Stories, art and wisdom

Akwete cloth

Akwete is a beautiful hand-woven cloth, known for its bright colours and patterns.

Weavers make the patterns thread by thread on a loom.

Nsibidi, a secret writing

Nsibidi is a system of signs and symbols used in south-eastern Nigeria. Messages could be drawn on cloth, walls and bodies.

Some people used nsibidi so that only those who knew the signs could read the message.

Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe was an Igbo writer. In 1958 he published a famous book called Things Fall Apart.

It tells the story of Igbo life in a village and has been read by people all over the world.

Proverbs

Igbo people love proverbs, short wise sayings that teach a lesson.

One says “Nwanyị bụ nwa”, which means “A female child is also a child”. Girls and boys both matter.

The Dibia

A dibia is a traditional healer who knows about plants and remedies. In every village, healers, farmers, weavers and storytellers all have important jobs.

Igbo highlife

Highlife is happy dance music with guitars and horns. Famous Igbo highlife stars include Osadebe and Oliver De Coque.

Put on some highlife and dance!

Igba boi

Igba boi is a way of learning a trade. A young person lives and works with a master for some years, learns the craft, and is then helped to start their own business.

It shows how Igbo communities help young people grow.