The Igbo people, also called Ibo, are native to southeastern Nigeria and are divided by the Niger River into two equal sections, eastern and western. They are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa with roughly 34 million people. Pottery, like later Igbo work, has been found in the area in which the Igbo reside, dating back to 2500BC. Sculptures have been identified dating to 900AD.  They speak Igbo, a language of the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo language family.

Today, most Igbo are Christian, while some have converted to Islam and others to Judaism. Nevertheless, most Igbo practice some form of ancestor worship. The Igbo believe that everyone is born with a Chi to help guide and guard them. Deities, known as Alusi, are also worshiped until they are no longer needed, in which they are discarded. Another aspect of traditional Igbo beliefs is reincarnation. They believe that when a person dies, that they will reincarnate back into the same family in which they came. A diviner is often used to help determine which ancestor a child is reincarnated from.

Most Igbo people carve and use masks, but the function of these masks vary from village to village. They are famous for Mbari architecture, a large open-sided shelter, square in plan, that houses many life-size painted figures sculpted in mud and intended to placate the figure of Ala, the earth goddess, who is supported by deities of thunder and water. The majority of Igbo are farmers, and their staple crop is yam.

Source: Igbo People – Discover African Art : Discover African Art;  Igbo – Art & Life in Africa – The University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art (uiowa.edu)