Known generally as Ekpe, Egbo, Ngbe, or Ugbe among the multi-lingual groups in the region, these closed groups all used the leopard as a symbol of masculine prowess in war and political authority in their various communities. [26] At Uruan, they were ruled by a number of priest-kings Ndidem. Ekpe masquerade [1], Its members are only men and are played on special occasion. The Efik also manufacture a number of beverages such as Mmn Efik (Palm wine), Uffp (Native gin), Lemon grass tea (Nnyannyaa), Mmn Eyop (Eyop wine). [23][24], The Oriental original is most popular among indigenous Efik historians such as E.U. The Ekpo/Ekpe society is a significant part of the Ibibio political system. These they handcuffed, brought down to the canoes, and so proceeded up the river, till they got to the amount of 45, with whom they returned to New town, where sending to the captains of the shipping, they divided them among the ships.[56]. Here are 8 prominent cults and secret societies in Africa. The nsibidi may convey meaning either singularly or in groups, and each sign may be figurative, geometric, or abstract, or may represent a physical object, concept, or narrative. This theory asserts that the Efik migrated from Palestine or somewhere close to Palestine. [61] These papers were signed by the reigning monarchs of Creek town and Duke town who were Eyo Honesty II and Eyamba V.[61] King Eyamba and King Eyo had written letters to the British requesting that they bring in teachers to teach them trade and commerce and missionaries to aid them to know more about God. After the decline of the slave trade, the Efik transitioned into the business of exporting palm oil from the Cross river. [11] The last three clans had greatly dwindled in number and many of their members are believed to have been miscegenated into other Efik clans. One theory propounded by Okon and Nkpanam Ekereke asserts that the term "Efuk" was a word of defiance and an expression used by the Ibibio man when in a fit of rage. [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. This material is believed to have been imported by the Portuguese (Oboriki). The Ekpe society most likely originated among the Efik people of southern Nigeria and from there spread across other tribes and language groups in Southern Nigeria. The Ekpe society had become, by the time Antera Duke began his diary in 1785, the Efik's primary socio-political institution. [59] Ekpe is first mentioned in the historical literature of Old Calabar in the 1770s. Formerly the society earned a bad reputation due to what the British viewed as the barbarous customs that were intermingled with its rites. Bell of King Eyo Honesty II at Creek Town, Ekeng ita (also known as James Henshaw), Obong of Henshaw Town (c.a 1875). According to Simmons, "Most Informants maintain that the first people to Inhabit Creek Town were Efut fishermen from the southern Cameroons. That it was through the Qua [an Ejagham or Ekoi stock], that the secret of Ekpe cult diffused to Calabar. Ikpa Ene was a virgin island on the banks of the Cross river. The Efik are an ethnic group located primarily in southern Nigeria, in the southern part of Cross River State. Google Scholar Aye, E. A. 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. Cow meat was also consumed but the Efik native cow was rarely eaten or milked by the Efik. According to Asuquo, Asibong Eso of Obutong was Old King Robin; Ekpenyong Efa of Adiabo was King John; Ani Eniang Nkot of Mbiabo Ikoneto was Robin King Agbisherea; Oku Ukpong Eton Ani of Mbiabo Ikot Offiong was William King Agbisherea; while Ukorebi Neneng Esien Ndem Ndem of Obomitiat Ikoneto was King Ebrero[55]. The cult members are usually violent and self-destructive to the point of committing suicide. [73] The Efik native cow (English: Ena Efk) was regarded with some amount of reverence and was mainly killed on rare occasions such as the festival for the installation of a new priest king. In the culture we have discussed, the term nyama refers to: the power which exists in all things, which can be controlled only by special persons. Long time we no look Man-of-War as Blount promise one Frenchman come make plenty palaver for slave when we can't get them. After the Efik had settled at Ikpa Ene, a party of men from Uruan arrived at Ikpa Ene. "[20] The Ekale and their famous shaking shoulders performing at the "Under the Volcano Festival", Limbe Cameroon. Speaking at the ceremony, the head of Ekpe of Afap village, Seseku Daniel Laluh said with Prof Ayuk's commitment in the village, the Ekpe society thought it necessary to confer him the Seseku. The doomsday cult is a sinister transnational cult that has paved its way from the west and Asian world into some African countries including Uganda and South Africa. [42] K.K. The Efik are an ethnic group located primarily in southern Nigeria, and western Cameroon. The Ogboni is a fraternity indigenous to Nigeria, Benin and Togo. Each grade has a chieftain or an Obong. The island is believed to be named after a fisherman from Mbiabo known as Ene Ankot. Originally, the Efik obtained slaves by going to war with other communities or creating confusion in other communities. We thank you too much for what thing you come do for keep thing right. [78] Raffia palm clothing (Efik: f Ndam) could also be exported from other communities especially when a community made the best raffia clothing. The ethnic group to which most of the characters belong is the __________________people. [72] Iwewe is also regarded as a sacrificial meal often prepared for the Efik deities. Oge ruru ka laja nyefee lasha r ya ma gaa rwa r e nyere ya ebe z. 