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Beyond Currency: The Enduring Lives of the Cowrie Shell in Igbo Cosmology
A shell once carried from hand to hand as currency, became a vessel through which history, spirituality, and identity continue to speak
By Akunna Danugwu· 6 min read
Eight Ways a Dead Twin Becomes a Bird in Ga Ritual
When a Ga twin dies, the story does not end with burial.
By Benjamin neil Ibrahim· 5 min read
Coming Home Through Gborodigondi
A viral TikTok clip of a twenty-year-old Nsukka music video pulls a childhood memory back into focus
By Nneoma Sally· 7 min read
The Literal Voice of the Oja
A flute I dismissed as too archaic to notice stopped me mid-stride on an NYSC parade ground
By Nneoma Sally· 6 min read
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From the Oriire Codex
Open the codex →From the podcast
All episodes →Anansi: The Trickster god
Anansi is the West African spider-trickster who, depending on the story, is either the keeper of all knowledge or its most slippery thief. Cynthia joins this episode to tell some of his stories and unpack what he stands for.
The Story of the Goddess Nana Buluku
Nana Buluku is central to Fon mythology in Benin, and shows up in Yoruba tradition too. Florent joins this episode to tell her origin story and how she's worshipped today.
Cultural Preservation and How Far It Should Go
Cultural preservation is usually framed as an unqualified good but should every tradition be preserved? This episode tries to identify where the line falls, and when honouring tradition starts to do harm.
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