igbo culture
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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…
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What is Nsibidi?
What is Nsibidi/Nsibiri? Nsibidi is an idiographic symbol system that has been in use for centuries in South Eastern Nigeria. Its origins can be traced back to around 400 AD/CE and it is used by several indigenous peoples including the Igbo, Ibibio-Efik, and Ejagham. The Significance of Nsibidi Symbols Today, the most well-known Nsibidi symbols…
LDN. 