Aro History starts from Ibibio migration to the present Arochukwu area.
88-647: Before Igbo arrival in the Aro territory, a group of proto Ibibio migrated to the area and established the Ibom Kingdom during the Bantu expansion . This proto Ibibio group originally came from Usak Edet ( Isanguele ), a segment of the Ejagham in present-day Southern Cameroon . The Igbo migration led by Eze Agwu clan from Abiriba among the Ibibio in the Aro territory started around
176-565: A feudalist system with a king ruling over subjects. This government system was witnessed by the Portuguese who first arrived and met with the Igbo people in the 15th century. With the exception of a few notable Igbo towns such as Onitsha , which had kings called Obi and places like the Nri Kingdom and Arochukwu, which had priest kings; Igbo communities and area governments were overwhelmingly ruled by
264-401: A hierarchical social structure. Influence on Igbo art and culture: The artifacts discovered at Igbo-Ukwu have had a profound impact on the understanding and appreciation of Igbo art and culture. They have inspired contemporary Igbo artists and craftsmen and contributed to a sense of cultural identity and heritage. Recognition of African achievements: The discoveries at Igbo-Ukwu challenged
352-481: A native tradition attributing it to the Uguakima or Uyanga section of the Igbo. Igbo people produced bronzes from as early as the 9th century, some of which have been found at the town of Igbo Ukwu , Anambra State . A system of indentured servitude existed among the Igbo before and after the encounter with Europeans. Indentured service in Igbo areas was described by Olaudah Equiano in his memoir . He describes
440-648: A republican consultative assembly of the common people. Communities were usually governed and administered by a council of elders . Many Igbo towns however, were also partly governed the high council known as the Ozo society, whose titles could be both earned and inherited. And the spiritual (though not political) authority of the king of Nri was recognized all over Igboland Although title holders were respected because of their accomplishments and capabilities, they were not revered as kings but often performed special functions given to them by such assemblies. This way of governing
528-488: A series of conflicts that took place between the Igbo people and the Igala people of Nigeria during the 18th and 19th centuries. These wars were characterized by intense military engagements, territorial disputes, and clashes over resources and political dominance. The conflicts occurred in the southeastern region of Nigeria, primarily in the areas now known as Anambra , Enugu , Ebonyi , Kogi and Delta states. These wars led to
616-638: A war with the Manilla Pepple House led by Oko Jumbo compelled Jaja to break away to form the Opobo city-state (26 miles east of Bonny) in 1869. Opobo came to be a prominent trading post in the region's palm oil trade. Jaja barred entry to European and African middlemen, effectively monopolizing trade , and by 1870 was selling eight thousand tons of palm oil directly to the British. Opobo also shipped palm oil directly to Liverpool . Despite his trade rivalry with
704-579: A wealth of cultural treasures. The Igbo-Ukwu artifacts are now housed in various museums, including the Nigerian National Museum in Lagos. Glass production: Igbo-Ukwu has one of the oldest glass productions in West Africa. The archeology of Igbo-Ukwu had over 600 prestige objects including complex cast copper-alloy sculptures and more than 165,000 glass and carnelian beads. The most common glass among
792-436: A week had four days, a month consisted of seven weeks, and 13 months made a year. In the last month, an extra day was added. This calendar is still used in indigenous Igbo villages and towns to determine market days. They settled law matters via mediators, and their banking system for loans and savings, called Isusu, is also still used. The Igbo new year, starting with the month Ọ́nwạ́ M̀bụ́ ( Igbo : First Moon ) occurs on
880-578: Is E1b1a1-M2 . Pottery dated from around 3,000–2,500 BC showing similarities with later Igbo work was found at Nsukka , and Afikpo regions of Igboland in the 1970s, along with pottery and tools at nearby Ibagwa; the traditions of the Umueri clan have as their source the Anambra valley . In the 1970s, the Owerri , Okigwe , Orlu , Awgu , Udi and Awka divisions were determined to constitute "an Igbo heartland" from
968-559: Is archeological and cultural proof of their existence, as there are non-Igbo dances and masquerades in modern Ikwo culture. The southern Ikwo displaced the indigenous Adadama group far to modern Cross River State . Conflict with Igala : As the Igala already lived in the area with the Orri they sought friendship with the Ezza and gave them land for farming. However, betrayed by the Ezza whose true intent
