Only males can join, boys being initiated about the age of puberty. Due to the number of unfortunate incidents at Ikpa Ene and Ndodoghi, the Efik sought to leave these islands. two young foreign men to whom she gives the power to defeat her. In the culture we have discussed, the term dalilu refers to: an individual's personal power, knowledge, or ability, inborn but enhanced and developed through training and experience. Among these missionaries were Rev. [57] The diary of Antera Duke, an Efik, is the only surviving record from an African slave-trading house. [13] Throughout the centuries, Efik traders traded with the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French. [44][52] Aye uses Adiaha Etim Anwa's ballad as one of the basis for his hypothesis. One theory asserts that Ukpong Atai Atai Ema Atai, Adim Atai Atai Ema Atai and other co-founders founded Obutong after one of Eyo Ema's people was killed during a wrestling match with Ukpong Atai at Creek town. Although Behrendt and Graham reveal that Calabar had been a major trading port since the first half of the seventeenth century, Efik historians such as Aye assert that the Efik had been trading with the Europeans since the last quarter of the 15th century. [52] On the death of Chief Willy Tom Robins, a number of rituals were performed. Names such as Okon became Hogan, Orok became Duke, Akabom became Cobham, Ene became Henry, Asibong became Archibong. [67] Communities within the Calabar metropolis such as Efut, Kiong and Qua also speak and understand the Efik language. [26] Essien points out that Atakpor Uruan Inyang is one of the Efik deities and asserts that among the Uruan exists the saying "Ke Ndem Efik Iboku, Atakpor ke Ekuk", which can be interpreted to mean "Where there is the Efik deity, there is also Atakpor Uruan to share with it. One theory states that the Efik and Uruan had separate religious customs and the Efik refused to worship the Uruan deity Atakpor Uruan Inyang. Each ukara is highly individualized and clearly produced to be worn by a specific Ekpe member or to mark a specific Ekpe lodge. "[35] Simmons assertion which was made in his 1958 dissertation is similarly reiterated at the Hart's enquiry in 1964 by chiefs such as Chief Efiom Obo Effanga of Obutong. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Another account from the Qua claimed that Ekpe (Mgbe) migrated from Cameroon. [52] The missionaries respected the native law but the European Captains acted rashly and desired that an example be set on Obutong. Photo by Eli Bentor. [1] Ekpe members always wear masks when performing their police duties, and although individuals may nonetheless be recognized, fear of retribution from the ikan stops people from accusing those members who may overstep their limits. An entire topic will be dedicated to discussing the Ekpe society and its legacy in the near future. Some other clothings introduced into the market include smit, brutanya, isadh and nkisi. [8] The bulk of the Efik can be found in Calabar. kp philosophy is grounded in "Cross River region concepts of community that include the living, the ancestors, and the land itself" [ Ekpe being] "a school for esoteric teachings [ revealing] ideal stages in a person's life [ in their growth to] maturity within their communities [ framing terrestrial experience within the context of the [37] The Uruan invasion at Ikpa Ene is believed to be the origin of the Efik saying, "Ama okut Ibibio, ku n enye ika, Idem amasat Ibibio eyewot owo"(English: When you see Ibibio do not give him fire(to warm himself), when he is dry he will kill you). The Neegee is a cannibalistic group that feeds on human flesh to satisfy their God, and to gain power from that God. [19], The Ibibio origin of the Efik is one of the most popular among scholars. She or he is a random of nature, a result of mixed up and confused spiritual genetics. The Efik Language and Its Future. [15] This theory appears to be isolated as other Ibibio writers do not narrate that such terms were used by the Ibibio. Instead, each settlement had its own lodge of the initiation society called kp, or "leopard," which was the highest indigenous authority. The history of the Efik is one of the most documented in subsaharan Africa. . When you see Ibibio do not give him fire(to warm himself), when he is dry he will kill you, Multiple Deaths at Ndodoghi creek, Ema Atai Ema Atai, Priest-king, lost his sight in death, Joshua Project Efik of Nigeria Ethnic People Profile, Souvenir Programme of