Ozikoro
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Subject

Bridewealth

2 records filed under this subject

Traditional Igbo money: Cowries, manillas, brass rods – uses and value

Before the imposition of the British pound and the modern naira, the Igbo people of Southeastern Nigeria operated within a sophisticated and multifaceted economic system. This system was supported by various forms of “commodity money” that facilitated local trade, regional exchange, and the “commercial empire” of the Niger Delta hinterland. The evolution of Igbo currency…

The Solemnity of Iya: The Highest Form of Kalabari Marriage

Among the Kalabari people of the eastern Niger Delta, marriage is not just a union between individuals. It is a binding relationship between families, lineages, and the spiritual order. While several levels of marriage exist, none is as revered or socially prestigious as Iya, often described as the “solemn,” “complete,” or “highest” form of Kalabari…