  • @emmanuelanyasi8908
    Your trajectory into the Omu traditional institution has elicited newness, a novel experience in what was to become a moribund institution In Okpanam as a community, Anioma nation and Nigeria at large. It is heart-wrenching that the foreign traditions tied in Christianity has branded all we have as fetish, primitive and ungodly. Congratulations for beaming the light of Omuship to the world.
  • @user-uc1fy3wm2s
    Long live madam it is like you who is there to bring peace to communities that we lack here in Ethiopia long live madam
  • @Queenchar86
    May our traditions never be forgotten and live from generation to generations... 🙏🏾 🙌🏾
  • @isiomatheodorandah457
    I am a proud Anioma daughter, proud of my culture and what it represents. Omu Igwe i Obi NWANYI igwwee May you live long.
  • @xavierwisdom3169
    We duff our cap for the Omu Queen No quiet cos I grow up in Issele Uku and Onicha Ogu .We had Omu every Afe Afor.And all market days they line up in white.I loved seeing them and how scared they looked .
  • @oldishandwoke-ish1181
    I love the praise singers! Come to think of it, we have those in the U.K. - msm "journalists" anyone? Fanastic that there is a woman ruler in this part of Africa, she seems to be a great and knowledgeable lady.
  • @ariseshinebright8845
    This is a real Igbo culture and tradition. Our ancestors dedicated high class positions to women before colonisation spoilt a whole lot of things. In my conmunity in Enugu State, there is no boundry a women can not brake. Thats why they set up a lot of titles for women who have accomplished what most men can not, unlike the Europeans, Igbo have been pracricing democracy for more than 3000 years and women wing are included in the parliament.
  • @you-know-who9023
    She seems like a very intelligent person who has made she learned a lot about the hreater world yet values her traditions.
  • @igbounitedforum3386
    Ogonogo ndu na amamife dikwalu gi nne anyi. Ka oche eze gi dibakwa. Iseee.