Igbo-Ukwu

Igbo-Ukwu appears on the timeline as a people or culture of West Africa coast and forest (North and West Africa) from c. 800 to 1100 CE, a span of 300 years. Its people spoke Niger-Congo languages (Mande, Yoruba, Akan, Fula, Wolof, Igbo (non-Bantu)).

Site in southeast Nigeria where a burial and shrine held intricate cast bronzes and tens of thousands of glass beads, some traded from as far as the Middle East.

See Igbo-Ukwu on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 800 to 1100 CE
Duration: 300 years
Type: People or culture
Region: West Africa coast and forest, North and West Africa
Language family: Niger-Congo

Became

Kingdom of Nri c. 900 to 1911 CE

Events in North and West Africa during its time

969 Fatimids found Cairo
1050 Banu Hilal migration

Neighbours in North and West Africa

Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE
Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE
Fatimid Caliphate 909 to 1171 CE
Almoravid dynasty 1040 to 1147 CE
Makuria c. 450 to 1312 CE
Kanem Empire c. 700 to 1387 CE
Ife c. 1000 to 1420 CE
Kingdom of Nri c. 900 to 1911 CE
Alodia c. 500 to 1504 CE
Hausa city-states c. 1000 to 1808 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
Khmer Empire 802 to 1431 CE, Southeast Asia
Tiwanaku c. 400 to 1000 CE, South America
Abbasid Caliphate 750 to 1258 CE, Middle East

Questions

When did Igbo-Ukwu exist?

c. 800 to 1100 CE, about 300 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was Igbo-Ukwu?

West Africa coast and forest, in North and West Africa.

What language did Igbo-Ukwu speak?

Niger-Congo. This family includes Mande, Yoruba, Akan, Fula, Wolof, Igbo (non-Bantu).

What came after Igbo-Ukwu?

Kingdom of Nri.