I first read about this historic event after I watched Beyonce's music video titled "Water Bodies". In the video, Beyonce was seen with other persons in matching attires walking down a large body of water. The sheer creativity of the video spiked my interest and I immediately set out to know what inspired the video. That was how my search led me to the story of the Igbo Landing. 

The story of the Igbo Landing took place in 1803 at Dunbar Creek on St. Simmons Island, Georgia in the United States. As at the time when slavery was still very much in vogue and the practice of shipping slaves from Africa across the Atlantic ocean to the United States was rife.

According to the story of the Igbo Landing, which has now become symbolic as a story of resistance to slavery and oppression, slave dealers had bought some slaves from the now Eastern Nigeria, which is made of the Igbo people of Nigeria in Africa. During this time, the Igbo people were known by the slave traders for being strongly independent and very resistant to the practice of slavery.

As the story goes, In May 1803, the slave ship named the Wanderer arrived in the Savannah, Georgia in the US. On the ship were mostly Igbo slaves and some West African captives. They were sold for about $100 each to slave merchants John Couper and Thomas Spalding to be resold to plantations on nearby St. Simons Island. The chained slaves were packed under deck of a coastal vessel, the York, which would take them to St. Simons. During the voyage, approximately 75 Igbo slaves rose and rebelled against the slave buyers, took control of the ship, drowned their captors, and in the process caused the grounding of the ship in Dunbar Creek. 

The events that followed are what have been described as some of the strongest show of resistance to slavery and willingness to sacrifice one's self to ensure freedom and liberation. Instead of submitting themselves to slavery in a foreign land, the Igbo slaves, led by their High chief with their hands shackled and their necks in chains walked back in a straight line into the waters of the ocean. It is reported that while they did this, they were singing in unison "The Water Spirit brought us. The Water Spirit will take us home". As they sang the song, they marched into the ocean and drowned. 

At least, 75 Igbos lost their lives in the ocean that day. 13 bodies were later recovered. The account of the Igbo mass suicide was first recorded by Roswell King, a white overseer on the nearby Pierce Butler plantation. He and another man identified only as Captain Patterson recovered many of the drowned bodies. 

The story shows the strength of character of the Igbos, who even at that time fought and defeated their captors and instead of being enslaved in a strange land decided, in one accord, to take their lives. The act has been termed the first freedom march that ever took place in the United States.

Nigerian visual artistes are undoubtedly making a mark on the world with their artworks which have been adjudged as genius work and incredibly beautiful.

Looking at the artworks of different artists from Nigeria, you will agree with me that the country Nigeria is indeed blessed with an abundance of talent, and that Nigerian youths are anything but lazy.

Most recent of a Nigerian artist's exhibition of very rare talent is the making of different sculptures with steel spoons, steel forks and newspapers by a Nigerian Sculpture.

The artist who is named Abinoro Collins hails from Nigeria and resides in Lagos State, Nigeria. His artworks include sculptures of Gorillas, Eagles, hens and even human beings with just spoons, forks and newspapers.

It is amazing the things that Abinoro Collins has been able to create with ordinary and everyday household utensils. He has also proven that Nigeria particularly is blessed with an abundance of talented artists.

Looking at the artworks you will agree that Abinoro Collins deserves to be mentioned among other great Nigerian artists who have made a name both in Nigeria and across the world, such as the veteran contemporary artist, Ben Enwonwu and Njideka Akunyilli-Crosby whose paintings cost as high as 1.2 billion naira.