The Legend of Igbo Ukwu (Igbo)
The ancient kingdom of Igbo Ukwu in southeastern Nigeria was a center of sophisticated bronze and copper craftsmanship dating back to the 9th century CE. According to oral tradition, Eri, the divine founder of the Igbo people, descended from the sky on a chain and settled at the confluence of the Niger and Anambra rivers. The people of Igbo Ukwu were master smiths who learned metallurgy from the spirit world. Their elaborate burial ceremonies for kings (Eze Nri) involved elaborate bronze regalia, thousands of beads, and the ritual burial of royal attendants. The discovery of the Igbo Ukwu arch