Nigeria Archives ~ Ozi Ikòrò

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A photograph from the National Museum Lagos collection of colonial-period photos, illustrating everyday life and material culture during the era surrounding Nigerian independence in which Erejuwa II’s reign operated. Photo…

18

Jan 2026

Linguistic Synthesis: How the Itsekiri Language Evolved from a Blend of Yoruba, Edo (Bini), and Igala

"Linguistic Groups". It is also widely referred to as the "Linguistic map of Nigeria" or "Ethno-linguistic map of Nigeria". Photo credit; The map is a work of the U.S. Central…

18

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Ethnohistory

The Iwoki Ward: The Specialists of the Gun

The mastery of firearms among many West African communities before and during the colonial era depended heavily on specialized guilds, wards, and lineages responsible for weapon production, maintenance, and ritual…

08

Jan 2026

Cultural Heritage Discography Ethnohistory Historical Studies

Igbo Musical Instruments : A Lost Art : Udu Drums

Udu Drums Udu is both an African aerophone and an idiophone used by the igbo people of Nigeria. The udu is a clay water jug with an additional hole that aids…

07

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

Nkwerre Opia Egbe: A Case Study of Indigenous Technological Resilience Against Colonial Prohibition Laws (1900–1945)

Map of Nkwerre. Photo credit; Public domain/ Wikimedia commons. Nkwerre located in present-day Imo State, southeastern Nigeria was one of the most technologically advanced ironworking communities in Igboland. Famous for its…

07

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

The ‘Eze Uzu’ (King of Blacksmiths): Examining the Socio-Political Power of the Awka Iron-Working Guilds During British Pacification

A young apprentice assisting in a smithy helps illustrate the transmission of indigenous technological skills across generations. Photo credit: Hajjare, via Wikimedia Commons. The Awka people of southeastern Nigeria developed one…

07

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies

“The ‘Birmingham of Africa’: Analyzing the Smelting Pits of Kano as a Hub for 19th-Century West African Armaments”

These are historic weapons displayed at the Gidan Makama Museum in Kano, used during colonial conflicts and reflecting Kano’s martial past. Photo credit: Uncle Bash007 via Wikimedia Commons. By the nineteenth…

02

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Ethnohistory Historical Studies

The “Bloomery” Technique: From Ore to Iron

The bloomery technique represents one of the earliest and most influential methods of iron production in human history. Used across ancient Europe, Asia, and Africa including among several Nigerian iron-smelting…

02

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies

The Guilds and Trade: The Awka and Abiriba Connection

Across precolonial southeastern Nigeria, craftsmanship and trade networks played a central role in shaping regional economies and social hierarchies. Among the most prominent were the Awka blacksmiths of present-day Anambra…

02

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies

The Impact on the “Yam Revolution”

Igbos in diaspora celebrating Iwa-Ji in Dublin, Ireland. Photo credit; Wikipedia Yam (Dioscorea rotundata and Dioscorea cayenensis) has long been one of the most important food crops in West Africa, especially…

Tag: Nigeria

Erejuwa II: Navigating the Complexities of Nigerian Independence and the Mid-West Region

Linguistic Synthesis: How the Itsekiri Language Evolved from a Blend of Yoruba, Edo (Bini), and Igala

The Iwoki Ward: The Specialists of the Gun

Igbo Musical Instruments : A Lost Art : Udu Drums

Nkwerre Opia Egbe: A Case Study of Indigenous Technological Resilience Against Colonial Prohibition Laws (1900–1945)

The ‘Eze Uzu’ (King of Blacksmiths): Examining the Socio-Political Power of the Awka Iron-Working Guilds During British Pacification

“The ‘Birmingham of Africa’: Analyzing the Smelting Pits of Kano as a Hub for 19th-Century West African Armaments”

The “Bloomery” Technique: From Ore to Iron

The Guilds and Trade: The Awka and Abiriba Connection