Four Market Days, Eke, Orie (also known as Oye), Afọ, and Nkwọ. Photo: Newswatch, October 5, 1985, p. 53."

Symbolism of the Four Market Days in Igbo Culture

Four Igbo Market Days: Eke, Orie, Afọ, and Nkwọ. Photo - Ikesinachi The Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria have a unique and intricate way of understanding time, rooted deeply in their cultural, spiritual, and natural worldview. Their traditional calendar is built around a four-day week—Eke, Orie ( also known as Oye), Afọ, and Nkwọ.…

ByIdenze EzemeMay 23, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage

Amadioha: The Igbo God of Thunder, Justice, and Creation

A clay statue of Amadioha placed in an Mbari house, as shown in the 1927 work "Some Nigerian Fertility Cults." The Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria have a vibrant spiritual heritage that is deeply rooted in their traditional religion, Odinani (also known as Odinala). At the heart of this cosmology lies Amadioha, the revered god of…

ByIdenze EzemeMay 18, 20250Comments

Haiti’s Independence Day: Celebrating the Igbo Legacy in Haitian Culture

Haiti’s Independence Day on January 1st is not only a commemoration of the first successful slave revolt in the Americas but also an opportunity to reflect on the African roots of its people, particularly the significant influence of Igboland in modern-day Nigeria. The Igbo, brought to the Americas through the transatlantic slave trade, left a…

ByChuka OdikeJanuary 1, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage Historical Studies

The Role and Significance of Azụ Anya Mmụọ in Igbo Spirituality: A Window to the Ancestral World

In the spiritual and cultural landscape of the Igbo people, the azụ anya mmụọ or Anya mmụọ—literally translating to “eyes of the spirits”—holds profound significance. This wooden openwork panel, typically located in front of the obi (the central household of a patriarch) in the north-central Igbo area, serves as a boundary between the living world…

ByChuka OdikeDecember 20, 20240Comments

Cultural Heritage Historical Studies

A Brief History of Chukwu Abiama

Chukwu Abiama is a vital part of Igbo culture and spirituality. Its history goes back to before Christianity came to Nigeria. The Igbo people regarded it as an oracle, meaning it had a huge influence on the lives and beliefs of the Igbo. This article will analyse the history of Chukwu Abiama, what the name…

ByIdenze EzemeNovember 17, 20241Comment

⁠Religion and Spirituality

Ibini Ukpabi: The Arochukwu Long Juju

The Arochukwu Long Juju The Aro people, a branch of the Igbo ethnic group, founded the Arochukwu Long Juju shrine in the 17th century. A renowned Aro priest from Agbagwu, is credited with establishing the shrine. He is believed to have discovered the Long Juju (Ibini Ukpabi), a supernatural being, in a cave. The…

ByChikwereOctober 17, 20240Comments

Ethnohistory

Nwaotam Masquerade: A Representation of the Ottam (Ndoki) People

Nwaotam Masquerade Play at Akirika Ukwu-Ndoki in 2021, Photographed by Ndoki Nmanma Nu Media Crew WHO ARE THE OTTAM/OTAM PEOPLE? The Ndoki people, before the popularization of the Name Ndoki were known as "Otam/Ottam" people. This was recorded in Captain Crow's Map and on the Dialect Mapping done by Rev. John Clarke in 1848 in …

ByChikwereOctober 2, 20240Comments

Indigenous Architecture

Nsude Pyramid: Spirituality in Igbo Architecture

A Nsude pyramid taken by G.I Jones 1935 The Nsude Pyramid (Nkpura) Shrine is an archaeological site near the modern-day Enugu community of Nsude, in southeast Nigeria. The Nsude Pyramid was built by the indigenous Igbo people of Nsude and environs. The primary construction material is mud built upward in a circular manner. The exact…

ByChikwereSeptember 24, 20240Comments

Ethnohistory

Nshi/Nri Kingdom: The Cradle of Igbo Civilization

Eze Nri Obalike sounding his bell, Thomas Northcote Ọ̀ràézè Ǹrì In the heart of southeastern Nigeria, the ancient Kingdom of Nri flourished as a powerful medieval entity, extending its spiritual and political sway across vast swathes of Igboland, with the revered Eze Nri at its helm. The kingdom (more or less a Priestdom) influenced a large…

ByChikwereSeptember 23, 20240Comments

Historical Studies

The Ichi Tradition: A Symbol of Identity and Nobility Among the Igbo

Igbo Men with Mgburuichi from Nri. Photographed by Northcote Thomas, c. 1910-1911. Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge Before the incursion of Christian missionary activity into Igbo society, this ichi marking was an important protective mechanism for its bearers against the convoluted social fabrics in Igbo society. Those with distinctive facial scars were partly immune from…

ByChikwereSeptember 4, 20240Comments

Tag: Igbo Religion

Symbolism of the Four Market Days in Igbo Culture

Amadioha: The Igbo God of Thunder, Justice, and Creation

Haiti’s Independence Day: Celebrating the Igbo Legacy in Haitian Culture

The Role and Significance of Azụ Anya Mmụọ in Igbo Spirituality: A Window to the Ancestral World

A Brief History of Chukwu Abiama

Ibini Ukpabi: The Arochukwu Long Juju

Nwaotam Masquerade: A Representation of the Ottam (Ndoki) People

Nsude Pyramid: Spirituality in Igbo Architecture

Nshi/Nri Kingdom: The Cradle of Igbo Civilization

The Ichi Tradition: A Symbol of Identity and Nobility Among the Igbo

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