History of Arochukwu Kingdom & the Rise of the Aro Confederacy explores one of the most powerful and influential political, religious, and commercial systems in pre-colonial southeastern Nigeria. This documentary traces the origins of Arochukwu, the rise of the Ibini Ukpabi oracle as a central religious and judicial institution, the formation of the Aro Confederacy, and how the Aro people built vast trade networks that reshaped Igboland and neighboring regions. The story continues with the arrival of British colonial forces, the economic tensions behind the Anglo-Aro War, and the eventual fall of Arochukwu in 1902.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
02:42 Origin and the Aro-Ibibio Wars
08:26 Ibini Ukpabi
15:07 Aro Confederacy and Trade Networks
20:10 The Slave Trade
25:15 Anglo-Aro War and the Fall of Arochukwu
Credit
Arochukwu steps
By Goodymeraj – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=177879558
Flag of Aro Confederacy: By http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Ukabia – http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8d/Flag_of_the_Aro_Confederacy.svg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11313430
Edda, Abam, Afikpo, Ohafia, Aro states: By J.N. Oriji – The Slave Trade, Warfare and Aro Expansion in the Igbo Hinterland, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=166887933
Igbo made swords acquired by Jean Barbot 1699: By Jean barbot – https://www.worldcat.org/title/abstract-of-a-voyage-to-new-calabar-river-or-rio-real-in-the-year-1699-taken-out-of-the-journal-of-mr-james-barbot/oclc/17338309, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=135499835
Aro confederacy kingdom and influence, circa 1900: By no author – https://www.nairaland.com/885671/summary-southern-nigeria-900-ce, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=135498526
Pre-Colonial Igbo trading routes: By Pre colonial Igbo trading routes – Pre colonial Igbo trading routes, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=135500957
Burning of Arochukwu, 1901: By british meuseum – https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/EA_Af-B58-6, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=135499248
The Opening Up of Nigeria, the Expedition Against the Aros by Richard Caton Woodville II” 1901: By Richard Caton Woodville II – https://www.allposters.com/-sp/The-Opening-Up-of-Nigeria-the-Expedition-Against-the-Aros-Posters_i16908431_.htm, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=135499105
Chief Okoroji’s house in Arochukwu: By Goodymeraj – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=177912383
The Ohafia War Dance: By Ekaychee – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=115177702
Background music
Allada by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1500001
Artist: http://incompetech.com/
00:30:46
source
Another great episode in the history of Nigeria. Its remarkable how often in the history of humankind the combination of military might and religion have been used to build kingdoms and empires. The use of superior military force to conquer and religion used to maintain power. It was used very effectively in the spread of the Holy Roman Empire and the European conquest of much of the world. Thanks for all the research you've done to present this fascinating chapter in Nigerian history.
Thank you for this history!
Black American 🇺🇸
descendant of the slave trade
Am always proud of my Igbo root we are great 😊
I always wonder who in Africa sold their people in to Slavery i believe this is a tragedy and shame on theses people they not to be celebrated 😢😮😮
The South Easterners are the same until the British empire came with their divide and conquer strategy to take over Igbo land and their Palm trees 🌴🌴🌴, the British empire built schools, hospitals, roads, houses and started living in Igbo land, in Kenya, Ghana, South Africa and in some countries across Africa, after some time, the British discovered where Igbos in the Niger Delta were mining oil, then the British abandoned Igbo palm trees 🌴 🌴 🌴 and took over Igbo oil, then they created the satanic Nigeria to continue to have access to the 3 nations resources, later forcefully joined different these 3 nations together for their personal interest, collecting taxes, forced religions, massacres, kidnapping and forceful slavery into the America, Brazil, etc… , fought many wars against Nigerians before the Nigerian invasion so called Biafra war….. wake up Nigerians, wake up Africa, they are your politicians, etc..
Your dangerous headline should have been The terror, the divide and conquer strategy of the British empire in Igbo land.
