170:
480:
279:
468:
93:
105:
196:
385:
492:
268:
341:
325:
117:
140:. By using a colour that many have therefore come to identify with the prophet himself to embody the Sultan of Sokoto, a symbolic continuity between this monarch and the religious leader whom he claimed to succeed was implied. The flag of the Aro Confederacy, meanwhile, was designed to inspire awe in all that saw it. The two crowns symbolized the
256:
393:
534:
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 -
582:
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
222:
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". Even today, they often still serve as symbols for powerful individuals (such as the
352:
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
550:
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 -
364:, such as the Erunmu badge rendered here) is composed of similar imagery. For example, both the Erunmu badge and the Okpe one - as well as the flag of the Aro Confederacy from earlier - include blades of some kind. Although these usually take the form of
547:- 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.
595:
215:
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
897:
444:. This flower was chosen for inclusion in the coat of arms as it is found all over Nigeria and also stands for the beauty of the nation. On the banderole around the base is Nigeria's
617:, 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
566:
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
297:
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.
519:
431:
or chargers on each side represent dignity. The eagle represents strength, while the green and white bands on the top of the shield represent the rich soil.
404:
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
507:
Lastly, there is an old tradition of
Nigerians or their heirs holding or otherwise being entitled to achievements of arms in other heraldic traditions.
169:
898:"Sir Kitoyi Ajasa: The First Knighted Nigerian Who Devoted His Newspaper To Sensitize Nigerians When 1918 Epidemic Was Killing Thousands"
567:
832:
749:"Oba with Animals, Altar to the Hand (Ikegobo) of Ezomo Ehenua [Nigeria; Edo peoples, court of Benin] (1991.17.113,1996.11)"
312:
or 'Northern knot' - a star shaped knot used in traditional architecture, design and hand-embroidery - is an established emblem of
132:
and chiefs over the centuries have all followed general rules and have much in common. That of Sokoto, for example, references the
599:
484:
24:
871:
632:
of Uromi, while both Lord
Weymouth and his younger brother Lord Henry Richard Isaac Thynn are the maternal grandsons of Chief
42:
336:. Its designers included Niyi Ijaola, the eldest son and heir apparent of Chief Olugbolahan Ijaola, the Oluroko of Erunmu.
300:
Amongst the Yoruba, Solomon's knot is commonly viewed as a royal symbol. In addition to its usage on regal robes, crowns,
973:
937:
606:
361:
526:
in a de facto sense by way of knighthoods, although their not having had legal achievements assigned to them by the
587:
479:
799:
556:
472:
445:
20:
645:
531:
19:
This article is about heraldry in
Nigeria in general. For the country's public heraldry specifically, see
598:. As president, they each customarily supervised the usage of the national heraldic symbols (such as the
978:
540:
357:- the only judicial protection for such works for every component besides public heraldry (see below).
459:, that are independent of those of the Federal Government. They too are defined and protected by law.
77:) in nature, the country nevertheless has a vibrant heraldic tradition. Its principal components are:
552:
354:
845:
278:
73:
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748:
436:
46:
92:
968:
828:
452:
421:
271:
195:
129:
104:
523:
515:
500:
305:
188:
133:
97:
875:
360:
Much of this heraldry (including a great deal of that which is connected to members of the
723:
698:
669:
536:
527:
441:
405:
109:
522:
over the course of the succeeding three decades were awarded membership in the imperial
384:
571:
544:
329:
204:
137:
58:
448:
since 1978: "Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress" (formerly "Peace, Unity, Freedom").
962:
633:
629:
234:
230:
156:
68:
835:. (Two Nigerian chiefs wear garments with embroidered Solomon's Knots, p. 63.)
511:
313:
287:
208:
183:
121:
304:
and sceptres as a result, it also appears in associated court art. Meanwhile, in
625:
618:
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560:
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413:
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365:
267:
242:
225:
86:
425:
373:
340:
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249:
200:
174:
324:
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496:
333:
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identity, and is commonly associated with Northern Nigeria more broadly.
163:
34:
774:
392:
369:
260:
203:. A male incarnation of this plant is the hereditary totem of the Aku
178:
38:
116:
514:(who arguably became the first Nigerian to theoretically qualify for
417:
301:
155:
were intended to represent the state's warriors, who fought a famous
148:
874:. Nigeria's 50th Independence: Celebrating Greatness. Archived from
388:
The coat of arms of Nigeria, which is defined and protected by law.