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#17328687973821056-609: Is intact in Arochukwu and serves mainly as a tourist site. The Aro-Ibibio Wars were a series of conflicts between the Aro people (subgroup of the Igbo) and a Ibibio in present-day Southeastern Nigeria at Ibom Kingdom from 1630 to 1902. These wars led to the foundation of the Arochukwu kingdom. Before Igbo arrival in the Aro territory, a group of proto Ibibio migrated to the area and established
1144-491: Is the most notable Igbo subgroup to be involved in these wars as the Igala people conquered and installed priest-kings to govern the district for almost a century. The Nsukka people have continuously inhabited northern Igboland since the 3rd millennium BCE as shown through archeological continuity and Glottochronology . They are considered to be one of the first Igbo subgroups by historian and archeologist Edwin Eme Okafor. During
1232-576: The Akamkpa area. They led Akpa forces into the Aro territory to assist their Igbo allies to victory. However, this came at the cost of Osim losing his life at the start of the 18th century. With the Akpas and Igbos being victorious, the Arochukwu kingdom was founded with Akuma as its first king or EzeAro. After Akuma died, the Igbo took over the throne starting with Nnachi's son Oke Nnachi in 1720. Many changes occurred as Arochukwu expanded into 19 city-states due to
1320-562: The Anioma people of Delta State and the riverine side of Anambra state . While specific conflicts with the Enuani and Igala people remain poorly documented, there is one Igala-speaking community in Enuaniland known as Ebu. The Idah Kingdom conquered some significant riverine trading centers, but just as quickly as they were conquered, most came under the control of Aboh , an Ukwuani kingdom, while
1408-613: The Aro Confederacy as a regional economic power. Aro activities helped coastal Niger Delta city-states become important centers for the export of palm oil and slaves. Such city-states included Opobo , Bonny , Brass , Calabar , as well as other slave trading city-states controlled by the Ijaw , Efik , and Igbo. The Aros formed a strong trading network, colonies, and incorporated hundreds of communities that formed into powerful kingdoms. The Ajalli , Arondizuogu , and Bende Kingdoms were
1496-498: The Ibibioid (Cross River) cluster. Before the period of British colonial rule in the 20th century, the Igbo were politically fragmented by the centralized chiefdoms of Nri , Aro Confederacy , Agbor and Onitsha . Frederick Lugard introduced the Eze system of "warrant chiefs". The Igbos became overwhelmingly Christian during the evangelism of the missionaries in the colonial era in
1584-505: The Ibom Kingdom. This proto-Ibibio group originally came from Usak Edet ( Isanguele ), a segment of the Ejagham in present-day Southern Cameroon . The Eze Agwu clan from Abiriba , initiated Igbo migration into the region around the mid-17th century. The Ibibio clan welcomed all until some started rebelling against the ruling house. The Eze Awgu group who lead the rebellion against the ruling family aligned with several outside forces like
1672-700: The Royal Niger Company , had their own issues. An Aro invasion of Obegu in 1901 started the Anglo-Aro War . In 1902, following a direct attack on Arochukwu and months of fighting, the British were victorious. The Aro Confederacy's power was shattered, making it easier for the British to take over the Eastern Nigerian region although resistance in the area was far from over. Although Aro dominance crumbled in March 1902, many Aros took part in later resistances against
1760-655: The Senegal Company —and another English one—the Liverpool and Manchester Trading Company —begin establishing posts on the river as well. A native attack on the UAC's outpost at Onitsha in 1879 was repulsed with help from HMS Pioneer , but the Gladstone administration subsequently denied Goldie's attempt to procure a government charter in 1881, on the grounds that the international rivalry might occasion unnecessary conflict and that
1848-600: The Sepoy Rebellion . By 1879, he had helped combine James Crowther's WAC, David Macintosh's Central African Company , and the Williams Brothers' and James Pinnock's firms into a single United African Company ; he then acted as the combined firm's agent in the territory. Almost immediately, the firm saw renewed competition as two French firms—the French Equatorial African Association and
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#17328687973821936-473: The 138 analytical results for Igbo-Ukwu beads is soda-lime glass produced using plant ash. Overall, Igbo-Ukwu remains a vital archaeological site that continues to contribute to our understanding of ancient African civilizations and their contributions to human history. The Aro Confederacy (1690–1902) was a political union orchestrated by the Aro people , Igbo subgroup, centered in Arochukwu in present-day southeastern Nigeria . The Aro Confederacy kingdom