So why is no one talking about these people selling their fellow africans into slavery
If we are going to tell a story we have to tell the whole story. Slavery was practiced globally. Europeans sold Europeans, Chinese sold Chinese etc etc. African people didn’t have a lock on slavery. Spartacus was a true story about a Roman slave. You could be a slave today and the next you’re head of a military campaign or be the wife of a head of state. Slavery was not chattel. It became chattel when the British entered the market. The English started African only chattel slavery. Everyone adopted this from of slavery quickly. Prior to this in America many Africans came over with the many companies such as the Dutch India Company. Many were indentured servants and at the end of their contract received land and money. These people were part of the growing free black population. In Florida many Africans lived among the Native American free and also in their own free communities. Run by the Spanish. Many came over with the Spanish and some were here already. This is all documented and can easily be found. This is the part of American history that gets left out. American history is taught from the arrival of the British in the 1600s. Mind you other Europeans were here at least 100 years before them.
During this time Europe was filthy, diseased, starving…. in abject poverty. The need for free labor became the focal point to coming out of this wretched life. The demand for slaves was so great that many people in Africa started selling anyone out of fear. Before it was a mutual trade with the Kings/Chefs then it became supply and demand. They started taking even the kings and chefs. Africa was in total distress. The Igbo people were the most effected in now what is Nigeria.
Sir, how many wars did Arochukwu fight and with who?
You are definitely NOT Igbo. Your history is full of lies…sorry
The picture of time about 2.00 to 2.13 of a man with shield and a war captain is that of Oka – umu okike – not Aro. In fact images of the video is very random with Anambra structures.
#Freebiafranow
#FreeMaziNnamdikanu
#biafrareferendumnow
🎉'A Nigerian here!
The Narrator sounds Ghanaian.
'Very interesting indeed.
This channel is the work of Youroba propaganda machine to tarnish Igbo unique history.,
Please are you talking about Aro or Igbo history? Please be consistent. And also be informed that it is Igbo and not hbo. A historian should be conscious of details.
I Am African American. I did My DNA & It indicated Nigerian & Ghanaian. I do NOT Hold Any Hatred or Animosity towards any Africans Living Today.
But I Do Believe that the Africans that Sold My Ancestors Back Then, They Continue to BURN In HELL Still NOW, Right Along with the Dutch Christians, British Christians & American Christians & Jews Who Brought Us Here to Brutalize Us.
PLEASE GOD MAY THEY ALL CONTINUE TO BURN IN HELL FOREVER !!!
AMEN
🟥⬛🟩👊🏽
HistoryNG, Please never use this type of map to describe the Igbos,
Slave trade is one of the reasons the Igbo nation is behind today. If the priests of Ibini Ukpabi did not commercialize the oracle,the British might not have made its way into Igboland, Our forefathers could have made better decisions in the past
Fascinating history.
You're quite a good analyst. If your sources are right, then you have a good job on media.
Pls not 4 million don't exaggerate
The fact that this narrator refers to Igbos of the era as South East, says it all about the hypocrisy and identity of this narrator who could not even pronounce Igbo words, names and places correctly. The history of a people are best told by the people, not foreigners via AI.
Ijaw historian. Observe that the entire rivers state in the propaganda map here is Ijaw. Childish propagandists. Ijaw YouTube channel, subscribers beware!!!
This Ijaw historian will soon publish the origin of Igbo people. Observe that all his map in this video elevated Ijaw and totally hide the fact that Rivers state is majority Igbos.
These are white lies. IGBOS had no kings and as such had no slave system.
The trube of Judah never sold slaves
Oga, is that where the wind of fake news has taken you? I told you that you have nothing to offer
This video is filled with lies read :
The Arochukwu and the Colonial Lie: Reassessing the Bight of Biafra Slave Trade Narrative https://truthjournalblackhistory.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-arochukwu-and-colonial-lie.html?m=1 for the truth
Why did titled it " the terror of Igboland " instead of " the warriors of Igboland ". Journalists should be very careful of narrating history. 😊
This is Propaganda from the same folks who banned Igbo history…they didn't include Igbo history once again in the syllabus…anyways…keep up the lies.😅