490:
478:
466:
428:
391:
383:
339:
323:
277:
266:
255:
254:
216:
194:
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152:
115:
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are an obvious reference to the Owu's long history of farming.
345:
238:
142:
173:
A Leopard's Head container, traditionally used for storing
510:
Starting with the politician and newspaper publisher Sir
128:
The flags that have been used to represent the various
57:
Although Nigeria's hereditary signifiers are primarily
586:
For example, the first five presidents of Nigeria's
624:For their part Cardinal Okogie is a prince of the
424:represents Nigeria's fertile soil, while the two
800:"The Most Prominent Secret Societies In Nigeria"
518:when he was knighted by the colonists in 1928),
596:have all been chiefs of various Nigerian tribes
157:battle against the British in the colonial era
8:
827:. Berkeley, Toronto: Ten Speed Press, 1991,
520:many of the country's most prominent figures
578:Links to the Nigerian chieftaincy system
400:, which is defined and protected by law.
372:instead. Both this and the accompanying
657:
49:, it is currently largely unregulated.
590:- including current incumbent Chief
45:, and due to an absence of a central
7:
568:Ceawlin Thynn, the Marquess of Bath
455:also have public symbols, known as
14:
938:"Lord Bath's Vicious Family Feud"
753:Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
605:Sir Ladapo Ademola was himself a
408:, symbolizing the meeting of the
775:"Akure: City Swallowed By Rocks"
755:. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
699:"Sura 76, The Human (Al-Insaan)"
485:Anthony Olubunmi Cardinal Okogie
434:The red flowers at the base are
25:Seal of the President of Nigeria
628:as a direct descendant of King
555:, and each therefore holds his
290:and Northern Nigerian identity.
348:, a people of the Niger Delta.
263:symbol for a boy named Onuaha.
147:, ruler of the Aro, while the
1:
724:"Sura 18, The Cave (Al-Kahf)"
574:, he is of Nigerian descent.
332:of the Erunmu sub-set of the
274:, a symbol of Yoruba royalty.
41:. It dates to the country's
922:Macmillan, Alistair (1920).
368:, Erunmu's badge displays a
237:) and associations (such as
924:The Red Book of West Africa
872:"National Symbols - Emblem"
362:Nigerian chieftaincy system
136:'s ascribing of the colour
995:
495:The arms of the Thynns of
344:The heraldic badge of the
18:
16:Heraldic system of Nigeria
181:is a royal totem of the
473:Francis Cardinal Arinze
21:Coat of arms of Nigeria
646:South African heraldry
532:Court of the Lord Lyon
504:
488:
476:
401:
389:
349:
337:
291:
275:
264:
219:associated with them.
212:
192:
125:
113:
101:
81:Quasi-heraldic customs
600:seal of the president
570:. Through his mother
553:princes of the church
541:Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu
494:
482:
470:
395:
387:
343:
327:
281:
270:
258:
198:
172:
119:
107:
95:
926:. Frank Cass and Co.
355:copyright protection
557:ecclesiastical arms
43:pre-colonial period
974:Culture of Nigeria
850:British museum.org
636:, a Yoruba chief.
505:
501:Marquesses of Bath
489:
477:
437:Costus spectabilis
402:
390:
350:
338:
292:
276:
265:
213:
193:
126:
114:
102:
47:heraldic authority
846:"Mai Dagin Arewa"
607:traditional ruler
138:green to paradise
130:Nigerian kingdoms
33:is the system of
31:Nigerian heraldry
986:
953:
952:
950:
948:
934:
928:
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919:
913:
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894:
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842:
836:
821:
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764:
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738:
736:
734:
720:
714:
713:
711:
709:
691:
685:
684:
682:
680:
662:
463:Foreign heraldry
320:Private heraldry
306:Northern Nigeria
189:Kingdom of Benin
134:Prophet Muhammad
120:The flag of the
108:The flag of the
98:Sokoto Caliphate
96:The flag of the
994:
993:
989:
988:
987:
985:
984:
983:
959:
958:
957:
956:
946:
944:
942:The U.K. Mirror
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935:
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921:
920:
916:
906:
904:
896:
895:
891:
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879:
870:
869:
865:
855:
853:
844:
843:
839:
823:Laine, Daniel.