2024-553: The 17th century established the Aro Confederacy . As the Ezza , Izzi , Ikwo subgroups moved northward, all who are said to descend from siblings whose patriarch hailed from Afikpo , the Ezza encountered the indigenous Orri people and protected them from extinction in exchange for farming rights. The Ikwo people encountered the Okum eventually displacing them and assimilated the rest. the Okum do not exist as an identifiable group anymore but there
2112-899: The 17th century. Tensions escalated between the Eze Agwu group led by Agwu Inobia and Obong Okon Ita kingdom led by Akpan Okon resulting in the Aro-Ibibio Wars . The Efik were originally from the Ibom Kingdom and might have left before or during the Aro-Ibibio Wars. Neither group had a victorious position in the war. Eze Agwu asked Priest Nnachi of the Edda clan near Afikpo for help. The alliance also supported prince Akakpokpo Okon 's coup against his brother Akpan Okon. The war escalated and Nnachi called on Eastern Cross River allies for assistance. Osim and Akuma Nnubi were Akpa merchant princes from
2200-511: The 18th century. The name may originate from the verb gboo (to protect, to shelter), meaning "a protected people or a community of peace". Other theories give it the meaning "forest dwellers", connect it to "the ancients" ( Ndi-gbo ), or suggest that it simply refers to "a community of people". The Igboid languages form a cluster within the Volta–Niger phylum, most likely grouped with Yoruboid and Edoid . The greatest differentiation within
2288-573: The 9th century, and royal burials at the Igbo-Ukwu sites have been unearthed dating to at least the 10th century. Eri , the god-like founder of Nri, is believed to have settled the region around 948 with other related Igbo cultures following after in the 13th century. The first Eze Nri (King of Nri) Ìfikuánim followed directly after him. According to Igbo oral tradition, his reign started in 1043. At least one historian puts Ìfikuánim's reign much later, around 1225 AD: Each king traces his origin back to
2376-545: The Agba were compelled to retreat southwards, leaving their abandoned lands to be later settled by Umunwagu and Ikwuate (Idembia). Seeking safety and security, the Agba people sought refuge in Ishielu Division, departing from their original mainland settlements. The Ezza met them again in 1850 and again conquered and displaced the remnants, naming the new territory Ezzagu. Western Igbo influence: The Western Igbo people consist of
2464-482: The Aro Confederacy as a regional economic power. The Aro Confederacy's strength came from its well-organized network of Aro agents who were dispersed across different communities in the region. These agents acted as intermediaries in trade, diplomacy, and religious matters. They facilitated commerce, resolved disputes, and spread the worship of the Aro deity known as the " Long Juju " oracle. The " Long Juju " oracle
2552-589: The Aro Expedition. The invasion of Obegu (in Igboland) was the last major Aro offensive before the start of the Anglo-Aro War . In November 1901, the British launched the Aro Expedition and after strong Aro resistance, Arochukwu was captured on 28 December 1901. By early 1902, the war was over, and the Aro Confederacy collapsed. Contrary to the belief that the Ibini Ukpabi was destroyed, the shrine still exists, and
2640-531: The Aros because of their economic dominance. The Aro resisted British penetration in the hinterland because their economic and religious influence was being threatened. The Aro and their allies launched offensives against British allies in Igboland and Ibibioland . After failed negotiations, the British attempted to conquer the Aro Confederacy in 1899. By 1901, the tensions were especially intensified when British prepared for
2728-1364: The British in the region such as Afikpo (1902–1903), Ezza (1905), and other areas where the Aro had a particularly significant presence. When Nigeria won independence from Great Britain in 1960, ethnic tensions rose between the regions resulting in the Nigerian Civil War in 1967–1970. After the war, the Aros and the rest of the Igbo People suffered discrimination from other Nigerians. Aro culture suffered. However, they are currently efforts to unite Aro people and revive their culture. ( https://archive.today/20041205014430/ [1] ) Igbo people The Igbo people ( English: / ˈ iː b oʊ / EE -boh , US also / ˈ ɪ ɡ b oʊ / IG -boh ; also spelled Ibo and historically also Iboe , Ebo , Eboe , Eboans , Heebo ; natively Ṇ́dị́ Ìgbò ) are an ethnic group in Nigeria . They are primarily found in Abia , Anambra , Ebonyi , Enugu , and Imo States . Ethnic Igbo populations are found in Cameroon , Gabon , and Equatorial Guinea , as migrants as well as outside Africa. There has been much speculation about
Aro History - Misplaced Pages Continue
2816-567: The Europeans, Jaja sent his children to schools in Glasgow and enlisted whites to staff the secular school he built in Opobo. He barred any missionaries from entering Opobo. At the 1884 Berlin Conference , the Europeans designated Opobo as British territory. When Jaja refused to cease taxing the British traders, Henry Hamilton Johnston , a British vice consul, invited Jaja for negotiations in 1887. Jaja
