Explore significant moments in Igbo history through images that capture pivotal events, influential figures, and important cultural milestones.
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.
This historical image from the British Museum depicts a scene from the Anglo-Aro War of 1901, also known as the Aro Punitive Expedition. It shows Arochukwu natives clearing bushland under British compulsion outside the town of Bende.
This photograph was taken in 1911 by Northcote Thomas. It shows Nri Obalike, the Eze Nri (King of Nri), surrounded by his loyal attendants and chiefs at the Nkwọ Marketplace in Enugwu-Ukwu. Here, under the watchful eyes of British colonial officers, Nri Obalike was forced to denounce nso and alu.This event marked a turning point in Igbo history, signifying the decline of the Nri hegemony.