Month May 2024

Igbo ArchivesArchives for May 2024
Group portrait taken by Dr. William Henry Crosse, Royal Niger Company, c. 1886-1895, Nigeria. Image source: MAA Cambridge.

Group Portrait from the Royal Niger Company, Niger River Igbo area, c. 1886-1895

This historical group portrait, captured by Dr. William Henry Crosse between 1886 and 1895, shows individuals from the Niger River Igbo area in Nigeria. Taken during the period of the Royal Niger Company’s operations, this image is part of the Crosse Collection at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge.…

Read MoreGroup Portrait from the Royal Niger Company, Niger River Igbo area, c. 1886-1895
A wood carver carving an Ikenga figure, Nri-Awka Igbo. c. 1930

A wood carver carving an Ikenga figure, Nri-Awka Igbo. 1930s

This photograph captures a wood carver from Nri-Awka Igbo at work. His hands skillfully shape the wood, transforming it into a powerful figure: an Ikenga. In Igbo culture, the Ikenga is more than just a sculpture. It's a symbol carved from wood, representing an individual's potential for achievement, success, and even their destiny.
Read MoreA wood carver carving an Ikenga figure, Nri-Awka Igbo. 1930s