the Coronation Service of His Royal Highness Edidem Boco Ene Mkpang Cobham V, Obong of Calabar and Paramount Ruler of the Efiks, Abridgement of the minutes of the evidence, "Souvenir programme of the Coronation of Edidem Boco Ene Mkpang Cobham V", "Cross river as a model for the evolution of Benue-Congo nominal class/concord systems", https://web.archive.org/web/20151222092842/http://sunnewsonline.com/new/pa-effiong-ukpong-aye-1918-2012/, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Efik_people&oldid=1131332439, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles using infobox ethnic group with image parameters, Articles containing explicitly cited English-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 3 January 2023, at 17:46. Black Spirituality / Religion - General Discussion, http://odinanilawsofnature.wordpress.com/2010/11/10/finding-god-in-nature/, http://tourismafricana.com/origin-history-ekpe-soceity.html. The term "Calabar people" was particularly popular prior to the nineteenth century and was synonymous to the Efik.[6]. The story of The River Between by Ngugi wa Thiong'o, takes place in _________________ (name of present-day country) in the mid 1800's. The earliest list of Efik traders is provided in Jean Barbot's manuscript which was later printed in 1732. Cow meat was also consumed but the Efik native cow was rarely eaten or milked by the Efik. The cloth is then dipped in indigo dye and hung to dry. In such cases, the Ekpe Society is seen as the . The Neegee or Crocodile Society is considered evil by the Poro and Sande groups. Free masons were originally an ancient Egyptian fraternity of builders, with Imhotep, as their founder and chief sculptor. [64] It took several years before the town was rebuilt.[64]. [52] These atrocities angered the missionaries and European captains alike. Alcoholic content may be increased via adding the red bark of Edat (Sacoglottis gabonensis) to the wine. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. expectations of the members to prioritize the group over their own families. According to Simmons, "Most Informants maintain that the first people to Inhabit Creek Town were Efut fishermen from the southern Cameroons. [37] When the Efik realised what was going on, they rose to their feet and fought back. Some of the musical instruments that are important in the culture we have discussed are: the bala (balaphon), a kind of xylophone, and the kora, a gourd harp. ukara: Ritual Cloth of the Ekpe Society features the ukara cloth, a composite signifier of authority, prestige, sacrality, difference, and social mobility in the Ekpe secret society in the Cross river basin encompassing southeastern Nigeria and parts of Cameroon. [9] The largest group moved to Creek town from Ndodoghi led by the priest-king Eyo Ema Atai.[38]. This is: After his "second birth", Waiyaki is brought to a sacred grove where: After the episode in the sacred grove, Waiyaki disappears from his home to: The two daughters of Joshua, Nyambura and Muthoni, have both been forbidden by their father to: Waiyaki tries to heal the conflict between the two ridges by: Waiyaki fails to achieve his goals because: The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses, Edge Reading, Writing and Language: Level C, David W. Moore, Deborah Short, Michael W. Smith. Bell of King Eyo Honesty II at Creek Town, Ekeng ita (also known as James Henshaw), Obong of Henshaw Town (c.a 1875). Upon leaving the Cameroon territory, the Ibibio arrived at their present location following two major directions. [40] It is also used by the Igbo and Efik. (1985). The society combines a kind of freemasonry with political and law enforcing aims. Among these cuisines include Ekpang nkukwo, Edikang Ikong, Afia efere, Anyan Ekpang, Afang soup and several others. [32] Another theory states that there was a disagreement between an Efik woman known as Abasi and an Uruan woman. The Amama often appropriate hundreds of acres of palm trees for their own use and, with the profits they earn, ensure that their sons achieve comparable rank, which has the effect of limiting access to economic gain for other members of the community. At its peak, it permeated the social, economic and political life of the Efiks but lately its dominance has been eroded as urbanization and modern political administration expanded. The Internet has shone light on manysecret societies, rendering them not so secret. It is also used by the Igbo and Efik. The instruments above are particularly important