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. 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. expectations of the members to prioritize the group over their own families. The story of The River Between by Ngugi wa Thiong'o, takes place in _________________ (name of present-day country) in the mid 1800's. Today, it is no longer the same Ekpe society of decades ago. These Ngolo created the Ekpe society and invented the Nsibidi writing system in Usakadet (Isangele). The cloth is traditionally used as either a wrapper, worn by high- ranking members of Ekpe group who often . Imbued with transcendental aura, ukara conveys the sacrality and prestige of the Ekpe secret society. Abakua is an Afro-Cuban mens secret society related to the Ekpe. Many believe this groups village at present day Deir el-Medina was the original location where freemasonry began. [58] Antera Duke also known as Ntiero Edem Efiom was an Efik trader whose diary reveals several daily activities in Old Calabar between 1785 and 1788. In the culture we have discussed, the term fadenya refers to: the relationship between father and child, and half siblings - requiring self-assertion, independence, innovation, and competition. [33] When the husband of the Uruan woman learnt of the issue, he wanted to fight the Efik. The Efik acted as the middlemen between the European vessels and the inland slave traders. Instead, each settlement had its own lodge of the initiation society called kp, or "leopard," which was the highest indigenous authority. They use a variety of masks to execute social control. There are different narratives on the arrival of the Efik at Creek Town. Plenty sugar cane live here and if some man must come for teach book proper, and make all men saby God like white man, and then we go on for same fashion. Click to expose navigation links on mobile. Archaeological evidence found that the group was extremely advanced in education for its time, and headed the construction of the Valley of the Kings. Hood Quarterly, spring 2015 This exhibition examines the ukara cloth of the Ekpe secret society, a multi-ethnic all-male association in southeastern Nigeria and western Cameroon, exploring both the longstanding cultural practice the cloth represents and the artistic process involved in its creation. Copyright Dr. Ivor L. Miller. The origins of these symbols date way before colonization, but, from my understanding, the use of these symbols died out as the influence of Ekpe secret society lessened. The masquerade tradition itself is most popular in Calabar and the Oron nation of Udung-Ukko, Mbo, Urue-Offong Oruko, Okobo, as well as the Eket and Uruan local government areas in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria, and even western Cameroon. [51] Nsutana was a dreaded island where twins were abandoned to die. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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 Ekpe society may be regarded as one of the most important institutions among the Efik people. [62][63] The first missionaries arrived in 1846. LEFT Mgballa Ekpe lodge with Ekpe members, Arochukwu, southeastern Nigeria. . Residents in Ekpe villages often go to the group to help them seek justice when theyve been wronged. Ekpe cult, the leopard cult, and a male masquerade cult of the Efik, in cross river state of Nigeria, followed by Doomsday cult (prediction of total destruction of planet earth), then the. The economics of the society is based on paying tribute to the village ancestors. Members of the Ekpe society are said to act as messengers of the ancestors (ikan). I am manyang Mathilda Nkwo of Akiriba village , upperbanyang and I am and still is oneof the oldest living practing manyangero in Manyu. Only males can join, boys being initiated about the age of puberty. Prior to the arrival of the missionaries in 1846, many Efik traders were fluent in English and a number of African and European languages. For the surname, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Art and Life in Africa: Eket Information" University of Iowa, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ekpe&oldid=1101939539, This page was last edited on 2 August 2022, at 15:27. Also i want bomb and shell. This site uses cookies to help personalize content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. The society is now seen as a fraternity along the masonic lines which tries to represent the interest of Efiks. Although Duke town is believed to have been occupied since the 15th century by the Enwang, it was not until the 17th century that the Efiom Ekpo families moved in large waves to the site. 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. [52] The Captains wrote the acting consul who was stationed at Fernando Po. Another theory which is narrated by Forde and Jones states that the name "Efik" translates to "Tyrants" or "He who oppresses" and was the name of which the Efik called themselves after they had settled at Creek town.