Our Black Peter: How Eze Nri’s 1680s Baptism Preceded America’s 250-Year Tribute

My people, America will mark 250 years of freedom in 2026. They portray Saint Peter as a Black man with keys to liberty. But our Nri story of Black Peter began over 340 years ago. In the late 1680s, Portuguese missionaries baptized our Eze. He emerged as “Eze Peter” in Agukwu-Nri, carrying the Bible and bell back home. By combining Eze Nri’s traditional keys to the land with Christ’s keys to heaven, he forged a unique legacy of spiritual and royal authority. Bible Peter was a Jewish fisherman in 1 AD. Our Peter was 100% Igbo royalty. When the world now celebrates a Black Saint Peter, we remind them that Nri’s own Peter came first and still empowers our people today. Who is your Peter? Ask your elders about your Eze Peter’s name, baptism year, and story. Share it here to build our Book of Nri Peters and show the world where Black Peter truly began.

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