British colonialism Archives ~ Ozi Ikòrò

06

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Historical Studies

From Colonial Rails to Ceremonial Cannons: How the Re-use of Industrial Scrap Transformed Igbo Indigenous Pyrotechnics

The transformation of Igbo pyrotechnic culture from locally forged iron tubes to the sophisticated ceremonial cannons used today offers a remarkable case study in technological adaptation. With the arrival of…

18

Dec 2025

The Njemanze Family and Royalty in Owerri: Tradition, Power, and Historical Memory

Photo credit; Nigerian News Point Owerri, the cultural and administrative heart of present-day Imo State, occupies a unique position in Igbo history. Unlike many Igbo communities that operated strictly through republican…

03

Dec 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Ethnohistory

The Kings of the Delta: The Role and Power of the Amanyanabo of Kalabari

Amayanabo. Photo credit; TVC news. The Kalabari kingdom, one of the most prominent Ijaw-speaking polities in the Niger Delta, developed a sophisticated socio-political structure shaped by centuries of commerce, migration, and…

12

Oct 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Historical Studies ⁠Religion and Spirituality

The Aro Expedition of 1901–1902: When the British Stormed the Spirit World

Tea time at a British camp in Itu, Akwa Ibom, during the 1901 Aro Expedition that led to the invasion of Arochukwu and a three-month standoff with the Eastern Igbo…

25

Jun 2025

Historical Studies

The 1898 British Punitive Expedition and the Catholic Mission in Western Igboland (Anioma)

In 1893, Fr. Carlo Zappa, an Italian priest of the Society of African Missions (SMA), established a Catholic mission in Issele-Ukwu, a significant town in western Igboland. His efforts, however, were met with…

22

Jun 2025

Historical Studies

The Killing of Dr. Stewart and the Brutal Ahiara Expedition of 1905

The story of a white man dragged off his bicycle and killed while riding through Igbo territory has been told in different versions, including in Chinua Achebe’s famous novel Things…

21

Apr 2025

Cultural Heritage Historical Studies

Arochukwu Oracle: The Spiritual Empire That Controlled Trade, Justice, and War in Precolonial Igboland

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…

15

Feb 2025

Historical Studies Photos

Missionary Education and Cultural Transformation in Nigeria: The Case of Abiriba Schools

Pole Vaulting, Abiriba School, today's Abia State, ca. 1930-1940. USC Digital Library. Education in colonial Nigeria was largely controlled by Christian missionaries who used it as a tool for religious conversion…

09

Feb 2025

Ethnohistory Historical Studies

King Jaja of Opobo: The Rise of an Igbo Merchant King.

Introduction King Jaja of Opobo was a powerful 19th-century West African ruler whose life and legacy continue to inspire discussions on resistance, leadership, and economic independence. Born into slavery in…

09

Jan 2025

Ethnohistory Photos

Obi Samuel Okosi I: The First Christian Obi of Onitsha and His Journey to Leadership

Obi Samuel Okosi I, widely known as Obi Onitsha ‘Sammy’ Okosi I, holds a unique place in the history of Onitsha as its first Christian monarch. His ascension to the…