Igbo and African Contributions to the American Steel Industry

— Walter C. Rucker Jr. (2010). Igbo. In: Encyclopedia of African American History. ABC-CLIO. p. 53. Photo: Ukpuru The contributions of Igbo people and other Africans to the American steel and iron industry remain one of the lesser-known but highly significant aspects of African heritage in the United States. Many enslaved Africans, including Igbo blacksmiths, were…

ByIdenze EzemeMarch 29, 20250Comments

Historical Studies

The Influence of Igbo Art in Late 18th-Century Virginia

Igbo People in Virginia and Their Craftsmanship During the late 18th century, the transatlantic slave trade was at its peak, and many enslaved Africans brought to Virginia came from the Bight of Biafra, a region dominated by the Igbo ethnic group. The Igbo became one of the largest African ethnocultural groups in Virginia at…

ByIdenze EzemeMarch 23, 20250Comments

Ethnohistory Historical Studies

Bussa’s Rebellion of 1816: The Largest Uprising Against Slavery in Barbados

The Bussa Rebellion, which began on April 14, 1816, stands as the largest slave revolt in Barbadian history and a significant event in the broader resistance to slavery in the Caribbean. Named after Bussa, an enslaved man of Igbo origin, the rebellion was a coordinated and determined effort by African-descended enslaved people to resist the…

ByChuka OdikeJanuary 9, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies

Cultural Continuities: The Igbo Origins and Global Legacy of Masking in the Caribbean and Americas

Introduction The Caribbean and Americas are cultural mosaics where traditions from Africa have been preserved, adapted, and disseminated through centuries of displacement and cultural exchange. Among these traditions, masking holds a significant place. This article explores the detailed links between the masking traditions of the Bight of Biafra, specifically Igboland, and the vibrant masquerade practices…

ByChuka OdikeJanuary 2, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies

The Shared History of Bandana and George Textiles: A Cultural Journey from India to Africa and the Caribbean

Photo by @rootinnajumieka on Instagram Textiles have long been a medium of cultural exchange and storytelling, bridging continents and peoples. The journey of the Jamaican bandana and the George cloth begins in Madras (modern-day Chennai), India, and stretches across West Africa to the Caribbean. These fabrics, originally tied to colonial trade and slavery, have been reimagined…

ByChuka OdikeJanuary 1, 20250Comments