Indigenous Architecture ⁠Religion and Spirituality

Ala, the Earth Mother: The Sacred Guardian of Igbo Morality and Fertility

Ala (also spelled Àlị or Ani) is one of the most significant deities in Igbo cosmology, embodying the earth, morality, fertility and justice. She is the giver of life, the receiver of the dead, and the enforcer of divine law. Among the Igbo, she is deeply revered, and her sacred laws, known as omenala, govern…

ByChuka OdikeFebruary 9, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage

The Sacred Art of Mbari Houses: A Glimpse into Igbo Votive Shrine Galleries

photographed by A. A. Whitehouse, 1904. Mbari houses are sacred votive shrine galleries created by the Urata-Echie Igbo people, primarily in what is now Imo and Rivers States, Nigeria. These structures are built in honour of deities, most commonly Ala, the Igbo Earth Mother, as well as other significant spiritual entities such as Amadioha (the god…

ByChuka OdikeJanuary 21, 20250Comments

Anthropology and Ethnography Indigenous Architecture

The Igbo Mbari House: A Cultural and Historical Perspective

"I[g]bo MBARI house. 28/2/46. at EBELE, OWERRI [now in Imo State, Nigeria]. Figures of telephone operators" William Fagg. British Museum. 22 June 2018The Igbo Mbari house is a traditional architectural and artistic expression of the Igbo people in southeastern Nigeria. On February 28, 1946, a notable Mbari structure was documented at Ebele, Owerri (now part…

ByChuka OdikeNovember 23, 20240Comments

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage

Ala, Ani, Ana, Elí, Ali Aja – The Earth Mother/Goddess in Igboland

Ala by the artist, Ezem, in Enyiogugu, Aboh-Mbaise, Nigeria, 1960. Photo by Herbert M. Cole. In Igbo mythology and traditional religion, Ala (also known as Ani, Ana, or Eli) is the Earth Goddess or Earth Mother serving as: - Fertility and agriculture: ensuring fruitful harvests and abundance - Morality and justice: maintaining social order and punishing wrongdoing - Protection:…

ByChuka OdikeOctober 12, 20240Comments

Ethnohistory

Ohafia’s Matrilineal Heritage: The Forgotten Founders and Enduring Legacy

Photo: Ohafia, 1930s. G. I. Jones. One version of the origin of Ohafia matriliny describes how pregnant women, during the migrations of the Ohafia people, were sometimes left behind—either because they were in labor or due to the suspicion that they would give birth to twins, which was considered an abomination. Ohafia's rich cultural history reveals a…

ByChuka OdikeSeptember 27, 20240Comments

Tag: Goddess

Ala, the Earth Mother: The Sacred Guardian of Igbo Morality and Fertility

The Sacred Art of Mbari Houses: A Glimpse into Igbo Votive Shrine Galleries

The Igbo Mbari House: A Cultural and Historical Perspective

Ala, Ani, Ana, Elí, Ali Aja – The Earth Mother/Goddess in Igboland

Ohafia’s Matrilineal Heritage: The Forgotten Founders and Enduring Legacy

Best Choice for Creatives