Stories of Diaspora Igbo: Jamaica, Sierra Leone, United States

Cane Cutters in Jamaica. Photo: National Maritime Museum The Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria have a long history of resilience, culture, and survival. During the transatlantic slave trade, many Igbo individuals were forcibly taken to different parts of the world, including Jamaica, Sierra Leone, and the United States. Despite the harsh realities of slavery and displacement,…

ByIdenze EzemeMarch 24, 20250Comments

Historical Studies

The Influence of Igbo Art in Late 18th-Century Virginia

Igbo People in Virginia and Their Craftsmanship During the late 18th century, the transatlantic slave trade was at its peak, and many enslaved Africans brought to Virginia came from the Bight of Biafra, a region dominated by the Igbo ethnic group. The Igbo became one of the largest African ethnocultural groups in Virginia at…

ByIdenze EzemeMarch 23, 20250Comments

Biography Historical Studies

Nancy Daniels: The Long Life and Legacy of a Former Slave

Nancy Daniels. Photo: Barbados National Trust Nancy Daniels was an African-born Barbadian ex-slave of probable Igbo descent who was taken from her home and forced into slavery in Barbados. She was born before 1760 and was brought to Barbados around 1780 when she was in her twenties. Her life was full of hardship, but she showed…

ByIdenze EzemeMarch 21, 20250Comments

Cultural Heritage Historical Studies

Haiti and Igboland: A Shared History

Ibo Granmoun. © IgboLité The history of Haiti and the Igbo people is deeply connected through culture, resistance, and spirituality. The song ‘ Ibo Granmoun ’ represents the Igbo tradition of having no kings or queens, meaning they take orders from no one. In Haitian Creole, Ibo Granmoun translates to …

ByIdenze EzemeMarch 18, 20250Comments

Historical Studies

The Igbo People in Haiti: Their Influence and Struggles

The Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria. During the transatlantic slave trade, many Igbo people were taken from their homeland and sold into slavery in the Americas, including Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). Their arrival in Haiti left a deep mark on the island’s culture, religion, and history. …

ByIdenze EzemeMarch 16, 20250Comments

Historical Studies

John Brown: The Igbo Legacy in the Life of a Fugitive Slave

John Brown (c. 1810 – 1876) John Brown (c. 1810–1876), born into the brutal system of slavery in Virginia, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring legacy of African heritage. His life story, Slave Life in Georgia: A Narrative of the Life, Sufferings, and Escape of John Brown, A Fugitive…

ByChuka OdikeFebruary 2, 20250Comments

Historical Studies ⁠Religion and Spirituality

Olaudah Equiano and the Igbo Concept of Chi: Destiny, Faith, and the Fight Against Slavery

Photo of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa - 1700s. Olaudah Equiano, an Igbo-born abolitionist and writer, provides a unique perspective on destiny and faith in his autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. His frequent references to destiny and divine providence closely align with the Igbo spiritual concept of Chi, a personal spiritual…

ByChuka OdikeJanuary 27, 20250Comments

Tag: transatlantic slave trade

Stories of Diaspora Igbo: Jamaica, Sierra Leone, United States

The Influence of Igbo Art in Late 18th-Century Virginia

Nancy Daniels: The Long Life and Legacy of a Former Slave

Haiti and Igboland: A Shared History

The Igbo People in Haiti: Their Influence and Struggles

John Brown: The Igbo Legacy in the Life of a Fugitive Slave

Olaudah Equiano and the Igbo Concept of Chi: Destiny, Faith, and the Fight Against Slavery

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