2904-507: The Eze Nri. Igbo-Ukwu is a historically significant archaeological site located in southeastern Nigeria, in what is now Anambra State. The site is renowned for its remarkable discoveries of ancient artifacts that date back to the 9th and 10th centuries AD. The archaeological findings at Igbo-Ukwu have provided valuable insights into the early history and cultural achievements of the Igbo people and their interactions with other civilizations in
2992-759: The Eze's eldest son, and three of his wives. The battle was witnessed by Sailor, Joseph B. Hawkins. Ebonyi conflicts: During the early 19th century, the Eastern Igbo subgroups located in Ebonyi State underwent a significant migration towards the Cross River areas, this in turn manifested in boundary disputes between several Eastern Igbo groups with her neighbors such as Ikwo-Nsobo and Osopo of Cross River State, Izzi – Osopo and Yala of Cross River State and Mgbo-Igala of Benue State. A similar migration skirmish towards Abia State in
3080-567: The Igbo ethnic group, inhabited the region around present-day Arochukwu in Abia State, Nigeria. They were skilled traders and missionaries who played a pivotal role in connecting various Igbo communities. This migration and their military power, and wars with neighboring kingdoms like supported by their alliances with several related neighboring Igbo and eastern Cross River militarized states (particularly Ohafia , Edda , Abam , Abiriba , Afikpo , Ekoi , Bahumono , Amasiri etc.), quickly established
3168-564: The Igbo subgroup and Ibibio. The Eze Agwu/Nnachi faction decided to help Akakpokpo attempt to overthrow his brother king Akpan Okon . The coup was heavily resisted which called for even more help. Through Nnachi, an Eastern Cross river group answered the call for help. They were known as the Akpa who were living at today Akwa Akpa before the arrival of the Efik people in that region. These warriors and traders may have had European guns which were new to
3256-656: The Igboid group is between the Ekpeye , and the rest. Williamson (2002) argues that based on this pattern, proto-Igboid migration would have moved down the Niger from a more northern area in the savannah and first settled close to the delta, with a secondary center of Igbo proper more to the north, in the Awka area. Genetic studies have shown the Igbo to cluster most closely with other Niger-Congo-speaking peoples. The predominant Y-chromosomal haplogroup
3344-456: The NAC's operations within a British sphere of interest. Pledges from him and the British diplomats that free trade (or, in any case, non-discriminatory tariff rates) would be respected in their territory were dead letters: the NAC's over 400 treaties with local leaders obliged the natives to trade solely with or through the company's agents. Large tariffs and license fees eliminated competing firms from
3432-687: The Nigerian military formed a blockade around Biafra, an event that led to international media promoting humanitarian aid for Biafra . Biafra was eventually defeated by Nigeria and reintegrated into the country. The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra and the now Nigerian government proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), two organizations formed after 1999, continue to struggle for an independent Igbo state. "Igbo" as an ethnic identity developed comparatively recently, in
3520-575: The Priest Nnachi from the Edda group near Afikpo , was called by their king Awgu Inobia (Eze Agwu) for help. When he arrived, Nnachi and Eze Agwu allied with prince Akakpokpo Okon of the Ibibio kingdom of Ibom Kingdom. Akakpokpo Okon was the son of a marriage between an Igbo woman of the Eze Agwu clan and the King Obong Okon Ita in an attempt of a peace treaty for a war that have been fought between
3608-635: The Royal Niger Company), with Lord Aberdare as governor and Goldie as vice-governor. It was, however, evidently impossible for a chartered company to hold its own against the state-supported protectorates of France and Germany , and in consequence its charter was revoked in 1899 and, on 1 January 1900, the Royal Niger Company transferred its territories to the British Government for the sum of £ 865,000. The ceded territory together with
Aro History - Misplaced Pages Continue
3696-562: The advanced metallurgical skills of the ancient Igbo people and their ability to work with various metals. The Igbo-Ukwu artifacts predate certain other well-known Nigerian bronze sculpture traditions such as those of Ife and the Benin Kingdom and have contributed to our understanding of the development of metallurgical techniques in Africa. Cultural exchange and trade: The presence of exotic materials like glass beads and imported ceramics at
3784-480: The area. The terms of these private contracts were made into general treaties by the British consuls, whose own treaties expressly incorporated them. Similarly, when King Jaja of Opobo organized his own trading network and even began running his own shipments of palm oil to Britain, he was lured onto a British warship and shipped into exile on Saint Vincent on charges of "treaty breaking" and "obstructing commerce". Despite treaties extending British control over
