Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage

Ala, Ani, Ana, Elí, 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:…

ByOdike2 hours ago0Comments

The Spiritual and Economic Importance of Yam Crops in Anioma: A Connection to Influence of Nri kingdom

Yam holds an important and general position amoung Anioma people , aside being a staple food, it's also a vital representation of spirituality, economic power, and status. This crucial traditional practice with yams mirrors the traditional practice from Nri kingdom, an ancient Igbo kingdom which played crucial role as the cultural and spiritual source of most…

ByChukwuwike Ossai3 hours ago0Comments

Anthropology and Ethnography Ethnohistory

Nibo people of Awka.

A woman of Nibo, present day Anambra State, Nigeria photographed by British government anthropologist Northcote Thomas, c. 1912. Nibo, a town located in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, known for its skilled blacksmiths and craft workers in pre-colonial times. According to oral traditions, Nibo was founded by an ancestor named Ifite, who led his…

ByOdike7 hours ago0Comments

Anthropology and Ethnography

Shared cultural heritage between the Oratta (Urata) and Etche people.

"The goddess of the earth," as described by P. A. Talbot, c. 1932. Musée du quai Branly. This may be Ala, the Igbo earth divinity and the man pictured may be an Eze Ala, a head priest of Ala. Ala is represented by trees and shrubs. Etche and Oratta tribes share several cultural, linguistic, and traditional…

ByOdike1 day ago0Comments

Anthropology and Ethnography

Arioku Deity.

March 1, 1946. Deity recorded as Arioku, a deity that is sworn to, in Enyiogugu, Mbaise, central Igbo area, Eastern Nigeria. British Museum. Ariọkụ, is a deity primarily associated with Enyiogugu and some communities in Mbaise, a town in Imo State and also neighbouring communities in Abia State. The deity plays a significant role in the religious…

ByOdike1 day ago0Comments

Cultural Heritage

Beyonce seen wearing an Okpogho or Ikpeghe Brass/Copper Jewelry.

The general name for brass and copper rods in Igbo is okpogho or ikpeghe. These coiled 'snake manilla' rods could form part of a bridewealth payment and could be, as modelled in this photo, used as jewellery. Photo: @Beyonce by Tony Duran for Flaunt Magazine, July 2013. Okpoho refers to traditional brass or bronze bracelets commonly…

ByOdike2 days ago0Comments

Ethnohistory Historical Studies

Eboe Town (Igbo Town), located in Belize City.

Eboe Town in Belize City, Belize in the 1829 Honduras almanack. Columbia University. It existed until the mid-19th century, when it was destroyed by fire, but played a significant role in shaping the local Creole culture. The town’s population was predominantly of Igbo (Eboe) descent, along with individuals from other African groups such as the Ashanti…

ByOdike3 days ago0Comments

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage

Cultural similarities between the Ogba and Oguta people.

Owu mask, Ugwuta (Oguta) area, 1940s. Photo via Sabine Jell-Bahlsen. The Ogba people of Rivers State and the Oguta people of Imo State also known as the “Riverine Igbo”. (Oru/Olu) which they call themselves and share several cultural similarities rooted in their geographical proximity within the Niger Delta region and their historical ties to the broader Igbo…

ByOdike4 days ago0Comments

Ethnohistory Historical Studies

The similarities between the Nri and Ogwashi-Ukwu.

Ogwashi-Ukwu celebrates new yam festival. Similarities between the Ogwashi-Ukwu and Nri. The Ogwashi-Ukwu and Nri share several cultural, historical, and traditional similarities due to their connections to the broader Igbo civilization. Both communities have rich histories and are rooted in Igbo culture. 1. Igbo Ancestry and Cultural Heritage: Anioma - A Social History of the W estern lgbo People…

ByOdikeOctober 7, 20240Comments

Cultural Heritage

The casting of Afa and it’s role in Igbo land.

Diviner Stephen Nwedozie casting afa chains in Umuazu Nise, Nigeria, 1966. Photo: Herbert Cole. Stephen Nwedozie, a renowned diviner from Umuazu, Nise, was photographed by Herbert Cole in 1966, casting afa chains. Afa, the Igbo system of divination, is a vital part of the culture and religious practices, offering spiritual guidance and solutions to personal and…

ByOdikeOctober 5, 20240Comments

Tag: Igbo

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

The Spiritual and Economic Importance of Yam Crops in Anioma: A Connection to Influence of Nri kingdom

Nibo people of Awka.

Shared cultural heritage between the Oratta (Urata) and Etche people.

Arioku Deity.

Beyonce seen wearing an Okpogho or Ikpeghe Brass/Copper Jewelry.

Eboe Town (Igbo Town), located in Belize City.

Cultural similarities between the Ogba and Oguta people.

The similarities between the Nri and Ogwashi-Ukwu.

The casting of Afa and it’s role in Igbo land.

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