Cultural Archives
Mural Decorations in Nri Akwa
A photograph depicting a close up view of mural decorations on a wall in Nri Akwa. The murals feature two raised figures in relief, rendered with light colored pigments on a dark matte substrate. The figure on the left is …
Mud Figures of Chief, Attendants, and Commissioner of Police
A photograph depicting a series of humanoid figures composed of molded clay or similar material, arranged on a raised earthen platform within a semi-enclosed structure. The assemblage includes a seated figure in a military-style hat and jacket, a prominent seated …
Painted Courthouse Mural at Nri
A photograph depicting a monochromatic mural painted on a dark, textured exterior wall of a courthouse in Nri, Onitsha Province. The mural is divided into two primary zones: a left-hand section featuring architectural motifs like a window frame alongside concentric …
Igbo bu Igbo (Great Igbo)
An audio recording of a folksong titled 'Igbo bu Igbo' (Great Igbo), recorded by Northcote Thomas on December 16, 1910, in Awka. The performance features a female singer utilizing a high-pitched, resonant vocal technique with a repetitive, call-and-response structure. The …
Painted Courthouse Mural at Nri
A photograph depicting a monochromatic mural on a flat, textured surface, located at a courthouse in Nri, Onitsha Province. The composition features six stylized human figures and a vessel, arranged in a linear progression from left to right. The figures …
Uli Body Painting in Awka
A photograph depicting a woman applying paint to the back of a man who is kneeling on all fours on a woven mat. The woman wears a patterned head covering and uses a small handheld tool to apply the designs. …
Mask Maker in Workshop with Fish Mask
A photograph depicting a male mask maker in his workshop, holding a completed wooden mask representing a fish. The subject is seated on the ground, wearing a light-colored sleeveless garment, and is surrounded by wood shavings. The image, taken circa …
Kwà-àjáyámmá (Vocal Group, Agulu, 1911)
An audio recording of a women's dance song recorded by Northcote Thomas in Agulu, present-day Anambra State, Nigeria, in February 1911. The performance features Kwà-àjáyámmá, which consists of an onomatopoeic sound and chorused response to the melodic calls of a …
Young Igbo Girl Painted with Uli
This black-and-white photograph from the 1940s by Sylvia Leith-Ross shows a young Igbo girl adorned with traditional Uli body art patterns. She wears a headpiece with feathers and decorative elements, with her back turned to emphasize the designs. Blurred figures …