822:
818:
808:
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798:
797:
793:
783:
781:
773:
772:
768:
758:
756:
747:
746:
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730:
722:
721:
717:
707:
705:
697:
692:
688:
678:
676:
668:
663:
659:
654:
642:
588:fourth republic
580:
537:Adeyemo Alakija
528:College of Arms
465:
442:national flower
382:
380:Public heraldry
322:
294:
253:
167:
110:Aro Confederacy
90:
83:
55:
37:that exists in
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
992:
990:
982:
981:
976:
971:
961:
960:
955:
954:
929:
914:
889:
878:on May 6, 2011
863:
837:
816:
791:
766:
740:
715:
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656:
655:
653:
650:
649:
648:
641:
638:
579:
576:
545:Ladapo Ademola
464:
461:
446:national motto
381:
378:
330:heraldic badge
321:
318:
286:, a symbol of
272:Solomon's knot
252:
247:
205:priestly caste
166:
161:
89:
84:
82:
79:
54:
51:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
991:
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903:
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877:
873:
867:
864:
851:
847:
841:
838:
834:
833:1-58008-272-6
830:
826:
825:African Kings
820:
817:
805:
801:
795:
792:
780:
776:
770:
767:
754:
750:
744:
741:
729:
725:
719:
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704:
700:
695:
690:
687:
675:
671:
666:
661:
658:
651:
647:
644:
643:
639:
637:
635:
634:Ladi Jadesimi
631:
630:Ogbidi Okojie
627:
622:
620:
616:
612:
608:
603:
601:
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589:
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289:
285:
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273:
269:
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257:
251:
248:
246:
244:
240:
236:
235:Yoruba people
232:
231:Akure Kingdom
228:
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66:
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52:
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48:
44:
40:
36:
32:
26:
22:
979:Nigerian art
945:. Retrieved
941:
932:
923:
917:
905:. Retrieved
902:Neusroom.com
901:
892:
880:. Retrieved
876:the original
866:
854:. Retrieved
849:
840:
824:
819:
807:. Retrieved
804:The Guardian
803:
794:
782:. Retrieved
778:
769:
757:. Retrieved
752:
743:
731:. Retrieved
727:
718:
706:. Retrieved
702:
689:
677:. Retrieved
673:
660:
623:
610:
604:
585:
581:
565:
549:
516:British arms
512:Kitoyi Ajasa
509:
506:
483:The arms of
471:The arms of
456:
451:The various
450:
440:, Nigeria's
435:
433:
422:black shield
414:Benue Rivers
403:
396:The seal of
359:
351:
309:
299:
296:
293:
283:
241:amongst the
233:amongst the
224:
221:
214:
209:Atyap people
182:
141:
127:
122:Kano Emirate
72:
71:based (e.g.
62:
56:
30:
29:
696:, verse 21.
667:, verse 76.
626:Esan people
619:Igbo people
592:Bola Tinubu
583:countries.
561:Vatican law
398:Lagos State
310:Dagin Arewa
284:Dagin Arewa
87:Vexillology
74:masquerades
69:performance
963:Categories
652:References
426:supporting
366:Ida swords
53:Components
733:April 14,
728:The Quran
708:April 14,
703:The Quran
679:April 14,
674:The Quran
670:"Sura 55"
535:like Sir
250:Ideograms
201:Shea tree
175:kola nuts
969:Heraldry
947:14 April
882:14 April
809:14 April
784:14 April
759:14 April
640:See also
615:Egbaland
543:and Sir
497:Longleat
334:Owu Egba
164:Totemism
151:and the
35:heraldry
856:May 28,
779:The Sun
694:Sura 76
665:Sura 55
609:as the
530:or the
370:machete
261:Nsibidi
229:of the
207:of the
187:in the
179:Leopard
39:Nigeria
907:May 9,
852:. 2010
831:
559:under
539:, Sir
524:gentry
453:states
429:horses
420:. The
418:Lokoja
308:, the
302:stools
217:taboos
177:. The
149:musket
67:) and
61:(e.g.
457:seals
410:Niger
314:Hausa
288:Hausa
259:The
153:lance
64:oriki
949:2020
909:2020
884:2020
858:2023
829:ISBN
811:2020
786:2020
761:2020
735:2020
710:2020
681:2020
572:Emma
412:and
406:pall
346:Okpe
328:The
282:The
243:Efik
239:Ekpe
199:The
59:oral
23:and
613:of
611:Oba
602:).
416:at
374:hoe
245:).
226:Oba
184:Oba
145:Aro
143:Eze
965::
940:.
900:.
848:.
802:.
777:.
751:.
726:.
701:.
672:.
621:.
594:-
563:.
499:,
159:.
951:.
911:.
886:.
860:.
813:.
788:.
763:.
737:.
712:.
683:.
503:.
487:.
475:.
211:.
191:.
124:.
112:.
100:.
27:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
