Cultural Heritage ⁠Religion and Spirituality

The Spiritual Power of Ose Oji: Alligator Pepper in Igbo Culture and Beyond

Alligator pepper and it's seeds. (Ose Oji). A small fiery seed pod, known as Ose Oji or alligator pepper, cradled in the hands of an Igbo elder during a sacred ritual in Nigeria. This humble spice, also called mbongo or hepper pepper, holds profound spiritual significance across West Africa, believed to be a sacred fruit that…

ByChuka OdikeApril 20, 20250Comments

Ethnohistory ⁠Religion and Spirituality

Igbo Cosmology: The Sacred Chi na Ékè in Creation and Division

A world where the universe begins with a single, all-encompassing force, splitting into two to weave the fabric of existence—this is the essence of Igbo cosmology, a profound spiritual framework in Nigeria. At its core are Chi, the primal essence, and Ékè, the force of creation and division, whose interplay shapes the Igbo understanding of…

ByChuka OdikeApril 20, 20250Comments

Historical Studies ⁠Religion and Spirituality

Alusị in Igbo Culture: Guardians of Tradition and Spiritual Balance

Alusi with its priest and its ritual iron belled staff, Ösü (Orsu), West Isuama Igbo. Photo by G. I. Jones, 1930s. The concept of Alusị (also spelled Arusi or Arụsị) in Igbo culture represents the detailed relationship between the people and the spiritual world. These deities or nature spirits are believed to serve specific roles in…

ByChuka OdikeJanuary 26, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage ⁠Religion and Spirituality

The Creation of the Four Igbo Market Days: A Mythological Perspective

Photo: Mbari votive shrine in Percy Amaury Talbot (1926). “The people of Southern Nigeria.” Flight. II, fig.13. via the Musée du quai Branly. Creation of the days from the Owere. The Igbo people have a rich cosmology that explains the origin of time and space through their traditional belief systems. According to the Owere (Owerri) narrative,…

ByChuka OdikeJanuary 26, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage Historical Studies Photos

Cultural Artifacts of Igbo Society: Ikenga and Ofo

The Igbo culture of Nigeria is rich in symbolism and traditional artifacts that reflect its worldview, spiritual practices, and societal structure. Among these artifacts, the Ikenga and Ofo stand out as powerful representations of personal achievement, moral authority, and spiritual connection. This article explores these artifacts using historical photographs and the cultural context in which…

ByChuka OdikeJanuary 1, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage

Traditional Funeral Rites: How Igbos Bury Their Dead

Abiriba Dancers in Performance at a Funeral. Photo: Ikenna Onwuegbuna The Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria hold their cultural traditions in high esteem, particularly those related to Death and the Afterlife. The three major events in the life of an Igbo are birth, marriage, and death. Marriage is arranged, whereas birth…

ByIdenze EzemeDecember 30, 20240Comments

Cultural Heritage ⁠Religion and Spirituality

Ide Miri Arusi’: A Feminine River Divinity in Igbo Cosmology

Understanding “Ide miri arusi (juju) by which the people take oath,” reads a note written in a photo album by British anthropologist Northcote Thomas, accompanying a photograph taken around 1910–11. This brief yet profound description highlights the way European observers of the time often misinterpreted and generalized African religious and cultural practices using the term…

ByChuka OdikeDecember 26, 20240Comments

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Photos

Young Men of the Ogbolo Age-Grade: Uli and Hairstyles in Achala, Nigeria

In 1939, British colonial art historian K. C. Murray photographed a group of young men belonging to the ogbolo age-grade in Achala, a community in the north-central Igbo area of Nigeria. This photograph, notable for its depiction of the young men adorned with uli body art and finely styled hair, captures a significant moment in…

ByChuka OdikeDecember 19, 20240Comments

Anthropology and Ethnography Ethnohistory Photos

Colonial Anthropology and Igbo Society: A Woman and Child from Agukwu Nri

In the early 20th century, British anthropologist Northcote Thomas embarked on a series of anthropological surveys commissioned by the British colonial government. His work primarily focused on the cultures, languages, and social structures of various ethnic groups in Nigeria, including the Igbo people. Between 1910 and 1911, Thomas conducted extensive research in southeastern Nigeria, producing…

ByChuka OdikeDecember 19, 20240Comments

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Photos

Totemic Animals and Conservation in Igbo Communities: The Case of Sclater’s Guenon

In many traditional Igbo communities in southeastern Nigeria, totemic animals hold a special place in cultural and spiritual life. These animals are often viewed as sacred protectors of the community, with taboos surrounding their killing or harm. This practice has not only reinforced the spiritual and cultural identity of these communities but has also played…

ByChuka OdikeDecember 19, 20240Comments

Tag: Igbo Cosmology

The Spiritual Power of Ose Oji: Alligator Pepper in Igbo Culture and Beyond

Igbo Cosmology: The Sacred Chi na Ékè in Creation and Division

Alusị in Igbo Culture: Guardians of Tradition and Spiritual Balance

The Creation of the Four Igbo Market Days: A Mythological Perspective

Cultural Artifacts of Igbo Society: Ikenga and Ofo

Traditional Funeral Rites: How Igbos Bury Their Dead

Ide Miri Arusi’: A Feminine River Divinity in Igbo Cosmology

Young Men of the Ogbolo Age-Grade: Uli and Hairstyles in Achala, Nigeria

Colonial Anthropology and Igbo Society: A Woman and Child from Agukwu Nri

Totemic Animals and Conservation in Igbo Communities: The Case of Sclater’s Guenon

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