Judicial Shrine / Slave Route (Arochukwu Long Juju)

The program

For generations, people travelled to Arochukwu seeking answers from one of the most feared oracles in southeastern Nigeria.

Known as Ibini Ukpabi, or the Long Juju, the oracle became deeply connected to the power of the Aro people and their influence across southeastern Nigeria.

People accused of crimes, involved in disputes, or seeking judgment could be sent toward the mysterious oracle complex. What happened to some of those people became the stuff of stories that survived long after the oracle itself was destroyed.

In this episode, we follow the strange history of the Long Juju, the power behind the Aro Confederacy, the stories surrounding those who entered its domain, and the expedition that finally brought the Arochukwu oracle under British control.

Listener discretion is advised.