Igbo festivals are where the community gets together: dancing, drumming, food and respect for those who came before.
Iri Ji: the New Yam festival
Thanks for the harvest. The first yam is shared before the feast begins.
Mmanwu
Masquerades that embody spirits and ancestors. Some are ferocious, some are comic, some are elegant.
Agbogho Mmuo
The “maiden spirit” mask of northern Igboland, with a pale, graceful face that honours feminine beauty.
Ofala
A royal festival in Onitsha where the traditional ruler appears in full regalia.
Mgba
Traditional wrestling, once a celebration of strength and village pride.
Igu Aro
The old festival of Nri that marked the start of the year.
Many Igbo festivals are celebrated today in cities and in the diaspora, from Lagos to London, Houston to Paris.