The history of pre-colonial Southeastern Nigeria is often defined by the sophisticated political and economic hegemony of the Aro Confederacy. However, the Aro people were famously not a military society; they were “mercantile diplomats and ritual specialists.” To maintain their sprawling trade network and enforce the “spiritual decrees” of the Ibin Ukpabi (Long Juju) oracle,…
Place Abam, Edda, Ohafia
Masquerades are a cornerstone of Igbo culture, representing complex interplays between humanity, the natural world and societal structures. Photographed by G. I. Jones in the 1930s, these artistic expressions capture the diversity and depth of Igbo spirituality and community life. The masquerades, often depicting fierce animals, mythological creatures and figures blending human and animal traits,…
The Y-shaped currency, referred to as àpá in Igbo, holds significant historical and cultural value in Igbo society. It was commonly used in the Cross River Igbo area, around Arochukwu, Edda and Ohafia, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Known in colonial records as the “Ogoja penny,” this form of currency served as…
“Alaigbo” A breakdown of Igboland cultural regions, ethnic divisions, tribes and sub-tribes. 1. Cross River Igbo (Aro) – Location: Found primarily in the eastern part of Igboland, close to the Cross River area. – Key areas: Arochukwu, Afikpo, Ahaba, Nguzu-Edda, Ihechiowa, Ohafia, Isuikwuato, Abiriba, Bende, and Isiama – Tribes: – Aro – Edda –…