Folklores Archives ~ Ozi Ikòrò

05

His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, the 21st Olu of Warri, and Her Majesty Olori Atuwatse III (Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom) pictured with Nigerian and international guests, highlighting the…

01

Feb 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Folklores

Syncretism in the Palace: How Royal Burial Rites Blend Christian Prayer with Ancient Traditional Protocols

A church-based funeral service in Nigeria, showing mourners gathered for prayer and rites visualising the Christian prayer component that often complements traditional burial protocols in syncretic royal funerals. Photo credit:…

16

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Folklores Historical Studies

The Royal Bronze Casters of the Benin Kingdom

A group of Benin Bronzes (brass/bronze plaques and figures) as displayed in the British Museum. These cast works were originally part of the royal palace complex and court art produced…

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…

26

Dec 2025

Ethnohistory Folklores Historical Studies

Traditional Festivals and Masquerades: How They Connect to Christmas in Eastern Nigeria

Tall masquerade (Izaga) in southeastern Nigerian festival tradition. Photo credit; Wikipedia. In many Igbo communities of Eastern Nigeria, Christmas is not only a Christian celebration but also a season deeply connected…

26

Dec 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Folklores Historical Studies

The Igbo Homecoming Tradition: Origins and Where It Is Today

The Igbo homecoming tradition, often expressed through seasonal returns to the ancestral homeland, is one of the most enduring cultural practices in Igboland. Whether called "ịlọ Ụlọ" (returning home), "ịzapụọ…

24

Dec 2025

Cultural Heritage Folklores Historical Studies

House Systems and Trade Empires: How the “Efik House” (Ufok) Functioned as Both a Family Unit and a Corporate Trade Entity

Map of Calabar. Photo credit; Wikipedia. The Efik of Old Calabar developed one of West Africa’s most sophisticated socio-economic institutions: the “House system,” known in Efik as Ufok. Far more than…

24

Dec 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Folklores Historical Studies

The Middleman Advantage: How the Efik Controlled the Cross River Estuary and Dominated Trade with European Vessels

Palaver of Chiefs on board HMS Decoy, at Duke Town, Old Calabar River - The Graphic 1880. Photo credit; Wikipedia. The Efik people of southeastern Nigeria developed a remarkable position of…

22

Dec 2025

Ethnohistory Folklores

The Ekpe Society: How a Secret Leopard Society Became the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive Branch of the Efik State

King Duke of Calabar, 1895. Photo credit; Wikipedia. In pre-colonial West Africa, traditional political systems varied widely from centralized monarchies to segmentary societies. Among the Efik people of southeastern Nigeria, perhaps…

18

Dec 2025

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Folklores Historical Studies

The Njemanze Family and Royalty in Owerri: Tradition, Power, and Historical Memory

Photo credit; Nigerian News Point Owerri, the cultural and administrative heart of present-day Imo State, occupies a unique position in Igbo history. Unlike many Igbo communities that operated strictly through republican…