igbo

The Igbo are an ethnic group native to the southeastern part of Nigeria, concentrated in Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi states, with extensions into parts of Delta and Rivers states. They form one of the country’s largest ethnic groups and have a widespread international diaspora, including communities in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and elsewhere. Igbo society has traditionally been organized around village life, with emphasis on family networks, trade, and consensual decision making.

The Igbo language belongs to the Igboid branch of the Niger-Congo language family. It is tonal and features a wide array of dialects, whose mutual intelligibility varies. Standard Igbo has been developed for education and media to foster cross-dialect communication, and the language is written in the Latin alphabet.

Historically, Igbo communities were relatively decentralized, lacking a single centralized monarchy. Governance often relied on village assemblies, age grades, and title societies such as the Ozo. The region engaged in extensive inland trade and maintained intricate social and ritual institutions. European contact began in earnest in the 19th century, with missionary activity and eventual incorporation into British colonial administration. After Nigeria’s independence, Igboland became part of the Eastern Region, and the Biafran War (1967–1970) affected several Igbo communities.

Culturally, traditional beliefs centered on ancestors, oracles, and spirits, with modern Igbo communities largely Christian—Catholic, Anglican, Pentecostal, and others—alongside continuing traditional practices. Cultural expressions include mbari arts, masquerade performances, weaving, music, and vibrant market life. Daily life emphasizes family, naming ceremonies, and communal collaboration.