Introduction
Nri Kingdom (1914-1911) was an ancient Igbo city-state in Anambra State Nigeria. The Kingdom was the center of learning, religion, and commerce in pre-colonial West Africa. Historians have compared the Nri, at its peak, to the religious cities of Rome or Mecca: it was the seat of a powerful and imperial state that influenced much of the territories inhabited by the Igbo of Awka and Onitsha to the east; the Efik, the Ibibio, and the Ijaw to the South; Nsukka and southernIgala to the north; and Asaba, and the Anioma to the west. The rulers of Nri did not use military conquest and were peaceful rulers, instead religious authority and complete economic control were the tactics used in the spread of their city-state. Politically, Nri is known to be the most ancient origins of the Eze kingship in Igbo societies. But Nri and its rulers were also known for their occult religious Juju, an institution that instilled both awe and fear in those who made pilgrimages to the shrine.
Commercially, Nri was against slave holding. "Osu" was the name of outcasts of other communities who migrated and were accepted in Nri. Some Osu became eunuchs. During the colonial period, Nri and the regions under its political, religious, or commercial control became international markets for palm oil. In the heart of Nri influence was the Igbo Ukwu bronze castings.
The Early History of Igboland
Archaeological evidence suggests that Nri Kingdom in Igboland may go back as far as the 8th century,and royal burials have been unearthed dating to at least the 10th century. Eri, the god-like founder of Nri, is believed to have settled the region around 914, with other related Igbo cultures following after in the 13th century.The first eze Nri (King of Nri), Ìfikuánim, follows directly after him. According to Igbo oral tradition, his reign started in 1043. At least one historian puts Ìfikuánim's reign
The 10th century Nri Kingdom was the first of the three copper mining cultures in West Africa. Nri people are the early day ancestors of the modern day cultural group Igbo.
During the 15th century the Nri used the lost wax method to produce cast bronze artifacts, such as those recovered from the Igbo Ukwo site of southeastern Nigeria.
Archaeological Finds
Igbo Ukwu is an archaeological site near the modern town of Onitsha, southeastern Nigeria. The site was part of the Nri Kingdom, and it was known to be used as far back as the 8th century AD. The site has several parts, including a main burial, and associated caches and shrines.
Igbo Ukwu was a burial place for elite personages, and the burials identified there were interred with a large quantity of costly grave goods. The principal burial is of a person buried sitting on a stool, in fine clothing and rich grave effects such as over 150,000 glass beads, and accompanied by the remains of at least five attendants. Elaborate cast bronze vases, bowls and ornaments were discovered at Igbo Ukwe, made with the lost wax technique.
The bronzes are among the earliest cast bronzes in sub-Saharan Africa. The bronzes were manufactured locally; but the tens of thousands of glass beads, ivory and Indian spices are an indication that the Nri Kingdom was also involved in considerable long-distance trade. Scientist were utterly amazed at the castings that were made in stages to create everything from swords, crowns, breastplates, staff ornaments. Igbo bronze casting was named an “isolated phenomenon” and it took several centuries later for the Igbo's to teach others in further parts of the region known as Nigeria.
8th-9th Century bronze masterpieces and other artwork excavated 50 years ago by the British archeologist, Prof. Thurstan Shaw, in Igboukwu, Anambra state, Nigeria have been described by cultural art connoisseurs as "the most inventive and technically accomplished bronze sculptures ever made".
Nri Kingdom (1914-1911) was an ancient Igbo city-state in Anambra State Nigeria. The Kingdom was the center of learning, religion, and commerce in pre-colonial West Africa. Historians have compared the Nri, at its peak, to the religious cities of Rome or Mecca: it was the seat of a powerful and imperial state that influenced much of the territories inhabited by the Igbo of Awka and Onitsha to the east; the Efik, the Ibibio, and the Ijaw to the South; Nsukka and southernIgala to the north; and Asaba, and the Anioma to the west. The rulers of Nri did not use military conquest and were peaceful rulers, instead religious authority and complete economic control were the tactics used in the spread of their city-state. Politically, Nri is known to be the most ancient origins of the Eze kingship in Igbo societies. But Nri and its rulers were also known for their occult religious Juju, an institution that instilled both awe and fear in those who made pilgrimages to the shrine.
Commercially, Nri was against slave holding. "Osu" was the name of outcasts of other communities who migrated and were accepted in Nri. Some Osu became eunuchs. During the colonial period, Nri and the regions under its political, religious, or commercial control became international markets for palm oil. In the heart of Nri influence was the Igbo Ukwu bronze castings.
The Early History of Igboland
Archaeological evidence suggests that Nri Kingdom in Igboland may go back as far as the 8th century,and royal burials have been unearthed dating to at least the 10th century. Eri, the god-like founder of Nri, is believed to have settled the region around 914, with other related Igbo cultures following after in the 13th century.The first eze Nri (King of Nri), Ìfikuánim, follows directly after him. According to Igbo oral tradition, his reign started in 1043. At least one historian puts Ìfikuánim's reign
The 10th century Nri Kingdom was the first of the three copper mining cultures in West Africa. Nri people are the early day ancestors of the modern day cultural group Igbo.
During the 15th century the Nri used the lost wax method to produce cast bronze artifacts, such as those recovered from the Igbo Ukwo site of southeastern Nigeria.
Archaeological Finds
Igbo Ukwu is an archaeological site near the modern town of Onitsha, southeastern Nigeria. The site was part of the Nri Kingdom, and it was known to be used as far back as the 8th century AD. The site has several parts, including a main burial, and associated caches and shrines.
Igbo Ukwu was a burial place for elite personages, and the burials identified there were interred with a large quantity of costly grave goods. The principal burial is of a person buried sitting on a stool, in fine clothing and rich grave effects such as over 150,000 glass beads, and accompanied by the remains of at least five attendants. Elaborate cast bronze vases, bowls and ornaments were discovered at Igbo Ukwe, made with the lost wax technique.
The bronzes are among the earliest cast bronzes in sub-Saharan Africa. The bronzes were manufactured locally; but the tens of thousands of glass beads, ivory and Indian spices are an indication that the Nri Kingdom was also involved in considerable long-distance trade. Scientist were utterly amazed at the castings that were made in stages to create everything from swords, crowns, breastplates, staff ornaments. Igbo bronze casting was named an “isolated phenomenon” and it took several centuries later for the Igbo's to teach others in further parts of the region known as Nigeria.
8th-9th Century bronze masterpieces and other artwork excavated 50 years ago by the British archeologist, Prof. Thurstan Shaw, in Igboukwu, Anambra state, Nigeria have been described by cultural art connoisseurs as "the most inventive and technically accomplished bronze sculptures ever made".
Citation
Apley, Alice. "Igbo-Ukwu (ca. 9th century)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/igbo/hd_igbo.htm (October 2001)