Subject
5 records filed under this subject
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 Efik people of southeastern Nigeria are historically associated with a cluster of settlements along the Calabar River that became collectively known to Europeans as Old Calabar. Among these settlements, Creek Town, Duke Town, and Old Town (Obutung) stand out as distinct political and commercial centers. Each developed its own leadership, social dynamics, and economic…
In the thick green heart of Arochukwu, where mist curls around ancient stones and the whispers of ancestors stir in the wind, stood the shrine of Ibini Ukpabi, the Long Juju of legend. Long before the British learned its name, the oracle’s voice carried across Igboland, settling disputes and sealing destinies. It was not merely…
A thriving settlement along the Lower Niger, known as Idu or Ado Na Idu, bustling with life until an invasion scatters its people, sparking migrations that would shape communities like Onitsha. Recent discussions, paired with historical maps and anthropological evidence, are challenging long-held narratives about Idu’s origins, suggesting it was an independent Igbo settlement—not a…
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.…
Ozikoro