The Igbo-African Ecology and Worldview: A Framework for Sustainable Eco-Communitarianism

The Igbo people have a strong relationship with nature and many cultural practices that teach people good ways to protect the environment. Their traditional way of life is farming, fishing, and craftwork, which depends on nature. Despite colonization, globalization, and their adventurous spirit having changed many things, the Igbo still hold strong to their primary…

ByChukwunwike OssaiJune 11, 20250Comments

Igwa Nshi Festival: A Sacred Celebration of Heritage in Eke, Udi, Enugu State

Igwa Nshi Festival, Eke - Ou Travel and Tour. The Igwa Nshi Festival is a revered cultural and spiritual event celebrated by the Eke community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. This festival is deeply embedded in Igbo tradition, serving as a time for ancestral veneration, thanksgiving, and communal unity. It is one…

ByChuka OdikeMarch 11, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory ⁠Religion and Spirituality

Ikeji Festival, Arondizuogu: A Grand Celebration of Igbo Tradition and Cultural Heritage

Masquerade on display at Ikeji Festival Arondizougu, 2024. - Photo by Ou Travel and Tour. The Ikeji Festival of Arondizuogu in Imo State, Nigeria, stands as one of the most significant cultural events among the Igbo people. This annual festival, celebrated with grandeur and deep-rooted tradition, marks the end of the farming season and the beginning…

ByChuka OdikeMarch 3, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage ⁠Religion and Spirituality

Okazi Festival, Emii: A Celebration of Heritage, Unity, and Tradition in Imo State

Okazi, Emii Festival men in display photo by showlate entertainment limited. The Okazi Festival, also known as Ite Okazi, is a prominent cultural celebration held annually in Emii, a community in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. This festival typically occurs in late December or early January, aligning with the traditional calendar of…

ByChuka OdikeMarch 2, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory ⁠Religion and Spirituality

Nchaka Festival: A Celebration of Heritage, Spirituality, and Harvest in Ogba Land, Rivers State

Photo from the Nchaka festival 2023. The Nchaka Festival is a prestigious annual celebration among Ndi Ogba of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. This event, typically held between November and December, marks the end of the farming season and serves as a time for thanksgiving, purification, and communal unity. The festival, which centers around…

ByChuka OdikeMarch 2, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage Indigenous Architecture ⁠Religion and Spirituality

Mbari Artists: The Spiritual Painters of the Igbo People

Mbari is a unique and deeply spiritual artistic tradition of the Igbo people, specifically practiced in the Urata (Oratta) and Echie (Etche) regions of present-day Imo State and Rivers State. These magnificent structures are votive shrines built to honor deities, particularly Ala, the Earth Mother, and feature a gallery of human, mythical, and divine figures…

ByChuka OdikeFebruary 9, 20250Comments

⁠Religion and Spirituality

Igbo Cosmology: The Principle of Dualism and Balance

Igbo cosmology is fundamentally based on dualism, the idea that the universe is made up of two opposing yet complementary forces. This duality is often expressed through gender symbolism, where male and female elements exist in a balanced relationship, shaping the structure of life, society, and spirituality. The Philosophy of Balance The Igbo believe that everything…

ByChuka OdikeFebruary 2, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage ⁠Religion and Spirituality

The Igbo Yam Barn: Tradition, Storage, and Celebration

Introduction Yam is an essential crop in Igbo culture, often referred to as the “king crop.” It is not just a source of food but also a symbol of wealth, hard work, and prestige. Ndi Igbo have developed an efficient way of storing yams in structures called “Ọba jị”, or yam barns. These barns contain…

ByChuka OdikeFebruary 1, 20250Comments

Historical Studies

Missionary Perceptions of Africa: A Colonial Narrative

In the early days of European missionary activity in Africa, the continent was often described in highly negative terms. Missionaries, explorers, and traders wrote reports that exaggerated the conditions they encountered, portraying Africa as a land of savagery, darkness, and misery. These descriptions were used to justify their work, arguing that Africa was in desperate…

ByChuka OdikeFebruary 1, 20250Comments

Ethnohistory

Ikot Ishie: An Igbo Diasporic Settlement in Calabar

Photo: "The Calaba and Opobo people at the show, Lagos," 1909 postcard. Introduction Ikot Ishie, a town in Calabar, has a unique history rooted in the Igbo diaspora. It was named after Ishie Offiong Okoho, an Igbo man who was once enslaved but later gained freedom and established his own settlement. Oral traditions tell the story…

ByChuka OdikeFebruary 1, 20250Comments