I think it's time for this thread to be continued.

Inyi niile bia noiri anyi; ma ndi Igbo ma ndi nsu. Everyone is welcomed here; both Igbo and foreigners.

A group of men somewhere near Ahaba (Asaba), Aniocha. Circa 1906.

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Two young boys posing with their day's hunt. Ahaba (Asaba). Circa 1906.

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An Aro bridge with her mother and child in an Aro settlement somewhere near Ikot Ekpene, Annang. Feb 24, 1905.

A young man of Ubulukwu (Ubuluku). Sometime before 1913.

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An elder of Igbuzor (Ibusa). Sometime before 1913.

A palmwine tapper somewhere in Igbo land. Sometime before 1921.

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A rope composed of twisted creepers encircles the trunk and the body of the climber, and by a series of jerks it is raised a foot or more at a time, the weight of the man's body preventing it from slipping. The rapidity with which these climbers literally "walk" up a palm-tree is marvellous. The large knife is for the purpose of severing the bunches of nuts.

-George Thomas Basden

A kite-like contraption. Umuji (Rumuji), Ikwere. Circa 1930.

Idigo, king of the Agouleris, before his conversion to Christianity. Aguleri. 1902.

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Idigo, king of the Agouleris, before his conversion

“…the Father pronounces his first homily and announces his intention to constitute a Mission. In response to his words, Idigo [chief of the Aguleris] bows down before his idols, exclaiming: “Oh my deities, I am grateful that you have sent me this White today. There will be happiness and peace for all. – Leave your idols, responds P. Lutz, they have nothing to do with my arrival.” (pp. 212-213)

People wading in the Imo river. Somewhere around Ngwa, Urata, and Etche. February 28, 1946.

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An Oka (Awka) man of around 40 or 50 years of age. Oka (Awka). Circa 1913.

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Boats drifting through Ahaba (Asaba). Ahaba (Asaba). Late 19th century.

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A woman posing with her child. Agukwu Nri, Idemili. Sometime before 1921.

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An Igwe and his attendant. Ahaba (Asaba). 1906.

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Grades of chiefs.—The first and highest grade is that of Igwi [Igwe]. The distinguishing mark is a circle of broom (termed Aziza, from the palm tree), knotted before and behind, with upturned ends a couple of inches or so in length.

This circle is usually worn round a red cloth cap, rather like a flattened fez, but is occasionally worn round a brown one, and, when work has to be done, even on the uncovered head. In addition, the Igwi carries a circular fan made of untanned cow-hide, usually ornamented with red cloth strips or some similar decoration,and a short thin handle. This is the Azuzu. Finally, a short-handled many-thonged fly-flick is common, and is carried in the hand or over the shoulder. This is the Ijappa. Ivories round ankles or wrists are very usual and are termed respectively ordu uku (ivory [for] foot) and orku uku (ivory [for] hand).

Thumb rings are known as umbáká orpupu (literally ring bone).

A horn, which, when properly blown, produces a long discordant note, is called Oturu aka, and is often carried by an Igwi. The origin of the name Oturu aka is doubtful; the instrument, in the form of a slightly bent cone, is made from the canine of a hippopotamus, the horn of a cow, etc.; it is blown through a small rectangular slit half way down the length, and is open only at one end.

A diagram of the Ibini Ukpabi shrine. Ibom, Arochukwu. 1902.

