Omu Okwei

Felicia Ifeoma Ekejiuba, popularly known as Omu Okwei or Okwei of Osomari, was born in Osomari, Anambra state, Nigeria in 1872. She was born to a wealthy father, Prince Osuna Afubeho and a mother from the Abo royal family. Her grandfather was King (Atamanya) Nzedegwu of Osomari, who had reigned in the mid-19th century, establishing trading relations with the British and also inviting Roman Catholic missionaries into his kingdom. Omu was a Nigerian trader who created an extensive business network throughout Nigeria and was crowned omu or queen of Osomari in 1935, a tribute to her leadership and success. She is credited with transforming wealth into social and political capital.

Omu Okwei Age

Not available.

Omu Okwei Early Life

Okwei's mother had no male child who survived to adulthood, which limited her claims to her husband's property. Although Omu never had a formal education, her mother made sure she had a good knowledge in trade. At age nine, she was sent to her maternal aunt in the Igala tribe to learn a trade. At that time, the Igala language was very important for trade, and during her apprenticeship, Okwei learned both the language and how to transact business. She returned home at the age of 15 after her father's death. By then, she was successfully trading in food products.

Omu Okwei Career

In 1889, Okwei got married to an influential brass trader but her family disapproved by not taking her bride price. She nonetheless married the man of her choice. Through him and his friends she met and cultivated many important traders and agents. True to her family's expectations, her husband left her the following year. However, valuable business relationships she had forged survived the breakup. With her line of merchandise expanded to include pots, pans, lamps, and clothes, she traveled along the River Niger, exchanging the manufactured goods for foodstuffs from Nigerians which she then sold to the Europeans at a profit. She had also began a lucrative business in palm oil trading.

In 1895, Okwei got married again, and went into business with her mother in law, Okwenu. Although her family again disapproved of her new union to the son of Okwenu Ezewene, Okwei relocated to Onitsha with her son where her new husband and mother-in-law lived. Through Okwenu's contacts, she expanded her products to include tobacco and cotton goods, while also taking care of her family.

Okwei continued to grow her business as she engaged in clay and iron goods. She also grew her network of trade contacts by marrying off her maids and foster daughters to European shop owners, translators, and government officials. When the palm oil industry collapsed during World War I, Okwei changed her trade focus from selling palm oil to selling ivory and coral beads. She exported and sold ivory, and also gathered a large selection of ceremonial ivory jewelry which she rented out for a profit. 

In 1918, when the ticket system was abolished, Okwei set up a business as a money changer, as well as a money lender. She also owned many houses, some of which she rented out. She provided business loans to local businesswomen, and invested in her local market. Her vast wealth also made it possible to import goods directly from England. Omu was also a great leader. She was elected Market Queen, Chairwoman of the Council of Mothers after amassing a fortune. She was also the last merchant queen before the British replaced the Council of Mothers’ traditional role supervising retailing.

In this period of late British colonialism, Omu Okwei was an important transitional figure in Nigeria. She understood the emerging business system better than most Nigerians, and indeed better than most colonialists. At a time when Nigeria had few roads or railways, she built up a trading empire using river transport. She fully understood the British system of currency, using it to accumulate capital, and her organizational and business skills allowed her to trade directly with British manufacturers. Her vast business network was not unlike the great industrial empires founded in America by men like Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, and Andrew Carnegie. 

Omu Okwei Personal Life

In 1889, she got married to Joseph Allagoa, an influential brass trader but her family disapproved by not taking her bride price. Less than a year later, she divorced her husband. In 1895, she got married again to the Opene of Abo.  She had two sons; Joseph from her first marriage and Peter from the second. She died in 1943 in Onitsha, Anambra state.

Omu Okwei Awards

In August 1935, Okwei was given the title of Omu (Queen) of the Osomari, a town in the present day Anambra state. In the traditional dual-sex government, the omu was co-equal to the king, overseeing women’s needs and settling disputes.

Omu Okwei Net Worth

Her net worth is not available.

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