OzikoroNkwerre Opia Egbe: A Case Study of Indigenous Technological Resilience Against Colonial Prohibition Laws (1900–1945)
Nkwerre located in present-day Imo State, southeastern Nigeria was one of the most technologically advanced ironworking communities in Igboland. Famous for its Opia Egbe (locally manufactured guns), Nkwerre maintained a longstanding tradition of blacksmithing, rooted in both ritual and craftsmanship. However, beginning in the early 20th century, the British colonial government issued several laws restricting…