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The Symbolism of Kola Nut in Igbo Cosmology
What does each part or number of a Kola nut symbolise in Igbo culture? The Kola nut holds immense cultural and symbolic significance in Igbo cosmology. Its various cotyledon numbers are believed to carry distinct meanings that reflect different aspects of Igbo society and spirituality. In this article, we delve into the symbolism of kola…
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The best 10 books for learning about Igbo history and culture
Discover Igbo culture and history with these 10 useful books. 1. Political Organization in Nigeria Since the Late Stone Age: A History of the Igbo People Explore the uncharted political history of the Igbo people, a significant Nigerian ethnic group, before the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. This pioneering study delves into the transformations in Igbo political…
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Ekumeku: How this Igbo group resisted British domination for 30 years
The Ekumeku Movement Explained During Britain’s colonisation of Nigeria, one of the most prolonged and drawn-out conflicts was against the Ekumeku. A movement fought by the Anioma, an Igbo subgroup, and their neighbouring Igbo allies. So, what sparked the beginning of the movement? As the British looked to expand their colonial domination of Nigeria, they…
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Igbo Traditional Yam Curing
Yams of the Dioscorea genus have many distinct compounds within the yam that makes it toxic to humans. These compounds consist of but not limited to: dioscorine, other alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, phenolic acids, tannins, and oxalates. To remove these toxins, which can induce fatal paralysis, the Igbo people developed a “curing” technique. First the yam is boiled…
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The Ijele Masked Spirit
Amongst the Igbo the Ijele is known as the King of all masked spirits. Ijele is the largest single man mask in Sub-Saharan Africa and originated in present-day Anambra and Enugu State, Nigeria. The mask is adorned with 45 figurines that depict different aspects of life, it’s roughly 4-6 meters high with a python wrapped…
Okwu ndị Igbo n'ala bekee.
