Onyeka Nwokike

Joined: 4 September 2024
Articles: 157

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.…

A young Igbo bride in wedding attire, c. 1880-1905

A photograph from around 1880 to 1905 by Nigerian Photographer J.A. Green. The image depicts a young Igbo woman, adorned in traditional wedding attire. She wears a patterned textile dress, elaborate beaded jewelry, and a unique hairstyle. A patterned textile serves as the backdrop.

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.

Heavy wood door from Nri Awka, 19th-20th century

This heavy wooden door, known as ḿgbó èzí in the Igbo language, is more than just an entrance. It’s a statement piece, a symbol of status, and a testament to the artistic heritage of the Igbo people. These doors were traditionally used as grand entryways to the enclosed compounds of…

Ceramic Alter for the Igbo Agriculture Deity Ifejioku. c 1890

Ceramic group of figures on a stand, made of pottery. In the centre is a man holding a drinking-horn in his left hand and a fan in his right, both signs of his status. Either side of him are two pregnant women, probably his wives, with elaborate hairstyles and scarification,…

The Earth Mother, Ala, in an Mbari house in Ebele. 1946

This sculpture, captured by William Fagg on February 28, 1946, and currently housed in the British Museum, depicts Ala, the Earth Mother, in Igbo spirituality. She holds a knife in her right hand and rests her left hand on the head of a smaller female figure, symbolizing her power and…

Nsude Pyramids village shrine, Abaja, Northern Igbo, 1930s

Nigeria’s ancient treasures go beyond what most people know. Among these wonders, the Nsude pyramids stand out for their unique shape and deep connection to the Igbo people. Located in the villages of Ngwo, Nsude, and Agbaja Ọwa, these circular pyramids have stories of artistic brilliance and a deep respect…

Íhú Chí (1916) and the Duality of Chi and Eke

In Igbo cosmology, Chineke is often referred to as the supreme creator God. However, the concept of Chineke is more complex and multifaceted than a single definition. Let’s look into Igbo creation stories and explore the true meaning of Chineke, the relationship between Chi and Eke, and the impact of…

Arochukwu in Flames, 1901

This photograph from the British Museum captures a devastating moment in Igbo history: the burning of Arochukwu, the capital of the Aro Confederacy, in 1901. The image shows mud huts engulfed in flames, a stark reminder of the violence that erupted during the Aro Punitive Expedition.

Igbo ancestral figures in an obi, Ohafia, 1930s

This black and white photograph, taken by G.I. Jones in the 1930s, showcases five intricately carved wooden figures representing Igbo ancestral figures. These figures are placed within an obi, in Ohafia. The photograph is part of the Jones Archive at Southern Illinois University. The figures vary in height and are…

Don't Miss