3872-457: The birth of twins ), animal (such as killing or eating of pythons), object, temporal, behavioral, speech and place taboos. The rules regarding these taboos were used to educate and govern Nri's subjects. This meant that, while certain Igbo may have lived under different formal administration, all followers of the Igbo religion had to abide by the rules of the faith and obey its representative on earth,
3960-562: The coast helped the growth of city-states in the Niger Delta , and these city states became important centres for the export of palm oil and slaves. Such city-states included Opobo , Bonny , Nembe , Calabar , as well as other slave trading city-states controlled by the Ijaw , Efik , and Igbo. The Aros formed a strong trading network, colonies, and incorporated hundreds of communities that formed into powerful kingdoms. The Ajalli , Arondizuogu , Ndikelionwu, and Igbene Kingdoms were some of
4048-412: The company became part of the United Africa Company , which came under the control of Unilever during the 1930s and continued to exist as a subsidiary of Unilever until 1987, when it was absorbed into the parent company. The company existed for a comparatively short time (1879–1900) but was instrumental in the formation of Colonial Nigeria , as it enabled the British Empire to establish control over
4136-498: The conditions of the slaves in his community of Essaka and points out the difference between the treatment of slaves under the Igbo in Essaka and those in the custody of Europeans in West Indies: Royal Niger Company The Royal Niger Company was a mercantile company chartered by the British government in the nineteenth century. It was formed in 1879 as the United African Company and renamed to National African Company in 1881 and to Royal Niger Company in 1886. In 1929,
4224-515: The context of decolonisation and the Nigerian Civil War. The various Igbo-speaking communities were historically fragmented and decentralised; in the opinion of Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe , Igbo identity should be placed somewhere between a "tribe" and a "nation". Since the defeat of the Republic of Biafra in 1970, the Igbo are sometimes classed as a " stateless nation ". Forms of the name Igbo – (formerly also spelled Heebo , Eboe , or Ibo ) have been used in Western literature at least since
4312-490: The drastic Battle of Nsukka . Background: In the 16th century a large Igala migration occurred across the Niger River following a defeat to the Kingdom of Benin . Shortly after, a Jukun migration from Wukari conquered and established a royal dynasty in Idah , bringing them into contact with Igbo speaking groups. Conquest of Nsukka: The Nsukka-Igala wars occurred in the 18th to 19th century following an Igala invasion and left most of Nsukka under Igala control. Nsukka
4400-431: The establishment of the West African Company was soon followed by several other firms. The competition reduced prices to the point that profits were minimal. Arriving in the region in 1877, George Goldie argued for the amalgamation of the surviving British firms into a single monopolistic chartered company , a method contemporaries supposed had been buried with the ultimate failure of the East India Company following
4488-404: The expansion of Ozizza, Afikpo, Amasiri, Izombe, and many other city-states. For example, Aro soldiers founded at least three villages in Ozizza. The Aro Confederacy's power, however, derived mostly from its economic and religious position. With European colonists on their way at the end of the 19th century, things changed. During the 1890s, the Royal Niger Company of Britain bore friction with
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#17328687973824576-449: The founding ancestor, Eri. Each king is a ritual reproduction of Eri. The initiation rite of a new king shows that the ritual process of becoming Eze Nri (Nri priest-king) follows closely the path traced by the hero in establishing the Nri kingdom. The Kingdom of Nri was a religio-polity, a sort of theocratic state, that developed in the central heartland of the Igbo region. The Nri had seven types of taboos which included human (such as
4664-459: The impact of the war on the traditional methods employed by the Nsukka community, as they incorporated wood into their process to sustain their iron production amidst the challenging conditions. The conflicts started with the arrival of a figure named Onọjọ Ogboni whose background is surrounded in mystery. One of the 18th-century conflicts was the Battle of Nsukka in 1794, which resulted in a Nsukka military victory, but with significant losses including
