cultural identity Archives ~ Ozi Ikòrò

18

Jan 2026

The Seventy Benin Chiefs: The Role of the Noble Sons Who Accompanied Ginuwa in Forming the Itsekiri Aristocracy

The Olu of Warri Kingdom with a group of chiefs, symbolising the enduring aristocratic institutions rooted in the historic migration of Ginuwa with the seventy Benin noble sons. Photo credit;…

18

Jan 2026

Biography Historical Studies

The Ark of Ijala: The Symbolic Vessel that Transported the Benin Princes to the Riverine Territories

Traditional canoeing on a major West African river system, reflecting the kinds of vessels that symbolise movement through riverine landscapes like the Niger Delta. Photo credit; Dotun55 via Wikimedia Commons. The…

07

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

Nkwerre Opia Egbe: A Case Study of Indigenous Technological Resilience Against Colonial Prohibition Laws (1900–1945)

Map of Nkwerre. Photo credit; Public domain/ Wikimedia commons. Nkwerre located in present-day Imo State, southeastern Nigeria was one of the most technologically advanced ironworking communities in Igboland. Famous for its…

26

Dec 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Folklores Historical Studies

The Igbo Homecoming Tradition: Origins and Where It Is Today

The Igbo homecoming tradition, often expressed through seasonal returns to the ancestral homeland, is one of the most enduring cultural practices in Igboland. Whether called "ịlọ Ụlọ" (returning home), "ịzapụọ…

15

Dec 2025

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

Ijaw in the Diaspora: Maintaining Identity in a Globalized World

Ijaw Convention in US: Gov. Diri calls for stronger unity, preservation of Ijaw culture. Photo credit;bayelsawatch.com Global migration has reshaped the cultural landscapes of communities across the world, including the Ijaw…

13

Dec 2025

Biography Discography

Mike Okiri: The Pioneer of Pidgin in Music

Photo credit; The culture newspaper. The history of modern West African music cannot be discussed without acknowledging the profound influence of Nigerian Pidgin English. While many artists have used Pidgin in…

09

Dec 2025

Ethnohistory Historical Studies Indigenous Architecture

Ijaw Material Culture: Canoes, Fishing, and the Architecture of the Mangrove

Children skilled in canoe driving in the Niger Delta. Photo credit: Research gates. The Ijaw people, one of the oldest ethnic groups in Nigeria and the largest in the Niger Delta,…

03

Dec 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies

The Power of the Female Gaze: Women’s Role in Kalabari Masquerade Performance

Photo credit: alamy. Masquerade traditions across the Niger Delta are often portrayed as exclusively male-controlled institutions, with strict rules prohibiting women from participating as performers. However, among the Kalabari people of…

03

Dec 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

Duein Fubara: The Ancestor Screen and the Cult of the Forehead

Photo credit: British Museum Among the Ijo (Ijaw) peoples of the Niger Delta, the Duein Fubara stands out as one of the most important sacred objects linking the living to their…

03

Dec 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Folklores

The Solemnity of Iya: The Highest Form of Kalabari Marriage

Photo credit: BellaNaija Weddings Among the Kalabari people of the eastern Niger Delta, marriage is not just a union between individuals. It is a binding relationship between families, lineages, and the…