Cultural Archives
Northcote Thomas Collection: Awgbu Artifacts
A monochromatic photograph documenting a collection of objects acquired by Northcote Thomas in Awgbu (present-day Anambra State, Nigeria) in 1911. The items are arranged in a horizontal line against a light-colored fabric backdrop in an outdoor setting, with a person …
Maiden Spirit Mask (Isi abogefi)
A photograph showing the interior and exterior of an Igbo maiden spirit mask, known locally as Isi abogefi, collected by Northcote Thomas in Agukwu Nri in 1911. The mask is carved from egbu wood and features a white facial surface …
Conversation between John and Nwile
A photograph of two facing pages, 48 and 49, from Northcote Thomas's Anthropological Report on the Ibo-Speaking Peoples of Nigeria, Part III: Proverbs, Narratives, Vocabularies and Grammar. The pages display a transcribed and translated dialogue between two young men: John, …
Speech by Chief Onyeso of Agukwu Nri
An audio recording featuring a re-recording of a speech by Chief Onyeso of Agukwu Nri, translated into standard Central Igbo by Yvonne Mbanefo and read by Oba Kosi Nwoba. The original recording was made by Northcote Thomas during his 1910-11 …
Linguistic Documentation of Igbo Tones and Phrases
An audio recording of Igbo spoken phrases and English translations, originally captured on a wax cylinder in 1911. The audio features a male speaker providing rhythmic Igbo linguistic samples, with Northcote Thomas providing the English translations. The content includes phrases …
Conversation in Igbo between John and Nwile
An audio recording of a conversation in Igbo between two young men, John (from Onitsha) and Nwile (from Nibo). The recording was made by Northcote Thomas in 1911 in Umuchukwu, also known as Ndikelionwu, in the Awka District of the …
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 …
Igbo Elder from Awka on Oche Mpata
These black-and-white photographs, taken by Northcote Thomas between 1910 and 1911 as part of his anthropological survey, feature an Igbo elder from Öka (Awka). The first shows a close view of her face and head, adorned with a wooden head …
Eze Nri Obalike with his attendants and Chiefs at Enugwu-Ukwu
This photograph, taken by Northcote Thomas in 1911, shows Eze Nri Obalike, who ruled from around 1889 to 1926, surrounded by his attendants and chiefs at the Nkwọ Marketplace in Enugwu-Ukwu. Under the watchful eyes of British colonial officers, Obalike …