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The approach to the Long Ju-Ju is through dense bush, which gradually becomes thicker and thicker until one arrives at the entrance of a deep oval-shaped pit, seventy feet deep, sixty yards long, and fifty yards wide. One then climbs down the precipitous sides of the rock into a narrow gorge and into running water, up which one wades, passing under two fences, until one finally comes to a place where the water comes out of the solid rock in two big streams, which unite below a small island, on which are two altars, one made of many trade guns, stuck muzzle downwards into the ground and topped with skulls, the other being of wood and supporting more skulls, bones, feathers, blood, eggs, and other votive offerings to the Ju-Ju, including the head of the last victim. Over the rock, where is the source of the water, is a roof of human skulls with a curtain, the top part of which is composed of clothes and the lower part of native matting, screening the rock and hanging just short of the water's edge. The lower portions of the rock composing the other side of this crater are draped with mats only. On the left of the entrance, centrally situated, and opposite the island, has been hewn out of the rock a flat-topped ledge for sacrificial purposes. The water, about twelve inches deep, is full of tame grey-coloured fish, about two feet in length, with long suckers and glaring yellow eyes, which have a most bizarre appearance as they glide noiselessly through the clear water in the dim light of this charnel-house of fetish lore, which is roofed with densely intertwined creepers. These fish are regarded as sacred. On the left of the exit lies another pile of human skulls and other relics of Ju-Ju rites, and on the left the last sacrifice--a white goat, trussed up in the branches of a palm tree and starving to death. The conducting of a visitor to the Ju-Ju is usually a somewhat lengthy process, and when he arrives in its proximity he is led by a circuitous route and finally marched in backwards. It would seem to be a fair estimate to put the number of pilgrims down at about five hundred annually, all of whom pay dearly for the advice or decree which is vouchsafed to them. Probably the number of human sacrifices does not reach a total of fifty per annum, while about 200 people are sold into slavery, and the remainder are allowed to go away free.

-Reuter, Daily Graphic.

*I know this one isn't colonial, but I like it*

An Onicha (Onitsha) mourning. Onicha (Onitsha). 1961.

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The prominent Elder, Omenyi, dances in the chamber with some other Otu Odu women, holding her Peace Fan in her right hand. The black Horsetail Switch (normally carried in the mourner's left hand) is draped over her shoulder as she dances.

ThankGod for civilization!

I can imagine myself born at this era! Chai!

E no go easy o!

Vikin: ThankGod for civilization!

I can imagine myself born at this era! Chai!

E no go easy o!

Is this to say that things are easy now? By the way you mean modernity not civilization.

Those ankle and wrist bracelet what are they made out of? And are they heavy?

ezeagu:

Is this to say that things are easy now? By the way you mean modernity not civilization.

Modernity o! Civilization o! Things are easier o! I experienced what you see in this picture those early days in village. P

stillwater: Those ankle and wrist bracelet what are they made out of? And are they heavy?

Someone once told me that it was made from Ivory? I don't know if ivory is heavy

They're not heavy, they're hollow and stuffed with cloth.

Vikin:

Modernity o! Civilization o! Things are easier o! I experienced what you see in this picture those early days in village. P

Life has gotten easier (in some aspects), but at the same time, things are still very difficult. The people of today have an entirely different set of burdens.

I'll continue.

A chief with an ofo, oton, and a bag. Somewhere in Igbo land. Sometime before 1913.

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A market somewhere in Igbo land. Sometime between 1880-1939.


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A young bride. Somewhere in Igbo land. Sometime before 1921.

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Mbubu leader. Umunede, Ika. Sometime before 1930.

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This old woman was president of the union of professional "cutters" at Umunede. Her union badge and razors hang at her waist. She gave them to the author.

-Basden

odumchi: A young bride. Somewhere in Igbo land. Sometime before 1921.

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Ife nile di ka Chineke siri wee ke ya,Chukwuebuka!

^^^That is one pissed bride, lol. Just kidding.

odumchi: Two young boys posing with their day's hunt. Ahaba (Asaba). Circa 1906.

[img]http://1.bp..com/_jeBv7EEofYQ/TLt6TW-CQCI/AAAAAAAAAJw/vCs_cxrOE3o/s1600/dead+cimpanzee.jpg[/img]

This is just wrong. I'm not sure if those boys positioned the gorilla's arm like that or it just happened to be like that but it just wrong.

mallorca:
Ife nile di ka Chineke siri wee ke ya,Chukwuebuka!

O buru na ezi.

stillwater: ^^^That is one pissed bride, lol. Just kidding.

Lol she looks rather disinterested.

One_Naira:

This is just wrong. I'm not sure if those boys positioned the gorilla's arm like that or it just happened to be like that but it just wrong.

odumchi:

Lol she looks rather disinterested.

Yeah. I found another picture. I got it from here. http://ndebe..com/2009/08/history-1-meet-your-very-recent.html

[img]http://4.bp..com/_QVW98iGMXHI/SoG1lsAKBjI/AAAAAAAAJYc/nqhXj4Jmx7E/s400/igbo+girl+wedding.jpg[/img]

One_Naira:

This is just wrong. I'm not sure if those boys positioned the gorilla's arm like that or it just happened to be like that but it just wrong.

Lol