Ethnohistory Archives ~ Page 2 of 35 ~ Ozi Ikòrò

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The historic city of Ile-Ife in southwestern Nigeria, famed as a centre of early Yoruba civilisation and metalworking traditions. Photo credit: Ei’eke via Wikimedia Commons The legend of Igueghae occupies a…

18

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Ethnohistory Historical Studies

Oba Olua and the 1480 Migration: The Exodus of Prince Ginuwa from the Benin Empire

Artistic depiction of Benin royal warriors and attendants from the classical Benin period. Photo credit; Julia Manzerova via Wikimedia Commons The migration of Prince Ginuwa from the Benin Empire in the…

18

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Ethnohistory

The Iwoki Ward: The Specialists of the Gun

The mastery of firearms among many West African communities before and during the colonial era depended heavily on specialized guilds, wards, and lineages responsible for weapon production, maintenance, and ritual…

14

Jan 2026

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Folklores

The Migration of Prince Ginuwa: The 15th-century Exodus from the Benin Kingdom and the Founding of the Warri Kingdom

A historic map illustrating the location and territorial extent of the Warri (Iwere) Kingdom not long after its founding is useful for contextualizing the migration and settlement patterns following Ginuwa’s…

14

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

Ginuwa I (1480–1510): The Life of the First Olu of Warri and the Founding of the Kingdom

The sigil represents the authority and heritage of the Olu of Warri dynasty that began with Ginuwa I. Photo credit: atuwatseiii.com (official website of the Ou of warri) Ginuwa I occupies…

13

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies

Architectural Woodwork: The “Iji-Owa” and Carved Door Panels

Architectural woodwork has long played a central role in the artistic and cultural identity of many West African societies. Among the most distinguished traditions is the use of the Iji-Owa…

08

Jan 2026

Cultural Heritage Discography Ethnohistory Historical Studies

Igbo Musical Instruments : A Lost Art : Udu Drums

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…

07

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

Nkwerre Opia Egbe: A Case Study of Indigenous Technological Resilience Against Colonial Prohibition Laws (1900–1945)

Map of Nkwerre. Photo credit; Public domain/ Wikimedia commons. Nkwerre located in present-day Imo State, southeastern Nigeria was one of the most technologically advanced ironworking communities in Igboland. Famous for its…

07

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

The ‘Eze Uzu’ (King of Blacksmiths): Examining the Socio-Political Power of the Awka Iron-Working Guilds During British Pacification

A young apprentice assisting in a smithy helps illustrate the transmission of indigenous technological skills across generations. Photo credit: Hajjare, via Wikimedia Commons. The Awka people of southeastern Nigeria developed one…

07

Jan 2026

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies

Royal Arsenals: The Role of the Igun Eronmwon Blacksmiths in Arming the Benin Resistance Against the 1897 British Punitive Expedition

The fall of the Benin Kingdom in 1897 followed one of the most organized indigenous military defenses in West Africa. Central to this resistance were the Igun Eronmwon, the royal…