4752-527: The increasing population and Aro colonies were forming throughout the area now known as Southern Nigeria. By the mid-18th century, there were mass migrations of several Aro business families all over Eastern Nigeria and surrounding areas. This migration, influence of their god Chukwu Abiama through priests, and their military power supported by alliances with several related neighboring Igbo and eastern Cross River militarized states (particularly Ohafia , Abam , Abiriba , Afikpo , Ekoi , etc.) quickly established
4840-437: The linguistic and cultural evidence. In the Nsukka region of Igboland, evidence of early iron smelting has been excavated, dating to 750 BC at the site of Opi and 2,000 BC at the site of Lejja . The Nri people of Igbo land have a creation myth which is one of the many creation myths that exist in various parts of Igbo land. The Nri and Aguleri people are in the territory of the Umueri clan who trace their lineages back to
4928-409: The lower Niger against the German competition led by Bismarck during the 1890s. In 1900, the company-controlled territories became the Southern Nigeria Protectorate , which was in turn united with the Northern Nigeria Protectorate to form the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria in 1914 (which eventually gained independence within the same borders as Nigeria in 1960). The Royal Niger Company
5016-455: The most important pillar of Igbo society. It was also a culture in which gender was re-constructed and performed according to social need; "The flexibility of Igbo gender construction meant that gender was separate from biological sex. Daughters could become sons and consequently male." Mathematics in indigenous Igbo society is evident in their calendar, banking system and strategic betting game called Okwe . In their indigenous calendar ,
5104-403: The most powerful Aro states in the Confederacy after Arochukwu. Some were founded and named after Commanders and Chiefs like Izuogu Mgbokpo and Iheme whom led Aro forces to conquer Ikpa Ora and founded Arondizuogu. Later Aro commanders such as Okoro Idozuka also of Arondizuogu expanded the state's borders through warfare in the start of the 19th century. The Aro Confederacy's power, however,
5192-414: The most powerful Aro states in the Confederacy after Arochukwu. Some were founded and named after commanders and chiefs like Izuogu Mgbokpo and Iheme who led Aro/Abam forces to conquer Ikpa Ora and founded Arondizuogu. Later Aro commanders such as Okoro Idozuka (also of Arondizuogu) expanded the state's borders through warfare at the start of the 19th century. Aro migrations also played a large role in
5280-409: The origins of the Igbo people, which are largely unknown. The Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa . The Igbo language is part of the Niger-Congo language family . Its regional dialects are somewhat mutually intelligible amidst the larger " Igboid " cluster. The Igbo homeland straddles the lower Niger River, east and south of the Edoid and Idomoid groups, and west of
5368-430: The others were significant trading partners to both kingdoms, supplying the entirety of palm oil Aboh traded. Although some Igala dances continue to be performed in Anioma, there is no evidence of any lasting military conquests; instead, it appears that cultural traditions were exchanged mostly through trade and interactions between the neighboring communities. King Jaja of Opobo (full name: Jubo Jubogha ; 1821–1891)
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#17328687973825456-419: The outdated notion of Africa as a continent with no significant history or cultural achievements. The site's findings have demonstrated the richness and complexity of ancient African civilizations. The archaeological site of Igbo-Ukwu was first discovered in 1939 when a group of villagers accidentally came across the artifacts while digging a trench. Subsequent excavations conducted in the 1950s and 1970s uncovered
5544-499: The patriarchal king-figure Eri . Eri's origins are unclear, though he has been described as a "sky being" sent by Chukwu (God). He has been characterized as having first given societal order to the people of Anambra . The historian Elizabeth Allo Isichei says "Nri and Aguleri and part of the Umueri clan, [are] a cluster of Igbo village groups which traces its origins to a sky being called Eri." Archaeological evidence suggests that Nri influence in Igboland may go back as far as
5632-428: The period of the Igbo-Igala Wars, marked by a scarcity of labor and insecurity resulting from slave raiding and the Nsukka-Igala conflicts, notable changes occurred in the iron smelting practices of the Nsukka people. Due to urgency, some iron smelters resorted to using wood directly in their smelting process, bypassing the usual practice of burning it to produce charcoal. This adaptation in smelting techniques demonstrates
5720-411: The region. The artifacts may be associated with the traditional Kingdom of Nri and its priest-king, the Eze Nri. The significance of Igbo-Ukwu lies in the following aspects: Sophisticated Artifacts: The excavations at Igbo-Ukwu revealed a collection of highly sophisticated and elaborately crafted artifacts, including intricately designed bronze, copper, and iron objects. These artifacts demonstrate
