A boy about to undergo the Dibia initiation in Ohafia-Igbo.
In the Ohafia-Igbo community of southeastern Nigeria, the initiation of a dibia (diviner or spiritual healer) is a revered process steeped in symbolism, mysticism, and spiritual awakening. This rite transforms a young initiate, often a boy or adolescent, marking his journey from ordinary life to a…
Ndi-Ichie with Okpu Ogịdị, Ofala Festival, Onitsha photo by @Owusi on X/Twitter.
An Ndi-Ichie [titled elders] of Onicha (Onitsha) wearing an ogidi headdress also referred to as nnukwu okpu or the 'Great Crown,' mainly worn by titled men of Onitsha during the towns annual Ofala festival.
The term “Nnukwu Okpu” translates to “large cap” in Igbo. It…
Importance of Kolanuts in Igboland
In Igbo culture, kolanuts hold spiritual and symbolic significance. The number of cotyledons (lobes) on a kolanut determines its importance each type associated with different blessings or ideals in Igbo society.
1. Three Cotyledons (Oji Ikenga or Oji Dike): Symbolizing strength and achievement, this type of kolanut is linked to luck,…
"Abaw Ndonni Market at junction of Ndonni Creek with the Niger" - P.A. Talbot
In P.A. Talbot’s book “Tribes of The Niger Delta”, which examines various communities and their cultures in the Niger Delta, he refers to places like Aboh and Ndoni, important riverine communities with significant historical relevance in the region’s trade and cultural development.…
Aminikoro mask Ogbukele festival, Ekpafia Igbo - G.I. Jones, 1930s
The Aminikoro Mask and the Ogbukele Festival are cultural elements primarily associated with the Ijaw people, The Ekpeye "Ekpafia,” which is an Igboid group seems to have borrowed the masquerade display and culture.
This is suggesting an overlap or connection between the Ijaw and Igbo people, especially…
Left: Titled Igbo woman with full-face ichi marks, Iwollo, 1983. Photo: Herbert Cole. Right: 'Igbo Ukwu' female figure, c. 9th century CE
Titled Igbo Woman with Ichi Marks, Iwollo, Ezeagu in Enugu State (1983), the images evoke a strong sense of Igbo culture and heritage.
Ichi marks are a traditional Igbo scarification design indicating beauty, strength, and…
Awka Nibo Nise. Compound of Nwankwo Irienzuo. House with tower in the background." Zbigniew Dmochowski.
These towers became popular in Igbo compounds around today's Anambra & Imo States due to the effects of the Atlantic slave trade which included raids in order to capture people to enslave.
The towers, also known as "war towers" and known in…
African Genome sample of Igbo mixing with Khoi-san around 9,000 years ago.
A genetic analysis of Igbo samples by The African Genome Variation Project reveals that the Igbo people may have mixed with populations similar to the Khoi-San around 9,000 years ago, a people living today in southern Africa who have the oldest genetic lineage in…
Okpoha Ngodo performance at Okpoha Village-Group, an Igbo village-group northwest of Afikpo, 1959-60. Photo: Simon Ottenberg.
Okpoha Ngodo is a traditional Igbo performance art form, combining: Music (drums, flutes), Dance, Theater and Storytelling.
Okpoha Village-Group, located northwest of Afikpo, is an Igbo community known for it's rich cultural heritage, traditional art forms (e.g., woodcarving, pottery), agricultural practices…