The Arochukwu Oracle, also known as Ibini Ukpabi or the "Long Juju" Photo: Pulse
The Arochukwu Oracle, also known as Ibini Ukpabi or the "Long Juju," was the heart of the Aro Confederacy, a powerful group led by the Igbo people in southeastern Nigeria from the 1600s to the early 1900s. Based in Arochukwu, now in…
A group of young people from different age grades at the December 2011 ILA OSO Festival . Photo by Gifty-e
The ILA OSO festival is a significant cultural event of the Uzuakoli people, located in present-day Abia State, Nigeria. With a history spanning over two centuries, this vibrant festival is deeply rooted in the traditions and…
Ikpirikpi-ogu War Dance
The Ikpirikpi-ogu War Dance, also called the Ohafia War Dance , is a famous traditional dance in Eastern Nigeria. It comes from the Ohafia people of Abia State and is a way to show bravery, strength, and history. Strong men perform it to remember their ancestors' victories in battle…
In the heart of Isuikwuato LGA, Abia State, lies an ancient and unyielding tradition that governs the lives of its young men, a sacred law that demands respect, lest it unleash fatal consequences upon an entire family.
Among the Oguduasaa people, it is considered a grave taboo for an unmarried man to impregnate a woman without…
Textile patterns from the Ndoki Igbo women's weaving industry at Akwete, in what is now southern Abia State. National Library of the Netherlands, The Hague.
Young male Nkporo initiates dancing masks with tall fibre extensions, Eastern Igbo area (p.d. Abia State), 1930s. Photo: G.I. Jones.
The 1930s witnessed a remarkable documentation of the vibrant cultural practices of the Nkporo people, located in the eastern Igbo area of what is today Abia State, Nigeria. Through the lens of G. I. Jones, a…
Otiri Ngbagba Ikoro Masquerade from Abiriba. Photo: Jones Archive
The Ngbagba Ikoro masquerade is a thrilling cultural performance from the Igbo town of Abiriba in Abia State, Nigeria. It showcases the region's rich art and culture. The Masquerade, with the prominent character Otiri, gives insight into the social life, skills, and creativity…
A man from Isuochi. Photographed by G. I. Jones, 1930s.
Isuochi, located in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria, is a significant community within the Igbo ethnic group. It is made up of several villages and towns. Towns in Isuochi include: Umuelem, Ndiawa, Achara, Ihie, Lomara, Mbala, Amuda, Ngodo and Umuaku.
Known for its rich…
A map of Abia State highlighting Uturu, the site of the Ngodo Ancient Kingdom. Photo: Semanticscholar
Ngodo, also known as the Ngodo Ancient Kingdom, is an important archaeological and historical site in Uturu, in the Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria.
The site is famous for Stone Age tools and provides much…
Ọ̀kọ̀nkọ̀ masks at Umuowa in the central-Igbo area (Imo) on the cover of African Arts. Photographed by Eli Bentor, March 1988.
The Okonko masquerade is a central cultural and social institution among the Southeastern Igbo people of Nigeria, particularly in the Umuahia area of Abia State. It is a vital expression of the Ekpe society, a…