African History Archives ~ Ozi Ikòrò

18

Jan 2026

Olu Atuwatse I (Dom Domingos): The First University Graduate in Sub-Saharan Africa (University of Coimbra, 1611)

Olu Atuwatse I, also known as Dom Domingos, stands out as one of the most remarkable monarchs in West African history. Born into the royal lineage of the Warri Kingdom…

18

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Ethnohistory

The Iwoki Ward: The Specialists of the Gun

The mastery of firearms among many West African communities before and during the colonial era depended heavily on specialized guilds, wards, and lineages responsible for weapon production, maintenance, and ritual…

09

Nov 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

Igbo-Ukwu: Revealing the Bronze Age of West Africa

The images show various Igbo-Ukwu bronzes, which are artifacts from a 9th-century civilization in what is now southeastern Nigeria. The Igbo-Ukwu discoveries are renowned for their sophisticated 9th-century bronze artifacts, which…

08

Nov 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Biography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Folklores Historical Studies

Queen Idia: Warrior Mother and the Iconic Ivory Mask.

08

Nov 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Folklores Historical Studies

Benin’s Great Walls: Africa’s Forgotten Architectural Marvel

The image is an illustration of the Walls of Benin, also known as the Benin Moat. The image is a drawing from the 1975 book “The Archaeology of Benin City…

07

Nov 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Ethnohistory Historical Studies

War, Wealth, and Wives: The Annual Customs of the Kingdom of Dahomey

The map of Dahomey. Photo credit: Britannica The Kingdom of Dahomey (c. 1600–1894), located in present-day Benin, established itself as a formidable power in West Africa largely due to its highly…

07

Nov 2025

Historical Studies

The Dahomey Amazon’s: A unique All-Female Military Regiment in African History.

Dahomey women warriors Portrait of Dahomeans, including two dozen of the kingdom's women warriors, taken during a 1891 visit to Paris. Photo credit: Getty Images' Dahomey women warriors, women soldiers of…

06

Nov 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Biography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies Photos

The Legacy of Emotan: Benin’s Beloved Peacemaker and Trader.

The history of the Kingdom of Benin is often told through the exploits of its powerful warrior-kings, the Obas. However, no figure embodies the moral heart and spiritual resilience of…

03

Nov 2025

Biography Historical Studies

Adiele Eberechukwu Afigbo: The Historian Who Gave Igbo History Its Memory

In the annals of African scholarship, some names echo not just through academic corridors but also through the living soul of a people. One such name is Professor Adiele Eberechukwu…

03

Nov 2025

Biography Historical Studies

Kenneth Onwuka Dike: The Igbo Scholar Who Rewrote African History

Oil portrait of Kenneth Onwuka Dike as a young man. Robert Sivell is the artist who painted the original oil portrait, 1940. Source: Wikipedia In the bustling colonial city of Ibadan…