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Onicha Olona is an Enuani settlement of the western Igbo people, located west of the Niger River in present-day Delta State, Nigeria. The Enuani, like other western Igbo groups, trace their ancestry to migrations from the eastern Igbo centuries ago. Their historical interactions with the Edo and Igala kingdoms shaped their political and cultural…
At the center of Anioma (Western Igbo) culture, The cult of Mkpitime stands out as a fascinating practice deeply rooted spiritually in the traditions of Ndi Anioma. It is an ancient system of religion, as recorded by anthropologist Thomas in his Anthropological Report on the Ibo-speaking People of Nigeria, giving a hard-to-find glimpse into the…
Left: Original photo of an Igbo woman, Puruma (Mkpurumma)?, photographed by Northcote Thomas, Onicha Olona, 1912. Right: A stunning colourized version by Chuka Odike, 2025. This photograph of an Igbo woman, likely Nkpurumma, was originally captured by British anthropologist Northcote Thomas in Onicha Olona in 1912. The image highlights the beauty and cultural identity of…
The story of Onicha settlements, deeply rooted in the heritage of the Umu Eze Chima lineage, is a significant part of Igbo history. These settlements trace their origins to Eze Chima, a patriarch whose migration from the western region of present-day Nigeria catalyzed the formation of numerous communities. Among these, Onicha Ugbo (now in Delta…
The historical figure of Ezechima, often referenced as the progenitor of the Anioma Igbo-speaking communities, has sparked widespread debate concerning his origins. While some accounts suggest that Ezechima was a Benin man who migrated eastward, others argue that he was fundamentally Igbo, with his migration being a result of interactions with the expanding Benin Kingdom.…
The Igbo people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria and Africa, have a rich cultural heritage that has been documented through various mediums. Among these are the photographs of Igbo women captured by British anthropologist Northcote Thomas between 1910 and 1911 during his ethnographic surveys. These photographs, now preserved and some colourized, provide…
The family shrine is a cornerstone of Igbo spirituality, reflecting the community’s connection to their ancestors, deities, and symbols of authority. In the early 1910s, Northcote Thomas, an anthropologist, photographed a family shrine in Onicha Olona, located in present-day Delta State. The shrine prominently featured key elements of Igbo religious and cultural life: the Ikenga,…
During the Bristish expansion during the chaotic years in the early 19th century, they were faced with rebellion, fearlessness, and resistance from Onicha-Olona and Anioma society at large. A fierce campaign was planned against the Bristish authority by The Ekumeku Chiefs of Onicha-Olona, including Dunkwu, Elumelu, Ebora, and Ikemefuna To stop the efforts to…
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