Historical Origin of the Ogba Kingdom

The Ogba people are one of the ethnic groups in Rivers State. The Ogba people speak the Ogba language.  The Ogba people live in a local government called Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni in Rivers State, Nigeria. The Ogba language has three dialects: Usomini, Igburu, and Egi dialect. The Ogba Kingdom consists of three clans: the Egi, Igburu and Usomini clans, and their largest city is Omoku.The Ogba people speak two dialects of the Ogba languages: Egi and Igburu. Eligbo…

Princess Inikpi’s Selfless Sacrifice for the Igala People.

Princess Inikpi was a beautiful and intelligent young woman whose selfless sacrifice saved her people from destruction.  She was the only child of her parents: Atah Ayegba Oma Idoko and Queen Omele. The Igala Kingdom came into conflict with the Bini Kingdom, one of its greatest enemies, around the 15th century. The Bini warriors repeatedly attacked the land of Igala until they wanted to destroy its population. The Bini warriors used a variety of tactics, including poisoning waterways, sudden attacks by day and night, and laying siege to their agricultural lands. The people of Igala then lived in…

Throwback Photo of Tinubu Square Donated by the Lebanese Community in Lagos, 1960

Tinubu Square after the demolition of the Assize Court building. The fountain was built and donated by the Lebanese community of Lagos to celebrate Nigeria’s independence on October 1,1960. In 1846, Mrs. Efunroye Tinubu was the housekeeper of the exiled King Akitoye of Lagos who sought refuge in Badagry during a royal crisis. He managed to mobilize the pro-Akitoye movement, which supported his restoration to the Lagos throne. In 1851, Oba Akintoye successfully regained the throne and invited Mrs. Tinuu with him to Lagos. Mrs. Efunroye Tinubu died in 1887…

Never Judge a Book by the Cover: Bianca Ojukwu Shares her Story

Bianca, in an interview some years ago when they celebrated their wedding anniversary, told General Ojukwu a short, fascinating story about their wedding cake and its preparations. Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu (then Bianca Onoh) was preparing for her wedding in November 1994. General Ojukwu’s wife celebrated her wedding anniversary by revealing that a pastry chef in Enugu refused to make her wedding cake. The cook thought Bianca was poor and lower class. A well-meaning friend recommended a qualified pastry…

Vanity of Old Glory? Photo showing the Once Impressive Garage of Prince Akwaeke Nwafor Orizu

Prince Akwaeke Nwafor Orizu was the second President of the Senate of Nigeria. He was also Nigeria’s first interim president from late 1965 until the military coup in January 1966. Throughout his political career, Nwafor boasted of having one of the most beautiful luxury cars in his garage. These cars, including his Pontiac Catalina (center), can be compared to expensive vehicles from contemporary brands like Bentley. Nwafor is a member…

Solidarity Forever: Nigerians in London Protest the Shooting of 21 Striking Nigerian Coal Miners in Enugu by Colonial Police

Participants in a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, to protest against the killing of 21 striking Nigerian miners in Enugu by colonial police. The Enugu Coal Mine Massacre, also known as the Iva Valley Massacre, is a site in Enugu city, Enugu State, Nigeria. The name Ivy Valley comes from a valley in the region of the same name. The town is home to the Ivy Valley Coal Mine. Iva Valley is famous in Enugu for the events of November 18, 1949, when police killed 21 miners during protests. On November 18, 1949, 50 armed policemen led by the senior police commissioner F.S Phillips…

Ben Enwonwu- Africa’s Most Celebrated Artist who Hails from Onitsha

Odinigwe native Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu MBE (14 July 1917 – 5 February 1994), better known as Ben Enwonwu, was born as a twin into the noble Umueze-Aroli family in Onitsha, Nigeria on July 14, 1917. His father, Omenka Odigwe Emeka Enwonwu, was a technician who worked for the Royal Niger Company. He was also a member of the Onitsha Chief Council and a renowned traditional sculptor who created clerical staffs, stools, decorative doors and…

Nigerian Famous Writers Visit General Ibrahim Babangida at Dodan Barracks.

In 1986, three of the most famous Nigerian and African writers and poets, JP Clark, Chinua Achebe and Professor Wole Soyinka visited Dodan Barracks. Their aim was to appeal to General Ibrahim Babangida to pardon General Vatsa, also known as Mamman Jiya Vatsa. Despite their efforts, General Babangida went ahead and executed General Vatsa. It should be noted that General Vatsa and General Babangida were close friends, which made the circumstances of this execution even more embarrassing. The details of what happened between these two friends will soon be…