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Description
Collaboration with AtreJane

Nri-Igbo

Aro-Igbo

Ekumeku-Igbo

This is a more general piece of the Igbo people, showing the past and present Igbo cultures. To note before colonialism occurred the Igbo were fragmented along traditional and cultural lines. They each had their own various interpretations of religion and history. The most notable different groups were the Aro-Igbo, the Nri-Igbo and the Ekumeku. Each of these three subgroups had so much distinction that all they shared was a language. What it took to unite them into a full tribal identity was the colonization by the British.

An Igbo saying was, "The Igbo have no King." This is a line quoted from British traders due to their frustration with dealing with the Igbo was they had multiple chiefdoms, few of which practiced lineage based power. This also meant that the Igbo did could not have an ethnic identity proper until the 20th century after large groups like the Arochukwu and Ekumeku had been destroyed.

The Nri-Kingdom was the last outpost to succumb to the British and once they did they began to speak for all of the Igbo. They became the cultural and religious center and once they became Christian the rest of the Igbo saw an overwhelming conversion to Christianity in the early to mid 20th century. One of the most notable depictions of the Igbo's change to Christianity can be read in the novel, "Things fall apart by Chinua Achebe.

What is also notable about the Igbo in regards to their religion was their treatment of twins. They saw twins as an evil anomaly of misfortune and would often leave the twins to die. European missionaries would rescue the twins and raise them so that they could use them to convert the local people.

The Igbo sense of ethnic pride and identity would become so strong that it would lead to secession in 1967-1970 during the Biafran War which they lost. However in 1999 the Igbo set up the group known as MASSOB that tries to push for an Igbo state in a pacifistic way.

One of the many stereotypes of the Igbo is their greed for wealth. One of their deities is Ahia Njoku-the goddess of yams. Those believed to have the surname Njoku would be said to be blessed by the Goddess of yams and wealth.

What allowed for the conversion to Christianity though was the missionaries verbatim of the word Chineke-supreme God. The missionaries insisted that Jehovah and Chineke were the same person which made conversion a lot easier. Ironically one of the main obstacles to conversion was Jesus being the Son of God. The Igbo could not fathom God having a child without a wife and did not understand why Mary could not be the wife of God. But by using the twins to spread the word the English could have a better grip.

As to why the Ekumeku and Aro are faded out in the drawing, it is to represent their death and how Nri-Igbo now holds aspects of both their cultures.

Description
Collaboration with AtreJane

Nri-Igbo

Aro-Igbo

Ekumeku-Igbo

This is a more general piece of the Igbo people, showing the past and present Igbo cultures. To note before colonialism occurred the Igbo were fragmented along traditional and cultural lines. They each had their own various interpretations of religion and history. The most notable different groups were the Aro-Igbo, the Nri-Igbo and the Ekumeku. Each of these three subgroups had so much distinction that all they shared was a language. What it took to unite them into a full tribal identity was the colonization by the British.

An Igbo saying was, "The Igbo have no King." This is a line quoted from British traders due to their frustration with dealing with the Igbo was they had multiple chiefdoms, few of which practiced lineage based power. This also meant that the Igbo did could not have an ethnic identity proper until the 20th century after large groups like the Arochukwu and Ekumeku had been destroyed.

The Nri-Kingdom was the last outpost to succumb to the British and once they did they began to speak for all of the Igbo. They became the cultural and religious center and once they became Christian the rest of the Igbo saw an overwhelming conversion to Christianity in the early to mid 20th century. One of the most notable depictions of the Igbo's change to Christianity can be read in the novel, "Things fall apart by Chinua Achebe.

What is also notable about the Igbo in regards to their religion was their treatment of twins. They saw twins as an evil anomaly of misfortune and would often leave the twins to die. European missionaries would rescue the twins and raise them so that they could use them to convert the local people.

The Igbo sense of ethnic pride and identity would become so strong that it would lead to secession in 1967-1970 during the Biafran War which they lost. However in 1999 the Igbo set up the group known as MASSOB that tries to push for an Igbo state in a pacifistic way.

One of the many stereotypes of the Igbo is their greed for wealth. One of their deities is Ahia Njoku-the goddess of yams. Those believed to have the surname Njoku would be said to be blessed by the Goddess of yams and wealth.

What allowed for the conversion to Christianity though was the missionaries verbatim of the word Chineke-supreme God. The missionaries insisted that Jehovah and Chineke were the same person which made conversion a lot easier. Ironically one of the main obstacles to conversion was Jesus being the Son of God. The Igbo could not fathom God having a child without a wife and did not understand why Mary could not be the wife of God. But by using the twins to spread the word the English could have a better grip.

As to why the Ekumeku and Aro are faded out in the drawing, it is to represent their death and how Nri-Igbo now holds aspects of both their cultures.