Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage

Embodied Spirits: Igbo Wood-Masked Dancers and the Cultural Significance of Masquerades in Ugwuoba, 1959

Small group of Igbo wood-masked dancers in various raffia and leaf costumes, Ugwuoba village, Nigeria.' Simon Ottenberg, 1959. Smithsonian. In 1959, anthropologist Simon Ottenberg documented a small group of Igbo wood-masked dancers in Ugwuoba village, Nigeria. These dancers wore elaborate costumes made of raffia and leaves, which are traditional materials commonly used in masquerades across various…

ByChukaOctober 22, 20240Comments

Anthropology and Ethnography ⁠Religion and Spirituality

Rituals of Protection: The Akalogoli Charm and Igbo Beliefs on Malevolent Spirits in the Early 1900s

Burning palm flower [man burying akalogoli charm to ward off evil spirits]. Photo: Northcote Thomas, early 1910s.In the early 1910s, Northcote Thomas captured a photograph titled “Burning palm flower [man burying akalogoli charm to ward off evil spirits].” The term Akalogoli is thought to derive from the Igbo words akala, meaning sign or mark, and…

ByChukaOctober 22, 20240Comments

Historical Studies

Beyond the Slave Trade: The Aro Confederacy’s Adaptive Commerce and Colonial Misinterpretations

Photo by Charles Partridge of a dance in Ibom, Arochukwu in 1903. "The first Europeans to visit Arochukwu, in 1901, noted with some surprise — since it contradicted what they had been led to expect by their superiors — that the Aro trade in factory goods was no less than their trade in slaves, and that…

ByChukaOctober 22, 20240Comments

Indigenous Architecture ⁠Religion and Spirituality

Art, Spirituality, and Authority: The Ekpe Society’s Ngwomo-Style Meeting House in 1930s Igbo Culture

Ngwomo Ghost House - G.I. Jones 1930s. "View of Ekpe (Egbo) society meeting house in Umuajatta (Olokoro) village [Umuahia area]. The house had a tall thatched roof, and a wall painted by an Annang artist in the style of Ngwomo ghost houses. Surrounded by trees." G. I. Jones, 1930s. The from the 1930s fieldwork of G. I.…

ByChukaOctober 22, 20240Comments

Historical Studies

How Ogwezi Left Ubulu-Uku and Started Abbi

The story of Prince Ogwezi, who left Ubulu-Uku to create the settlement now called Abbi, is an important part of the history of the people in that area. This story has been told by many generations and explains how Ogwezi traveled far from his home and founded a new community. Today, Abbi is a peaceful…

ByIde NzeOctober 22, 20240Comments

Historical Studies

Nigerian Federal House of Representatives at the capital, Lagos, (1956)

Nigerian Federal House of Representatives at the capital, Lagos, 1956. This photo from 1956 at the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives at the capital, Lagos, during Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh's visit, The photo would be a powerful reflection of the racial hierarchy imposed during British colonial rule in Nigeria. The arrangement of Europeans, notably…

ByChukaOctober 21, 20240Comments

Ethnohistory

Okpu Ngwo: The Symbolism and Use of the Raffia Hat in Afikpo Cultural Tradition

Afikpo man wearing okpu ngwo raffia hat, Mgbom village, Afikpo Village-Group, Nigeria. "Tom Ibe, my field assistant wearing okpu ngwo (hat-raffia). Diviners (dibia) use it when carrying sacred objects for swearing an oath somewhere, but anyone can do so when it rains. Ancient hat form rarely seen nowadays. Note that it was used in Afikpo Yam…

ByChukaOctober 21, 20240Comments

Historical Studies

Navigating Trade and Interaction: The British Navy Expedition to Aboh on the Niger River

British navy expedition on the Niger River going to the Igbo town of Aboh. Photo From Views on the River Niger. London: John Murray And Ackerman, 1840. The British Navy expedition to the Niger River, specifically to the Igbo town of Aboh, was part of a broader effort by the British to explore West Africa and…

ByChukaOctober 21, 20240Comments

Anthropology and Ethnography ⁠Religion and Spirituality

Craftsmanship and Spirituality: The Role of Ikenga in Igbo Blacksmithing Traditions

Ikenga in House of Chief Okku of Idu — Two Small Ikenga used as blacksmith mascots. In Tribes of the Niger Delta by P.A. Talbot, the Ikenga figures mentioned in the house of Chief Okku of Idu, particularly the two small Ikenga used as blacksmith mascots, provide an interesting insight into (Okoba/Alensaw) Ogba-Igbo spiritual and cultural…

ByChukaOctober 21, 20240Comments

Cultural Heritage

Atilogwu: The Vibrant and Acrobatic Dance of Igbo Cultural Expression

Igbo Atilogwu performance, Enugu, 17 March 1990. Photo by Tim Graham. Igbo Atilogwu is a vibrant and energetic traditional dance performance from the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria, significantly in the Wawaa areas of Igboland; parts of Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi States. The Atilogwu dance, a highly energetic and acrobatic performance, is one of the most celebrated…

ByChukaOctober 21, 20240Comments

Blog Standard

Embodied Spirits: Igbo Wood-Masked Dancers and the Cultural Significance of Masquerades in Ugwuoba, 1959

Rituals of Protection: The Akalogoli Charm and Igbo Beliefs on Malevolent Spirits in the Early 1900s

Beyond the Slave Trade: The Aro Confederacy’s Adaptive Commerce and Colonial Misinterpretations

Art, Spirituality, and Authority: The Ekpe Society’s Ngwomo-Style Meeting House in 1930s Igbo Culture

How Ogwezi Left Ubulu-Uku and Started Abbi

Nigerian Federal House of Representatives at the capital, Lagos, (1956)

Okpu Ngwo: The Symbolism and Use of the Raffia Hat in Afikpo Cultural Tradition

Navigating Trade and Interaction: The British Navy Expedition to Aboh on the Niger River

Craftsmanship and Spirituality: The Role of Ikenga in Igbo Blacksmithing Traditions

Atilogwu: The Vibrant and Acrobatic Dance of Igbo Cultural Expression

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