[12]. The three most popular theories include an Igbo origin, Ibibio origin and Palestinian origin. African literature has been disregarded as serious literature in the past because: Original African systems of recording information in symbols include the ______ script, of the Ekpe society of the Ejagham of Cameroon and Nigeria. [1] The trade-off is that the Amama often control the majority of the community wealth. [47] At the time of their exit from Creek town, the reigning monarch of Creek town was their half brother Oku Atai Atai Ema Atai. These lettere were heeded to and in April 1846, the first missionaries arrived Old Calabar. Mr. . Efik traders played a major role during the era of the Transatlantic slave trade. The Ekpe is a secret society that lives mostly in Nigeria and whose members are typically law enforcers and politicians. Jeffreys also stated, "There is reason to believe that a considerable portion of a small Ibibio clan called Ebrutu or Eburutu was the earliest stock of the Efik; for, when the missionaries settled in 1846 at Old Calabar amongst these people for the first time, it was found that they called themselves not Efik but Ebrutu or Ebrutu Efik. The symbols are arranged in a grid, giving the cloths an orderly, symmetrical quality that is often reinforced by repeated patterns. To be a member, one must be a part of Yoruba nobility. Sunjata's half-brother, Dankaran Touman, enrages Sunjata and nearly causes civil war by: murdering an innocent young man, thinking he is Sunjata. [32] At night when everyone had gone to sleep, the men from Uruan rose up and began to slaughter their hosts. Some of the oldest of these societies were Nyana Nyaku and Nsibidi. The paper critically examined the Ekpe society in its indigenous form and nature prior the advent of Christianity, Western education and Western influence. The Efik language was also spoken in several communities in Western Cameroon. [33][35] The Efik came to her defence and the dispute escalataed[34] Legend has it that this was the last straw that led to the Uruan-Efik war (known in Efik as Ek Abasi-Anwan) which led to the exit of the Efik from the Uruan country. [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. Members of the Ekpe society are said to act as messengers of the [74][75] Law and order in Efik society was maintained via a number of secret societies. They give me thesum of $1,200,000 and many thing. Due to the volume of cultural exchange, many other ethnic groups have often been regarded as being one with the Efik such as Kiong and Efut. 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. [40] The outcome of the fall of the tree led to several deaths in their clan. the exhibition explores the long- An entire topic will be dedicated to discussing the Ekpe society and its legacy in the near future. [51] The Enwang people who were fishing at Duke town saw the twins approaching and fled in terror saying "Mbiomo oduk ine"(English: A curse has befalling our fishing sites). The Ekpe society is estimated by most foreign scholars to have been introduced into Old Calabar in the 18th century. She said as a member of the Ekpe Society of the Efiks, she participates in the Ekpe activities. Ethnographic - (Mask, Elephant, Cape, Chicken Feather); Elephant Mask with Chicken Feather Cape, Bekom People, Cameroon. Historians and archaeologists have worked to piece together the human story from prehistory up to today. No disrespect allowed. [52] On the death of Chief Willy Tom Robins, a number of rituals were performed. 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". [53] Aphrom was a corruption of Ephraim which was an anglicised form of the Efik name Efiom. Their king on the eastern Calabar coast was known as Ating Anua Efiom. [9] The Efik have also been referred to as "Calabar people" in historical literature. In the traditional Soninke tale of "Gasire's Lute", the son of the king contributes tragically to the fall of his kingdom when he: becomes too impatient to become king himself, gets his own sons killed in battle, becomes a poet-bard rather than wait to become king, causes his own people to rebel against his desire to keep fighting. Efik names were often anglicised to gain the trust of European traders. They migrated from Bateka and settled in their current location in flight. 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. Ekpe, also known as Mgbe/Egbo (Ekoi language: leopard; derived from the Ibibio term for the same), is a West African secret society in Nigeria and Cameroon flourishing chiefly among the Efiks. There are said to be at least three mass migration from Ndodoghi. Among the earliest proponents of the Ibibio origin theory are Consul Hutchinson who stated, "The present inhabitants of Duke town, Old town and Creek town are descendants of the Egbo shary or Ibibio tribe up the Cross River. Why do you think it is important for us to understand our past? "Egbo" redirects here. Efik populations are found in the following regions: Secret societies aided in the maintaining of law and order at Old Calabar. the Ekpe society. It is uncertain the specific year that the Efik arrived Creek Town. Ekpe Efik was used as a government instrument in Bakassi in exercising authority for more than 200 years ago (E.O.Efiong-Fuller, 1996). (Ed.). The tentative program is as follows: January 27th and 28th, 2012. 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. Hope Waddell, Samuel Edgerley and four others. The Ekpe Society or Mgbe society as it is also fondly called is very reputable and covers a wider range of ethnic groups such as: the Efut; the Efik; the Qua-Ejegham, and the Okonko ( the Igbo-speaking areas). While their political authority is largely diminished today, Ekpe membership is still prestigious and the society continues to be a unifying force among the Ejagham, Igbo, Efik, Ibibio, and other cultural groups in the Cross River region. Another account from the Qua claimed that Ekpe (Mgbe) migrated from Cameroon. [36] According to Aye, "Ikpa Ene could not carry the bulk of Iboku population, Ndodoghi had to accommodate what spilt over, and the two settlements, still under one rule, were separated by the left branch of the river which became their "inland sea".
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