Ogbo ngelenge is an idiophone used by the igbo people of Nigeria. Mostly found among the Isuochi of modern day Anambra state and Mbaise people in modern day Imo state . Ngelenge is cut out from a tree , called osisi ogirishi (ogirishi tree). The instrument is played by hand, made of tuned wooden…
For the people of Northern igbo, their cosmology starts with Ezechitoke a genderless supreme god. Ezechitoke (derived from the words eze [king] chi [spiritual force] and toke [sharer of all goodness]), who is the creator of all things. A force too great to behold, Ezechitoke is assisted bya pantheon of more accessible lesser gods and…
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Zik is known as Nigeria’s most influential Nationalist but less is known as a larger than life figure when it ccomes to pan africanism. ZIK’s wake up call to pan-africanism began when he dropped the official use of ‘Benjamin’, his Christian baptismal name. The incident that led to this was his disqualification on technical grounds…
Itu uli is a tradition carried out during burial rites in alaigbo, it is carried out by the in-laws of the deceased. to pay homage to the deceased. Symbolism of Itu-Uli Itu uli is done to pay homage to the deceased by his or her in laws, it is a way of showing that the…
Mgbeke is a widely known name across alaigbo that translates to a girl child born on eke market day (one of the 4 Igbo market days). But in the modern day parlance Mgbeke translates to an unrefined or local girl today which is a derogatory translation to such a full rich name. The name Mgbeke…
The return of Dr. Simon Ezevuo Onwu to Eastern Nigeria stood as a defining chapter in ambition of a lot of igbos who wanted to be medical doctors and professionals. Revered as the first Western-trained medical doctor from Alaigbo and in Eastern Nigeria as a whole, his journey symbolizes resilience, intellectual brilliance, and service during…
Nnamdi Azikiwe, the “Zik of Africa,” was a pivotal figure in Nigeria’s journey toward independence from British colonial rule. Born in 1904 in Zungeru, Azikiwe combined his roles as a journalist, nationalist, and politician to become one of the foremost architects of modern Nigerian nationalism. His anti-colonial activism came through print media, particularly the establishment…
In Oru (Riverine Igbo), there’s a beautiful culture that is dying out and has dug a crater in family ties . This priced cultural practice which brings together generations of kids to interact and make friends among family ties especially on the mothers side is called Ara na umu. The Literal and Cultural Interpretation Ara…
Nsi gburu mmadu ezam bu nsi eriri na onu a– this means poison that kills someone faster is that taken in through the mouth. In igbo custom, eating a sacred animal is tantamount to eating poison and in ohakpu , eating a snail is equal to pronouncing yourself dead. The Story of Sacred Kinship In…
Have you ever been to a meeting in your hometown and the head of a goat being shared is allotted to your father’s sister’s children as “oke nwadiana” and you are wondering , why should they be given that? Meaning Nwanwa is a grandchild of a family either from a male or a female child.…
Sound classification The Ichaka is made of gourd or calabash loosely covered with beads. When tapped or shaken it produces a rattling sound to compliment other instruments. When you shake an Ichaka, the beads force the walls of the gourd to vibrate, which is what makes it an idiophone. How it’s Made: The Ichaka The…
Sound classification: Igba is a membranophone, which means they produce sound from a vibrating stretched membrane. Igba (Cylinder-drum) is a piece of hollow wood covered at one end with animal hide held down tight with metal fasteners. An Igba can be as small as 7 inches or as tall as 3 feet. For the…
Sound classification Enenke is an aerophone, which means they produce sound primarily through the vibration of a column of air. These instruments include trumpet, opi okike ( opi ike) , and even oja. How it is made Enenke is produced from the horn of a wild animal called “ene” (An antelope). Enenke is used…
Udu Drums Udu is both an African aerophone and an idiophone used by the igbo people of Nigeria. The udu is a clay water jug with an additional hole that aids the sound creation. the instrument is played by hand using a soft hand held device and produces a special and unique bass sound by…
OKIKE is a curved ivory colored music instrument made from elephant tusks or large horn of an Elephant. With an opening by the side and an opening at the edge for producing sound as air is forced through it. It is carried by the ọzọ titled men in Igbo communities. History And Significance Of Okike…
Mgba Okpukpu is the nomenclature for bone setting in Alaigbo, its an age long tradition among ndi igbo. Ndi b’anyi na si na “ ekele onye Akidi , ogwu onye ozo” meaning when a healer is praised , he heals another person. This is true about ndi Mgba Okpukpo or Dibia okpukpo, they have been…
Ikwezi is a coming of age ceremony done for young pubescent women between January to June every year in Mgbidi. It is performed by every clan in Mgbidi except the Aro clan . It’s highlight is the izu ahia ezi that happens at the end of the duration of the program. Historical Background…
Úbò Form: Úbò is an oval shaped instrument that takes the form of a calabash spilt into two and carved with precision . úbò or úbò-aka has 8 metal strings/ keys which are strapped to a wooden soundboard and then hammered onto a half calabash. History: Known to be the oldest musical instrument in…
Ichafu is a common name for traditional headgear in Alaigbo, being the prime fashion accessory for Igbo women for over a century and a half. This article explores the history, origins, etymology and influence of Ichafu on modern-day Nigerian fashion. The History and Etymology of Ichafu Before the widespread use of the term ‘‘Ịchàfụ̀’’, headgear…
Cloud 7 is a music group from Imo state, eastern Nigeria that was led by Cliford David-Nwaire, includes talented musicians such as Ben Jagga, Johnb “ull Iwuamadi, Pat Akpor, Sam Bass, Sunny Dewol, Tom Brown. Their sound merged a blend of highlife and irresistible funk . With their breakout hit “ Beautiful Woman”. They went…
In Nigeria today, everyone talks about the age of industrialization using gas but one man had that vision way back in the 1960’s. Following the recommendation of the Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation, Dr. Micheal Okpara (the then Premier of the Eastern Region), set out to develop a unique one of a kind developmental plan…
Born in the vibrant city of Enugu on 26 march 1946, Williams “Ezechukwu” Onyeabor is one of the well known but misunderstood musical icons of the 20th century. A lot is not known about the earlier days of Williams even about his university education, some accounts suggest that he schooled in oxford, others insist that…