5808-402: The same year deprived the French companies of their support within the French government and the strong subsidies it had been providing them. Goldie's cash-flush NAC was then able to maintain 30 trading posts along the river, and ruin its competition in a two-year price war: by October 1884 all three had permitted him to buy out their interests in the region and the NAC's annual report for 1885
5896-432: The site suggests that the people of Igbo-Ukwu were engaged in trade and had connections with other cultures and civilizations, both within and outside of Africa. Evidence of social complexity : The intricate and finely crafted artifacts found at Igbo-Ukwu suggest the existence of a sophisticated and socially complex society. The level of craftsmanship and the variety of artifacts indicate the presence of skilled artisans and
5984-421: The small Niger Coast Protectorate , already under imperial control, was formed into the two protectorates of Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria . The company changed its name to The Niger Company Ltd and in 1929 became part of the United Africa Company . The United Africa Company came under the control of Unilever in the 1930s and continued to exist as a subsidiary of Unilever until 1987, when it
6072-422: The survivors, Macgregor Laird , subsequently remained in Britain but directed and funded expeditions to the country until his death in 1861. He opposed the failed Niger expedition of 1841 but the success of the Pleiad' s first mission in 1854 led to annual trips under Baikie and the 1857 foundation of Lokoja at the Niger–Benue confluence. There were no voyages for the three years following Laird's death, but
6160-470: The territory. Being the Igbo allies, the Akpas were led by the royal Nnubi family. Osim and Akuma Nnubi led Akpa soldiers to help fight against the ruling household. Together with Igbo forces and rebels, they fought against the Ibom Kingdom forces (1690). During the final battles, Osim Nnubi was slain in Oror city state making it the capital of Arochukwu. But at the end of the war, Osim and Akakpokpo were dead. In order to honor Osim's legacy, his brother Akuma
6248-404: The third week of February, although the traditional start of the year for many Igbo communities is around springtime in Ọ́nwạ́ Ágwụ́ (June). Used as a ceremonial script by secret societies, the Igbo have an indigenous ideographic set of symbols called Nsibidi , whose origin is now generally attributed to the neighboring Ejagham people, though in the 1900s J. K. Macgregor recorded
6336-628: The tribes of the Cameroons , however, Britain was willing to recognize the German colony that usurped the area in 1885 as a check on French activity in the upper Congo and Ubangi watersheds. The scruples of the British government being overcome, a charter was at length granted (July 1886), the National African Company becoming The Royal Niger Company Chartered and Limited (normally shortened to
6424-505: The twentieth century. In the wake of decolonisation , the Igbo developed a strong sense of ethnic identity, with Christianity being the major religion and Islamic minorities. After ethnic tensions following the independence of Nigeria in 1960, the Igbos seceded from Nigeria and attempted to establish a new independent country called Biafra , triggering the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). Millions of Biafran civilians died from starvation after
6512-474: The united firm was undercapitalized for the expense of genuine colonial administration. Goldie first began addressing the administration's concerns by increasing the company's capitalization to £100 000. He then managed to corral £ 1 000 000 in investments in a new concern—the National African Company —which bought up the UAC and its interests in 1882. The death of Léon Gambetta
6600-414: Was a powerful and influential political and economic alliance of various Igbo-speaking communities in southeastern Nigeria. It emerged during the 17th century and played a significant role in the region until the late 19th century. The exact origins of the Aro Confederacy are not precisely documented, but it is believed to have been established around the mid-17th century. The Aro people, who were part of
6688-506: Was able to crow that it "remained alone in undisputed commercial possession of the Niger–Binué region". This monopoly permitted Britain to resist French and German calls to internationalize trade on the Niger River during the negotiations at the 1884–1885 Berlin Conference on African colonization . Goldie himself attended the meetings and successfully argued for including the region of
6776-634: Was arrested on arrival aboard a British vessel; he was tried in Accra in the Gold Coast (now Ghana ) then exiled, first to London, and later to Saint Vincent and Barbados in the British West Indies . His presence in the West Indies was alleged to be the cause of civil unrest, as the people of Barbados , of African descent, were upset at the poor treatment of a King from their homeland. In 1891, Jaja
6864-480: Was crowned the first EzeAro (king). After his death, Nnachi's descendants took the throne starting with his first son Oke Nnachi . The Arochukwu kingdom, was founded. After Arochukwu was formed, it began to expand because of the growing population and territorial protection. Aro forces formed vigilante camps which eventually grew into communities on the Arochukwu-Ibibio boundaries. The Igbo-Igala Wars refer to
6952-506: Was different from most other communities of Western Africa and only shared by the Ewe of Ghana . Umunna are a form of patrilineage maintained by the Igbo. Law starts with the Umunna which is a male line of descent from a founding ancestor (who the line is sometimes named after) with groups of compounds containing closely related families headed by the eldest male member. The Umunna can be seen as
7040-531: Was eventually integrated into Unilever . Richard Lander first explored the area of Nigeria as the servant of Hugh Clapperton . In 1830, he returned to the river with his brother John ; in 1832, he returned again (without his brother) to establish a trading post for the African Steamship Company " at the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers. The expedition failed, with 40 of the 49 members dying of fever or wounds from native attacks. One of
7128-457: Was expansion and to address their ongoing land scarcity. It led to a conflict between the two groups, resulting in the Igala's defeat and expulsion from their occupied territory which the Ezza then took control of. The Agba community, located in Ebo Ndiagu, Ochuhu Agba, and Orie Agba Elu, faced defeat as the Ezza's territory expanded. Some rallied, but despite putting up a spirited but brief defense,
7216-504: Was founded after the beginning of the Aro-Ibibio Wars . Their influence and presence was all over Eastern Nigeria , lower Middle Belt , and parts of present-day Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Arochukwu Kingdom was an economic, political, and an oracular center as it was home of the Ibini Ukpabi oracle, High Priests, the Aro King Eze Aro , and central council (Okpankpo). The Aro Confederacy
7304-478: Was granted permission to return to Opobo, but died en route. Following his exile and death, the power of the Opobo state rapidly declined. In 1903, the King Jaja of Opobo Memorial was erected in his honor in Opobo town centre. Traditional Igbo political organization was based on a quasi-democratic republican system of government. In tight knit communities, this system guaranteed its citizens equality, as opposed to
7392-552: Was kidnapped and sold into slavery , most likely by a rival Igbo warring state, or by the Aro's .He was then brought to Ijawland thereafter. As was customary amongst the Ijaw, Jaja earned his way out of slavery after serving his master for a number of years. At the death of his master, he took charge of the trade and went on to head the Anna Pepple House merchant faction of Bonny . Under him, Anna Pepple absorbed other trade houses until
7480-524: Was mostly derived from its economic and religious position. With European colonists on their way at the end of the 19th century, things changed. British colonialism in the late 19th century turned Anglo-Aro relations sour. Aro leaders knew that Christianity , colonialism, and end of their monopoly would destroy Aro economic rule. Also the British felt that repeated Aro attacks rendered outright war inescapable. They made plans for war in 1899. The conflict had both religious and economic causes. Aro traders and
7568-484: Was primarily based on agriculture, with the cultivation of crops like palm oil, yams, and cassava. They were also involved in trade with neighboring communities and European merchants. They controlled trade routes that passed through their territories, collecting tolls and taxes from traders. The Aro also engaged in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade by capturing and selling slaves to European traders. Aro activities on
7656-441: Was the first king (amanyanabo) of Opobo. He was also the founder of Opobo city-state in present day Rivers State of Nigeria . King Jaja of Opobo is listed as an African legend , because of the hardships he overcame, and persistency to rise, even despite all the odds against him. He became a merchant, and a general, becoming one of the richest and most influential Pre-colonial Africans in history. At an indeterminate date, Jaja
7744-492: Was the spiritual centerpiece of the Aro Confederacy. It was housed in Arochukwu and considered a potent source of political authority and religious guidance. The Aro people used the oracle to enforce their influence and control over surrounding communities. It also served as a means to administer justice and settle disputes, often attracting pilgrims seeking solutions to their problems. The Aro Confederacy gained significant economic power through trade and commerce. Their economy
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