to our study of the Sunjata because: they are the traditional instruments of the jeliw who tell the story in public performance. The most popular migration account within the Nigerian space asserts that the Efik people lived at Ibom in the present-day Arochukwu and migrated from Ibom to Uruan. The economics of the society is based on paying tribute to the village ancestors. Corrections? One of such accounts was given at a court case by Prince Bassey Duke in 1917 where he stated, "The Efiks were originally Ibo descendants. Members of the Ekpe society are said to act as messengers of the ancestors ( ikan ). JavaScript is disabled. Ukara cloth also consecrates the interior of Ekpe lodges, where larger versions of the cloth hang as backdrops. During the colonial era, The Efik language was the only language taught in schools in many parts of the present-day Cross River and Akwa Ibom state. [43] Stephen D. Behrendt and Eric J. Graham revealed in a 2003 publication that by the time the first documented European sailing vessel arrived in 1625, the Efik had already settled at Creek Town and Old Town. [45] internal dissensions and population expansion led to the movement of several families from Creek Town to Obutong, Atakpa, Nsidung and Ekoretonko. Here's a look inside. Archaeological evidence found that the group was extremely advanced in education for its time, and headed the construction of the Valley of the Kings. kp lodges ruled local communities while also managing regional and long-distance trade. Objects and images in the exhibition courtesy of Dr. Eli Bentor. Iwewe is a type of boiled yam mashed with a small amount of palm oil and stirred with a spoon. [76], Prior to the introduction of European-styled clothing, the Efik wore loin clothes made of Raffia (Efik: Ndam). Laws were passed to halt several practices regarded as unchristian. Why do you think it is important for us to understand our past? In part because of their appropriation, exclusive use, and understanding of nsibidi, Ekpe members in the pre-colonial past were thought to have access to the spiritual realm and were, therefore, empowered to make and enforce societal rules and norms. Due to the rise of Calabar as a commercial centre since the 18th century, Efik settlements experienced a high rate of inward migration consisting of Sierra Leoneans, Lebanese, Cameroonians, Jamaicans and several other communities. Click to expose navigation links on mobile. At Creek town, the Efik ruler was Efiom Ekpo Efiom Ekpo who had a number of children including Nsa Efiom, Edem Efiom, Okoho Efiom and Odo Efiom. [6][7], The name Efik first appears in historical literature in the nineteenth century. After World War II, a movement called the _____ Movement was founded by such writers as Leopold Sedar Senghor and Leon Damas, to support using Western literary forms, while writing in African languages. Origin Nsibidi symbols which are indigenous to Igbo, Ibibio, Efik, Annang and Ekoi/Ejagham members of the Ekpe society. They believed feasting on a human strengthened their bonds. Omissions? [61] Due to the fall in global demand for slaves and several other factors, the kings and chiefs of Old Calabar wrote to the British requesting that they send teachers and missionaries to Old Calabar to establish industries and introduce the religion of the white man to them. It is also found among a number of other ethnic groups, including the Bahumono of the Cross River State, the Ibibio, the Uruan and the Oron of Akwa Ibom State, Arochukwu and some other parts of Abia State, as well as in the diaspora, such as in Cuba and Brazil. Prior to the inception of the transatlantic slave trade, the Efik had experienced a series of migration before their arrival along the coasts of Old Calabar. . We bring you daily editor picks from the best Business Insider news content so you can stay updated on the latest topics and conversations on the African market, leaders, careers and lifestyle. Cameroon with the Ekpe cult. Children of Efik maternal descent are still regarded as Efik and have contributed to the development of the Efik society. [51] Due to the custom of killing twins, Edem Efiom is said to have aided Okoho Efiom in sneaking out of Creek town to Nsutana. Iboku, Enwang, Usukakpa and Abayen. At Ughoton, to the southwest of Benin, a different type of mask is used, in the cult. The Ekpe Society is a religious and cultural institution among the Efik people, it can also be found among the Annang and the Ibibios. For instance any member