IGBO-UKWU CULTURE

LOCATION OF IGBO-UKWU ON THE MAP OF NIGERIA

Igbo-Ukwu is an ancient Igbo town located in Aguata Local Government Area of

Anambra State in the South-east geo-political zone of Nigeria.
The People of Igbo-Ukwu
The people of Igbo-Ukwu are one of the Igbo speaking people in the South-eastern
Nigeria.
Igbo-Ukwu used to be part of Uri kingdom which existed in the 10th century.

ARTIFACTS
The history behind the discovery of Igbo-Ukwu culture can be traced to the excavation
carried out by Professor Thurstan Shaw in 1960 and 1964.
The discovery led to the excavation of sites at Igbo-Ukwu. The objects were mainly of
bronze materials that were discovered accidently in 1938 while digging a toilet pit.
A large number of artefacts made of bronze were found in Igbo-Ukwu. These include a
roped pot, an altar stand, beaded chains, bowls, shells, pendants, manilla and thousands
of beads. Some of the artifacts are also decorated with coloured glass beads and stones.
The artifacts suggest ritual objects.
These sites were named after the compound where they were found. E.g. they are as
follows:
a) Igbo-Isaiah: In Isaiah Anozie compound, a shrine was discovered. The major
artifacts in the shrine were a rope pot, an altar stand, beaded chains and crotals, a bowl
on stand etc.
b) Igbo-Richard: In the compound of Richard Anozie, the tomb (burial chamber) of a
priest-king was discovered. The following were also found with this corpse: copper
anklets and strings of beads, breastplate, beaded head-dress, bronze crown, bronze
leopard skull etc.
c) Igbo-Jonah: In the compound of Jonah Anozie a refuse dump where most decorated
pot that was ever made by any potter before was discovered.
Occupational Activities of Igbo-Ukwu
The people of Igbo-Ukwu were about the earliest smithers in West Africa.
They used lost –wax casting method for bronze sculpture production.
The Igbo-Ukwu were great farmers known for the production of mostly food crops like
cassava, yam, cocoyam etc. And traded with other Nigerian groups.
They were also popular for tapping and sale of palm wine.

Features of Igbo-Ukwu Culture

a. Igbo-Ukwu culture is mostly centred on the discovery of objects made from bronze.
b. The discoveries in Igbo-Ukwu showed objects that depicted the traditional burial
sites of their rulers.
c. The bronze objects of Igbo-Ukwu have some similarities with Benin culture.
d. The discovery sites were named according to the compound where each discovery
was made.
Significance of Igbo-Ukwu in Nigerian History.
1. The bronze works found in Igbo-Ukwu provide us with the first evidence of the
artistic use of copper in the whole of Black Africa.
2. The Igbo-Ukwu people were among the earliest groups of West Africans to employ
the lost-wax casting techniques in making bronze sculptures.
3. The Igbo-Ukwu objects were beautiful with unique designs.
4. Igbo-Ukwu is significant for revealing the intergroup relations between Nigeria and
other parts of the world.