There are no Kings in the Highland of Kings

[Sylvester Ogbolu-Otutu]

Dear Ukwuani Brothers and Sisters,

I wish to again reinforce that there are no kings in the Highland of Kings.

As is usually expressed in other words - 'Ukwuani enwe eze' (Ukwuani people do not have kings or there are no kings in Ukwuani).

We also recognize a certain truth that says 'Ukwuani bu ani eze' - which means that the Highland (Ukwuani) is the Stronghold of Kings - or belongs to Kings; because he who occupies the uplands has the power to control the adjoining lowlands; and lowlanders cannot conquer the entrenched forces in the highland area. (Cf. those in the uplands simply run down to ravage the lower lying region, whilst those lowlanders would have the very difficult 'uphill' task of trying to conquer the highland).

It is a deep metaphysical abstraction to ponder that there are no Kings in the Highland of Kings, and there is a reason why it is indeed so. It is the same type of conundrum that underpins why the closest relative of an Ukwuani person (of the highland) is an Ndosimili person (of the water).

In the order of creation, the Heads of Lineages are more important than the Kings - and as such, the Kings are not actually at the top of the pecking order. There are people who are higher than kings - who are not kings themselves, but give birth to kings. Those who insist on earthly kingship are always looking for power, influence/position, and material wealth. This a human creation that is very ephemeral in its temporal context. On the other hand, those who are eligible for Bloodline kingship are of divine descent or authority, and this is based on service of the particular Bloodline that controls the kingship. The natural philosophical system of this is very different and is to times everlasting.

I have often mentioned that another country that has a culture of natural chieftaincy is Scotland, where they have clan-based Highland Chieftains, and the 'Legend of the Highlander' is well-developed and understood in their natural philosophical system. I have studied that system, and correlated some understanding of that system to our original/natural Ukwuani (Highland) system.

The Scottish Highland Chiefs always resisted the attempts by Kings from England to control them (Cf. Ukwuani people always (historically) resisting the attempts of Bini kings to subjugate them through wars. Such stories are extant in the folklore of many Ukwuani clans - including even how the Bini soldiers could not prevail against Ukwuani fighters despite the presence of a Bini giant - 'Igwuala' (or Oguola). This is also similar to the David and Goliath story).

After many centuries of wars between the English and Scots, the Scots eventually decided to start installing their own kings. What was their experience? It did not endure.

Eventually, the Scots agreed to the Treaty of Union that created the United Kingdom. Even up till today, the Scottish people are still clamouring for independence. 

There is something in the primordial Highland (Ukwuani) spirit that wants to remain forever free. This is one secret of Highland spirituality - the understanding that you cannot be free when you are ruled by another - that makes them to abhor those who are not free (considered 'incomplete'), hence such people are usually excluded from their rituals and natural orders of clan succession).

The fact that there are no kings in the Highland of Kings is a metaphysical truth that will endure to times indefinite.

In our lifetime, all the ersatz kings that have been created in Ukwuani because of political intrigues/manipulation will die off, because this is not natural.

The major autocephalous clans in Ukwuani such as Unor-Ebedei, Utagba-Unor, and Akoku will never have kings because these clans continue to hold on to original Ukwuani traditions, beliefs and understanding. I also think that the straight-shooting Abbi and Ogume people will resist any attempts to have any artificial kings.

I cannot speak for Utagba-Ogbe, Umuebu, Umukwata, Amai, Ezhionum, Emu, etc.

Eventually, we shall be forced to separate ourselves from those who, by creating fake kings to rule over them, are no longer considered as true and free Ukwuani people. 

There are no kings in the Highland of Kings, and the enduring secrets from natural philosophy are more important than legalistic constitutions that have been contrived by human beings to achieve a political objective.

Thank you.

Sylvester Ogbolu-Otutu

Unor-Ebedei on the Ethiope River

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia