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Mbari House
Native to the Owerri-Igbo community in Southeast Nigeria, Mbari houses are temporary, spacious, open-sided, square-shaped designed shelters, constructed as sacrifices for decay rather than for worship and built to placate specific deities, such as Ala, a deity in Igbo mythology. They were built in reaction to natural calamities said to be caused by unfavorable supernatural occurrences; they were not designed as shrines. They were built out of anthill clay with the goal of eventually decomposing and returning to Ala, the earth goddess of productivity, who was thought to be placated after consuming these constructions. History British colonists first formally documented Mbari dwellings at the beginning of the 20th century. The symbolism of their ritual of disintegration has since led to the extinction of these sacred monuments. The tragedy of the loss of Mbari homes was also exacerbated by the Biafran and Nigerian civil wars. Modern Mbari buildings are composed of cement, which p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Owerri
Owerri ( , ) is the capital city of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of Igboland. It is also the state's largest city, followed by Orlu, Nigeria, Orlu, Okigwe and Ohaji/Egbema. Owerri consists of three Local Government Areas of Nigeria, Local Government Areas namely Owerri Municipal, Owerri North and Owerri West. It has an estimated population of 1,401,873 as of 2016 and is approximately in area combining the 3 local government making up Owerri. Owerri is bordered by the Otamiri River to the east and the Nworie River to the south. The Owerri Slogan is ''Heartland''. It is also called the Las Vegas of Africa, due to the night life of the city and the numerous hotels, casino and leisure parks all over the city. History Owerri was founded by in the 14 century CE by Ekwem Oha. Before becoming the capital of present-day Imo State, Owerri was the last of three capitals of the disputed Biafra, Republic of Biafra in 1969. The capital of the secessionist state was continuously be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mbari (art)
Mbari is a visual art form practiced by the Igbo people in southeast Nigeria consisting of a sacred two- story house constructed as a Mercy seat, propitiatory rite. Mbari houses of the Owerri-Igbo, which are large opened-sided square planned shelters contain many life-sized, painted figures (sculpted in mud to appease the Alusi (deity) and Ala (mythology), Ala, the earth goddess, with other deities of thunder and water). Mbari houses are made as a gift to Ala (odinani), Ala, as a way to acknowledge Ala (odinani), Ala's charitable and overarching presence. Some Mbari houses are dedicated strictly and solely to Ala (odinani), Ala. Sometimes, however, other gods are represented along with Ala (odinani), Ala in the structure. Other sculptures which could be included are of officials, craftsmen, foreigners (mainly Europeans), animals, legendary creatures and ancestors. Mbari houses take years to build and building them is regarded as sacred. Along with being representations of abundanc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970), also known as the Biafran War, Nigeria-Biafra War, or Biafra War, was fought between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a Secession, secessionist state which had declared its independence from Nigeria in 1967. Nigeria was led by General Yakubu Gowon, and Biafra by Lieutenant Colonel C. Odumegwu Ojukwu, Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Odumegwu Ojukwu. The conflict resulted from political, ethnic, cultural and religious tensions which preceded the United Kingdom's formal decolonisation Colonial Nigeria, of Nigeria from 1960 to 1963. Immediate causes of the war in 1966 included 1966 Nigerian coup d'état, a military coup, 1966 Nigerian counter-coup, a counter-coup, and 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom, anti-Igbo pogroms in the Northern Region, Nigeria, Northern Region. The pogroms and the exodus of surviving Igbo people, Igbos from the Northern Region to the Igbo homelands in the Eastern Region, Nigeria, Eastern Region led the leadership of the Ea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ala (odinala)
Ala (also known as ''Ani'', ''Ana'', ''Ale'', and ''Ali'' in varying Igbo dialects) is the female ''Alusi'' (deity) of the earth, morality, fertility, and creativity in Odinani. In Odinani, Ala rules over the underworld and holds the deceased ancestors in her womb. Her name literally translates to "Earth" in the Igbo language, denoting her powers over the earth and her status as the ground itself. Ala is considered the highest Alusi in the Igbo pantheon. Ala's husband is Ele, ele fights and kills. As the goddess of morality, Ala is involved in judging human actions and is in charge of Igbo law and customs known as '' omenala''. Taboos and crimes among Igbo communities that are against the standard of Ala are called ''nsọ Ala''. All ground is considered holy land as it is Ala herself. With human fertility, Ala is credited for the productivity of the land. Ala's messenger and living agent on earth is the python (Igbo: ''éké''), which is especially revered in many Igbo commu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Imo State
Imo () is a States of Nigeria, state in the South East (Nigeria), South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by Anambra State, Rivers State to the west and south, and Abia State to the east. It takes its name from the Imo River which flows along the state's eastern border. The state capital is Owerri and the State's slogan is the "Eastern Heartland." Of the States of Nigeria, 36 States in Nigeria, Imo is the List of Nigerian states by area, third smallest in area but is List of Nigerian states by population, fourteenth most populous with an estimated population of over 5.4 million as of 2022. Geographically, the state is divided between the Niger Delta swamp forests in the far east and the drier Cross–Niger transition forests in the rest of the state. Other key geographical features are the state's rivers and lakes with the Awbana River, Awbana, Imo River, Imo, Orashi River, Orashi, and Otamiri River, Otamiri rivers along with the Oguta Lake in western Imo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anambra State
Anambra () is a States of Nigeria, state in Nigeria. It is located in the South East (Nigeria), South-eastern region of the country. The state was created on 27 August 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State and Rivers State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State to the north. The state's capital is Awka, while the state’s largest city is Onitsha which is regarded as one of the largest metropolises in Africa. Nnewi is the second largest commercial and industrial city in Anambra State, and also a known automobile hub within Nigeria and Africa. The state name was inherited from the former Anambra State, a territory that consisted of the present day Enugu State, Anambra State and parts of Ebonyi State. The old Anambra State was formed in 1976 from the former East Central State. The state is named after Omambala River, a river that runs through the state. Anambra is the anglicized form of Omambala River, Omambala. The State capital is A ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abia State
Abia is a state in the Southeastern region of Nigeria. The state's capital is Umuahia and its most populous city is Aba. Abia is bordered the west by Imo, east by Cross River, south by Rivers, northwest by Anambra and northeast by Enugu and Ebonyi. The state is divided between the Niger Delta swamp forests in the south and the Cross–Niger transition forests. The Imo and Aba Rivers flows along the state's western and southern borders respectively. The land for agriculture as well as the production of crude oil and natural gas ranks Abia as the joint-eighth highest Human Development Index in Nigeria since 2019. Abia's history begins as part of the Aro Confederacy until their defeat in the early 1900s by the British troops during the Anglo-Aro War. After the war, the area was incorporated into the Southern Nigeria Protectorate. After Nigeria's independence in 1960, Abia became part of the post-independence Eastern Region until 1967 before the region was split, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amadioha
Amadioha is the deity or god (Arusi or Agbara) of thunder and lightning of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. His main function is to do justice and avenge for the oppressed by striking their oppressors and their properties. But due to the arrival of Christianity which preaches forgiveness and leaving vengeance for God, most of the people don't usually consult him for solutions. He is amongst the most popular of Igbo deities and in some parts of Igboland, he is referred to as Amadiora, Kamalu (which is short for ''Kalu Akanu''), Kamanu, or Ofufe. Astrologically, his governing planet is the Sun.Uchendu, Victor C. ''The Igbo of Southeast Nigeria''. Page 96 His color is red, and his symbol is a white ram.Diala, Isidore. ''Ritual and Mythological Recuperation in the Drama of Esiaba Irobi''. Page 104 Metaphysically, Amadioha represents the collective will of the people. He is often associated with Anyanwu, who is the Igbo god of the Sun. While Anyanwu is more prominent in north ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arusi
Arusi are spirits that are worshipped and served in the Igbo religion. There are many different kinds of Arusi and each has its own purpose and function. Ancestors The Igbo ancestral world is divided into several interconnected realms, principal among them being the realm of the living, the realm of the dead or of the ancestors, and the realm of the unborn. Individuals who led an honorable life and received a proper burial proceeded to the ancestral realm to take their place among the ancestors ("''Ndichie''"), who are separate from the Arusi. From there they kept a watchful eye on the clan and visited their loved ones among the living with blessings such as fertility, good health, longevity, and prosperity. In gratitude the living offered sacrifices to them at the family hearth, and sought their counsel. Arusi worship Each major Arusi has a priest in every town that honors it, and the priest is assisted by a group of acolytes and devotees. Children and Arusi Children are still ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