wronged in an Ekpe district, that is one dominated by the society, has only to address an Ekpe-man or beat the Ekpe drum in the Ekpe-house, or blow Ekpe as it is called, i.e., sound the Ekpe horn, before the hut of the wrong-doer, and the whole machinery of the society is put in force to see justice done. [30][31] Another reason given by Etubom Ededem Ekpenyong Oku asserts that the Uruan accused the Efik of wizardry and of being responsible for the frequent seizure of their children by crocodiles. Gelede Egbe: Yoruba Women's Sacred Society. It described the religion, social, economic and political structures of the society as progressive and dynamic. Dropping by to say, "Hi!" In this light, the Cameroon National Council of Traditional Rulers would be a welcomed . [52] The breach of agreement to halt such practices was punished by blowing Ekpe on Obutong and forbidding funeral rites of the chief until the murderers were brought to justice. The Ekpe society is estimated by most foreign scholars to have been introduced into Old Calabar in the 18th century. Other narratives at the Hart's enquiry do not make mention of the Efut. [62][63] The first missionaries arrived in 1846. She said as a member of the Ekpe Society of the Efiks, she participates in the Ekpe activities. Lawino says that her husband's house is a "dark forest of _______________________". We thank you too much for what thing you come do for keep thing right. There are said to be at least three mass migration from Ndodoghi. Explain. [27] A number of reasons have been given on why the Efik left Uruan. Written March 01, 2015 by Web Services Editor, Guarini School of Graduate & Advanced Studies, Copyright 2023 Trustees of Dartmouth College. [77] Women wore a number of brass rings on their legs and arms. Other trading items sold by the Efik included rubber, ivory, barwood and redwood. It is uncertain when Obutong was founded but most Efik scholars hypothesize that it was founded in the 16th century. I'm a queer mom and my daughter has decided to attend an anti-gay Bible college. And there are definitely more than 10 Ekpe members still around today. AHR ~ 125 Ekpe society was the first tribe to come up with this design and archaeologists have found traces of this fabric even in southwestern Cameroon. When the threads are cut, the nsibidi designs stand out, white against a deep blue background. Due to the Obutong massacre of 1765 and several other incidents, the Ekpe society of Old Calabar was transformed into the Abaku cult in Cuba, the Bonk cult in Bioko and the Abakuya dance in mainland Equatorial Guinea. "Egbo" redirects here. Prior to Akak, the theory were proposed at the Hart's enquiry by Chief Offiong Abasi Ntiero Effiwatt and Etubom Ededem Ekpenyong Oku.[25][26]. At its peak, it permeated the social, economic and political life of the Efiks but lately its dominance has been eroded as urbanization and modern political administration expanded. [47] Antia Ekot Otong is regarded as one of the descendants of the patriarch Otong Ama Ide. This site uses cookies to help personalize content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. In his well researched thesis titled "Ekpe Imperium in South Eastern Nigeria", Anwana (2002) identified a plenitude of evidences to validate the Ejagham/Ekoi origins of the Ekpe society. Talbot asserts that a great cotton tree had fallen down on many of the Abayen and in their pride of numbers, they believed they could hold the cotton tree. The first letter of the word is correctly written as "" and denotes plurality. Individual symbols may also have multiple meanings, rendering context important and interpretation inevitable in the "reading" of the body of represented signs. The ekpo masquerade, occurring to the south and east of Benin, is performed by the warrior age group in ceremonies to purify the village ritually and to maintain health. Imbued with transcendental aura, ukara conveys the sacrality and prestige of the Ekpe secret society. 4. He views the Cuban initiation system known as Abaku, which was based on kp society, as a collective way for African descendants to maintain their historical memory. