Ogwugwu: The Great Igbo Spiritual Mother

Uli painting on the walls of the Ogwugwu shrine, Nibo, present-day Anambra State, Nigeria. Photographed by one of Northcote Thomas’s assistants in 1911. Photo: Re-Entanglements. Ogwugwu is a special ancestral spirit in Igbo culture, deeply loved as a powerful mother figure. She connects the living with the spiritual world, especially through rivers and land. This article…

ByIdenze EzemeJuly 28, 20250Comments

Masquerades performing during the Arobinagu Agwunsi Festival at Nri

Cultural Heritage

Arobinagu Agwunsi: The Agwu Ofia Festival in Igbo Culture

Masquerades performing during the Arobinagu Agwunsi Festival at Nri. Photo - Vanguardngr The Arobinagu Agwunsi, commonly known as the Agwu Ofia Festival, is a vibrant celebration among the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. This festival honours Agwu Nsi, the Igbo deity of healing, divination, and wisdom, who plays a central role in Igbo spirituality. Held annually…

ByIdenze EzemeJune 13, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

Reinterpreting Masculine Cultural Traditions: The Hidden Influence of Women in Igbo Festivals

This picture shows a woman who is one of the women maskers of Nkaliki, shot by Herbert Cole in 1983, dancing an Ogbodo Enyi mask amidst her female supporters. Africa is a continent with many cultures. In places like Southern Nigeria, where the Igbo people live, one culture that almost everybody knows is the masquerade (or…

ByChukwunwike OssaiMay 31, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies

Umuada: The Silent Matriarchs of Igbo Society and the Spirit of African Feminism

Ụmụada Group Umuada is a strong traditional group among Igbo people in Southeast Nigeria. Women who created it are daughters of one lineage or community. Whether they are married or not. The word "Umuada" is derived from the Igbo words "Umu" (meaning "children" or "plenty") and "ada" (meaning "daughter"), so it translates to "daughters of the…

ByChukwunwike OssaiApril 26, 20250Comments

Biography Cultural Heritage Historical Studies

Tony Uchenna Ubesie: The Igbo Novelist, Biafran Voice, and Cultural Torchbearer

Tony Uchenna Ubesie (1949-1994) is a big name in Igbo Literature. He also fought as a Biafran soldier during the Nigerian Civil War. He's also a very serious cultural person who loves everything about the Igbo language and tradition. It comes from Achi, in Enugwu State, Nigeria. This man has good knowledge even in writing.…

ByChukwunwike OssaiApril 24, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory ⁠Religion and Spirituality

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

Ethnohistory Historical Studies Photos

Haiti’s Independence Day: Celebrating the Igbo Legacy in Haitian Culture

Haiti’s Independence Day on January 1st is not only a commemoration of the first successful slave revolt in the Americas but also an opportunity to reflect on the African roots of its people, particularly the significant influence of Igboland in modern-day Nigeria. The Igbo, brought to the Americas through the transatlantic slave trade, left a…

ByChuka OdikeJanuary 1, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage Historical Studies Photos

Traditional Igbo Tattooing: A Cultural Expression of Identity and Womanhood

Traditional tattooing in Igbo society was more than mere body decoration; it was a deeply symbolic and significant practice, tied to rites of passage, identity, and artistry. The custom of facial and body tattooing, particularly among Igbo women, reflected cultural values, beauty ideals, and societal roles. This practice, which often involved cicatrisation, is most famously…

ByChuka OdikeDecember 19, 20240Comments

Cultural Heritage Historical Studies

Michael Okpara: A Legacy of Leadership and His Remembrance Day

Introduction Michael Iheonukara Okpara (1920–1984) was a visionary Nigerian statesman, medical doctor and nationalist leader who significantly influenced Nigeria’s political and economic landscape, particularly as the Premier of Eastern Nigeria (1959–1966). Known for his focus on agricultural development, industrialization and education, Okpara’s leadership continues to serve as a model for self-reliance and economic transformation in…

ByChuka OdikeDecember 17, 20240Comments

Cultural Heritage

Atilogwu: The Vibrant and Acrobatic Dance of Igbo Cultural Expression

Igbo Atilogwu performance, Enugu, 17 March 1990. Photo by Tim Graham. Igbo Atilogwu is a vibrant and energetic traditional dance performance from the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria, significantly in the Wawaa areas of Igboland; parts of Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi States. The Atilogwu dance, a highly energetic and acrobatic performance, is one of the most celebrated…

ByChuka OdikeOctober 21, 20240Comments