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…
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 …
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…
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…
Igbo Map by Ukpuru and Aba City photographed by OU and Tours
The Ngwa People
Ngwa is an Igbo subgroup from Abia State, Southeastern Nigeria. The origin of Ngwa people dates back to the 14th century when they migrated from the Igbo heartland, from a village called Umunoha in the present Owerri zone of Imo State…
Isuama Map by Ukpuru and Isuama-Ibo, Isu tribe, ‘Okorosie’ masquerade. Masks called 'Nwanyioma’ and 'Akatakpuru’ 1931
Who are the Isu People and Where do they inhabit?
The Isu people, often referred to as Isuama (translating to, "Isu Region or Land”), are an inland people that inhabit the central region of Igboland, which is situated between Southern…
Awka Blacksmiths David Nwume & John Uzoka, London, 1924-1925
The Awka Blacksmiths
David Nwume and John Uzoka, two blacksmiths from Awka, went to the British Empire Exhibition in 1924–25, which was held in Wembley Park in London, England.
There work was so fascinating that they won prizes in the metalwork category for building "The Awka Gate,"…
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…
Yam barn, Onitsha Province, Eastern Region, Nigeria, 1967, Photographed by Drs. G.W. Grootenhuis
Iri Ji: Preparation, Organization and Significance
Iri Iji is a vibrant traditional Igbo yam festival, celebrated by the majority of Igbo people from various clans.
Yams are a staple crop in Igbo culture, representing abundance, fertility, and prosperity.
Iri Iji is typically celebrated…
Here’s the information without asterisks: Uli painting on the walls of ‘Odelegu’ in Nibo, present-day Anambra State, Nigeria. Photographed by Northcote W. Thomas in 1911. This is a composite of NWT 3125a (MAA P.31342) and NWT 3127 (MAA P.31344).
Uli, or Uri (in some parts of Igboland), is an intricately beautiful and vibrant body art that…