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the Efik strategy for filling the international demand for slaves was via obtaining slaves from inland slave traders such as Eniong, Ndokki and Arochukwu. Another theory narrated by Chief Efiom Obo Effanga of Obutong asserts that Antia Ekot Otong founded Obutong. Members of the Ekpe society are said to act as [81] [37] A captured invader confessed that they were set to retrieve royal emblems which they believed the Efik had taken with them when they left Uruan. Festival organised by Global Music Exchange (ht. The design is left to the discretion of the Ezillo creators, who are not Ekpe members and do not know the meanings of nsibidi. The earliest documented letter to an English captain from a chief of Old Calabar was written in 1770. They give me thesum of $1,200,000 and many thing. The traditional attire for men usually consists of a white long-sleeved shirt, a long broad soft neckerchief or scarf of costly material (Efik: kpmkpm) and a wrapper tied around the waist (Efik: Usobo).[83]. [51] Nsutana was a dreaded island where twins were abandoned to die. Prior to 1905, Old Calabar was a term used to describe the Efik settlements of Duke Town, Creek Town, Old town, Cobham town, Henshaw town, Adiabo and Mbiabo (consisting of Mbiabo edere, Mbiabo Ikot Offiong and Mbiabo Ikoneto). (Multiple Deaths at Ndodoghi creek, Ema Atai Ema Atai, Priest-king, lost his sight in death). The papers include photographs, audio and video recordings, publications, correspondence and printed material primarily relating to Miller's study of the linguistic, musical and ritual influence of West African kp society (predominantly in Nigeria and Cameroon) on . Ekpe Efik was used as a government instrument in Bakassi in exercising authority for more than 200 years ago [4]. [15] Ekereke and Ekereke further assert that the word was later changed to "Efik". The Ekpe society, the regulatory society in Manyu Division also fixed a heavy fine on any defaulter. [36] Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Calabar. The Ekpo society uses black masks, often of naturalistic appearance and with movable jaws, to maintain social order and propitiate the ancestors; some of these masks represent disease and deformity. Jeffreys states that a disruption among the Okobo around the town of Ekeya in the Eket district led to the founding of Obutong. [9][38] The Adiabo group is believed to have left to their present location after the Mbiabo exodus. [70] Several meals were composed of yam such as Usu abia, Iwk abia, Afia abia, sb abia, Edifrai abia and fp abia. In the Song of Ocol, Lawino's husband gives his side, arguing that: Ocol throws Lawino out of his house because: Ocol says that "__________________________ are chains around the neck, chains of slavery". Several periods have been estimated by foreign scholars and indigenous historians. The earliest proponent of the Igbo origin was William Baikie who stated in his 1856 publication, "All the coast dialects from One to Old Kalabar, are, either directly or indirectly, connected with Igbo, which later Dr Latham informs me is certainly related to the Kafir class". [5] To be a member, one must be a part of Yoruba nobility. The Efik are an ethnic group located primarily in southern Nigeria, and western Cameroon. A fraternal society that emerged in the western culture between the 16th and 7th century. James Beale Horton made a similar assertion in 1868 where he asserted that all the communities of the Niger-delta are traced to the Igbo. . [69] On the appending of the Ekpe institution to its list of secret societies, the Ekpe society was reformed and adapted to suit the needs of the Efik people. Ikpaya is now worn by an Obong-elect during the traditional coronation ceremony. Although used exclusively by members of Ekpe, ukara is produced by a sub-group in a village of the Ezillo community in present-day Ebonyi State in the Igbo area in southeastern Nigeria. In the culture we have discussed, the term badenya refers to: the relationship between the mother and child, and full siblings - implying closeness, trust, cooperation, unselfishness, and acceptance of rules. Ivor Miller: The voice of the leopard is the main symbol of the Ekpe society of the Cross River region ofNigeria and Cameroon, which was re-created in colonial Cuba as the Abaku society. Sisiku Ojong-Orock was born on Saturday October 2nd, 1948 in Ogomoko Village,Eyumojock Sub-Division, Manyu Division in the Republic of Cameroon, West Africa. At Old Calabar, traders had slowly started transitioning completely into the lucrative palm oil trade. [68] The society is believed to have been introduced in Calabar from Usahadet. Miller's current book, Voice of the Leopard (UP of Mississippi, 2008), documents the little known history of the Cuban Abaku, a mutual-aid institution derived from the Ekpe (leopard) society of the Cross River region of Nigeria and Cameroon. Among these included Yams, Fufu and an unidentified type of black soup frequently mentioned in 19th century Old Calabar literature. [59] Ekpe is first mentioned in the historical literature of Old Calabar in the 1770s. The Efik (Calabar) caste structure of Ekpe . The kp ("leopard") society represents an ancient African institution that provided the supreme functions of governance in the communal societies of the forest regions of the Cross-River basin and the hilly terrain to the east, in what is called today southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon. A reconsideration of kp and Abaku suggests an agenda for the study of kp in diaspora from a different perspective. Here is a list of some of Africa's most prominent cults of all time: The Ekpe is a secret society that lives mostly in Nigeria and whose members are typically law enforcers and politicians. As a child, Sunjata at first looks unpromising because: In one of the most dramatic episodes in the Sunjata Epic, Sunjata first begins to demonstrate his extraordinary abilities when he: avenges an insult to his mother by uprooting a tree and placing it in front of her house. Ekpe masquerade mimic the form of a lion or leopard moves. Instead, each settlement had its own lodge of the . You are using an out of date browser. Members of the Ekpe society are said to act as messengers of the [59] According to Rev. Formerly the society earned a bad reputation due to what the British viewed as the barbarous customs that were intermingled with its rites. Have you ever thought about starting a secret society? The group is gaining grounds as it seems to incessantly predict the total destruction of the planet earth. One of Thompson's pupils, Ivor Miller, has now produced a noteworthy study, concentrating specifically on one particular secret society, Ekpe, of the Cross River region of southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon; its transfiguration on Cuban soil into the Abakua society; and the ensuing effect of Abakua in shaping all aspects of the . [61] One of such letters written by King Eyamba V and the chiefs of Old Calabar states: Now we settle treaty for not sell slave, I must tell you something, I want your Queen to do for we. The Ekpe society is the most renowned traditional institution in Efik history. an extraordinarily powerful woman, who can change herself into a buffalo, the proud oldest daughter of a king, who insists on being respected, enraged by her brother's refusal to give her the inheritance she feels she is owed, guilt-ridden for having killed many of her brother's people, and for having pushed her youngest sister too hard and too As the slave trade was declining due to the strong global campaign against it, the effects on slave trading ports along the African coast was greatly experienced. They are well respected agents of wealth distribution in the community.. Among these secret societies were Ekpe, Obon and Nsibidi. Ekpe" which literally means Lion, is a traditional secret society originated from the Ekoi tribe in Cross River State. [38] It is believed that it was at Ndodoghi that many of the Abayen clan had died from crocodile attacks. [76] Palm wine is acquired by making an incision on the palm tree, a process known as "tapping". Members of the Ekpe society are said to act as messengers of the ancestors (ikan). Social importance is attached to the highest ranks of Ekpe-men, called the Amama. I hope Queen Victoria and young prince will live long time and we get good friend. Oral tradition holds that a type of clothing known as "Itu ita" was the earliest fabric imported into Old Calabar. According to Parker, When there, Dick Ebro' asking him to go to war with him, he complied, and accordingly having sitted out and armed the canoes, they went up the river, lying under the bushes in the day when they came near a village; and at night flying up to the village, and taking hold of every one they could see. Some meals have been mentioned often in the 19th century historical literature of Old Calabar. The ethnic group to which most of the characters belong is the __________________people. Hope Waddell, Samuel Edgerley and four others. [45] What is most certain is that the Efik arrived Creek Town led by Edidem Eyo Ema Atai together with Oku Atai Atai Ema Atai, Ukpong Atai Atai Ema Atai, Adim Atai Atai Ema Atai, Efiom Ekpo Efiom Ekpo and several others.
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