From Living in Bondage to Nollywood: The Rise and Retreat of the Igbo Language in Film

In 1992, a new kind of sound echoed across Nigeria’s television screens. It was not the Queen’s English of colonial echoes, nor the accented Yoruba banter of Lagos streets. It was Igbo, spoken with unfiltered cadence and ancestral rhythm. The film was Living in Bondage , produced by Kenneth Nnebue, and it didn’t just…

ByChinemerem OkwuchukwuNovember 1, 20250Comments

Biography

Vincent Chukwuemeka Ike: Preserving Igbo Wisdom Through Storytelling

In the rich tapestry of African storytelling, one name stands like a steadfast tree by the banks of memory: Vincent Chukwuemeka Ike. A novelist, scholar, and monarch, Ike bridged the world of tradition and modernity through stories that spoke in the familiar rhythm of Igbo proverbs, laughter, and humanity. Born in Ndikelionwu, Anambra State,…

ByChinemerem OkwuchukwuOctober 31, 20250Comments

Chief Of Ndelle, Ikwerre Igbo. Credit: Tribes of the Niger Delta, P.A. Talbot 1910s.

Dick Azundah Hekerem Emejuru: The Man Who Struck the Chord of Division Between the South-South and South-East Igbo People

By Ogwe Chibuzor & Edited by Idenze Ezeme In the contested terrain of southern Nigeria’s ethnic historiography, few individuals have influenced the identity discourse of the South-South Igbo People as profoundly—and controversially—as Late Elder Dick Azundah Hekerem Emejuru. Through his long career in education and his writings on the origins of the Ikwerre, Ogba, and…

ByIdenze EzemeOctober 20, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage Historical Studies

Mazi F. C. Ogbalu and the Birth of Modern Igbo Language and Literature

F.C. Ogbalu. Source: Sun News Nigeria Asụsụ bụ mkpụrụ obi nke mmadụ ( Language is the soul of a people). In the decades after World War II, Nigeria was alive with political awakening. Yet among the Igbo, another revolution was quietly taking place, not on the battlefield or in parliament, but in the classroom and on…

ByChinemerem OkwuchukwuOctober 19, 20250Comments

Anthropology and Ethnography

The Influence of Igbo Women in Language and Cultural Exchange: Insights from Colonial Anthropology

Northcote Thomas (1914). Anthropological Report on the Ibo-Speaking Peoples of Nigeria, Vol. IV: Law and Custom of the Ibo of the Asaba District, S. Nigeria, pp. 5 In his 1914 Anthropological Report on the Ibo-Speaking Peoples of Nigeria , British colonial anthropologist Northcote Thomas observed a fascinating dynamic in the Asaba District: Igbo women played a pivotal…

ByIdenze EzemeJune 25, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage

Ejima: Unraveling the Linguistic Roots of Twins in Igbo Culture

Ejima. Photo - IgboRoyalties In Igbo language and culture, "Ejima" describes twins—two siblings born together from the same mother. Within Igbo traditions, twins hold a unique place, often regarded as a divine gift carrying profound spiritual significance. Beyond its basic meaning, "Ejima" also spurs the concept of a "mirror image" or "twin likeness" for many Igbo…

ByIdenze EzemeJune 7, 20252Comments

Ethnohistory Historical Studies

Abavo and Its Origins: History, Migration, and Cultural Identity

Situated within the Ika region west of the River Niger, Delta state, Abavo people whose history have long been shrouded in conflicting narratives and limited historical documentation. Many colonial reports and local oral traditions have offered contradictory claims for decades. Some claimed to come from the ancient Benin Kingdom, others tracing the lineage of Abavo…

ByIdenze EzemeMay 17, 20251Comment

Anthropology and Ethnography Photos

Achalugo: Meaning of the Igbo Pet Name

A name that dances off the tongue, carrying the grace of an eagle and the pride of a queen, a name that turns heads and warms hearts. This is Achalugo, a cherished Igbo pet name or title bestowed upon women in southeastern Nigeria and beyond, symbolizing beauty, regal elegance, and extraordinary spirit. Rooted in the…

ByChuka OdikeApril 3, 20252Comments

Historical Studies

The Influence of English on the Igbo Language and Identity

Igbo and English. Dmitri van den Bersselaar (1997) "Creating 'Union Ibo': Missionaries and the Igbo Language" The Igbo language, despite being one of the major languages of Nigeria, has faced significant challenges in establishing a strong literary tradition. Unlike Hausa and Yoruba, which have developed into widely used written and literary languages, Igbo has remained secondary…

ByChuka OdikeFebruary 16, 20250Comments

Historical Studies

Debunking the Myth: The True Origin of “Bekee” in Igbo Language

Bèkê seems to have been recorded here which brings the theory that it originated from the Scottish explorer William Baikie into doubt. Westermann, Smith, Forde (1932). Oxford University Press. Originally, "bekee" referred only to Dr. Baikie. Over time, the meaning of the term expanded. The Igbo people came to use "bekee" for all white people, particularly…

ByIdenze EzemeJanuary 20, 20250Comments