Asele: The Legendary Igbo Designer

Uche Okeke (1933 – 2016) Head of a Girl, 1962, pen and ink on paper.

In Igbo mythology, Asele is a famous designer from Nimo, a town in the north-central Igbo region. She was the most skilled uli artist. Uli is a traditional Igbo graphic art used to decorate objects for social and religious purposes. Asele’s artistic talent came from Ala, the Earth Mother, who is the source of creativity … Read more

How Sunday Became Known as ‘Ụ́kà’ in Igbo Language

Christianity was introduced to Igboland in two key stages. The first attempt came in 1841 in Abọ, now in Delta State, when three missionaries met with Obi Ọsaị to share the Christian message and explore the possibility of setting up a mission station. However, this effort did not yield lasting results. The true beginning of … Read more

Rituals of Protection: The Akalogoli Charm and Igbo Beliefs on Malevolent Spirits in the Early 1900s

In the early 1910s, Northcote Thomas captured a photograph titled “Burning palm flower [man burying akalogoli charm to ward off evil spirits].” The term Akalogoli is thought to derive from the Igbo words akala, meaning sign or mark, and ogoli, referring to a wastrel or ne’er-do-well. It denotes a malicious, tricky, or malevolent spirit, believed … Read more

This Pop-up Is Included in the Theme
Best Choice for Creatives
Purchase Now