Ọjị Ndigbo: The Symbolism of the Kola Nut in Igbo Weddings

In every traditional Igbo gathering, from weddings to festivals, one symbol stands above all: ọjị (the kola nut). It is more than a fruit; it is the heart of Igbo hospitality , a token of peace, unity, and ancestral blessing. No ceremony, especially a marriage, begins without it. As the elders say: “Onye wetara…

ByChinemerem OkwuchukwuOctober 31, 20250Comments

Archival black-and-white photograph of Igbo masquerade performance.”

Cultural Heritage Historical Studies

The Diala in Igbo Culture(The Diala and the Osu) Historical Relations and Caste Evolution in Igboland

Ọ bụ ọnụ na-asụ okwu, ọ bụghị obi( It is the mouth that speaks, not the heart). Appearances may differ from true intentions, a warning that surface peace may hide deep division. The Diala–Osu distinction is among the oldest and most enduring social classifications in Igbo history. While the Diala represented the “sons and daughters of the…

ByChinemerem OkwuchukwuOctober 15, 20250Comments

Black-and-white archival photo of Igbo farmers tending yam mounds.”

Cultural Heritage Historical Studies

Social and Political Structure of the Diala in Traditional Igboland

Nwata kịrị ụkwa na be nne ya, ọ gaghị asị na ọ tufuru aka.(A child who eats breadfruit at his mother’s house cannot say he lost his hand.) One who stays within his roots retains strength and identity. In traditional Igboland, the social framework was rooted in kinship, land, and ancestral order. Within this framework, the…

ByChinemerem OkwuchukwuOctober 15, 20250Comments

Black and white photo of Igbo men in Ekpeya festival dance”

Cultural Heritage Historical Studies

The Diala in Igbo Culture:Historical Origins of the Diala

Otu onye tụọ izu, o gbue ọchụ(If one person sets the pace, he kills the walk). No single person can carry all knowledge or responsibilities alone, collective wisdom is better than solitary action. In ancestral Igboland, identity, land, and spiritual purity formed the backbone of community life. Among the many social categories, the Diala stood as…

ByChinemerem OkwuchukwuOctober 15, 20250Comments

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