Ala (Earth Goddess) Archives ~ Ozi Ikòrò

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Ofo, uxurhe, and other pieces, including Ikenga, from North Ika Igbo, present-day Delta State. 1930 Photo Credit: G.I. Jones Archives The term Odinala (or Odinani) refers to the traditional cultural beliefs…

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Feb 2026

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Folklores

Traditional Igbo justice systems, village councils (Amala), and trial by ordeal methods

Meeting with a group of Igbo elders during a trip to Nigeria Photo Credit: Last Places The traditional Igbo justice system is a profound manifestation of "republicanism and communal democracy." Unlike…

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Feb 2026

Folklores Historical Studies ⁠Religion and Spirituality

Sacred groves (Ihu Ala) – protection and modern threats

In the heart of almost every traditional Igbo community lies a verdant sanctuary known as the Ihu Ala or Ohia Nso (Sacred Grove). These are patches of primary forest preserved…

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Feb 2026

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies

The Golden Burden: Why Northern Igbo Women Wore Brass Anklets for Life

An Igbo woman wearing ankle plates, Nigeria, West Africa, 1922. From Peoples of All Nations, Their Life Today and the Story of Their Past, volume I: Abyssinia to the British…

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Dec 2025

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies

Odinani and the Igboid Cosmos: The Traditional Religious Worldview

Photo credit; Ozi Ikoro Odinani is the indigenous religious and philosophical worldview of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. More than a religion, it is a holistic system that weaves together…

Tag: Ala (Earth Goddess)

The influence of Odinala (Igbo cosmology) on ethics, reincarnation beliefs, and ancestor veneration

Traditional Igbo justice systems, village councils (Amala), and trial by ordeal methods

Sacred groves (Ihu Ala) – protection and modern threats

Odinani and the Igboid Cosmos: The Traditional Religious Worldview