Archaeological evidence found that the group was extremely advanced in education for its time, and headed the construction of the Valley of the Kings. At Old Calabar, traders had slowly started transitioning completely into the lucrative palm oil trade. [11] The bulk of the Enwang and Usukakpa are located in the present-day Akwa Ibom state. [76] Palm wine is acquired by making an incision on the palm tree, a process known as "tapping". We thank you too much for what thing you come do for keep thing right. 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". LEFT Ekpe cage during Ikot Ekpe ritual in 2009. through the Illuminati Iwas able to become rich, and have many industry on myown and become famous and popular in my country , todayme and my family is living happily and I am the mosthappiest man here is the opportunity for you to join theIlluminati and become rich and famous in life and be likeother people and you life we be change totally.If you areinterested in joining the great brotherhood Illuminati.thencontact him +2348106618681 or for more information +1(705)8062021 email:illuminatibrotherpowerful@gmail.com or you need my assistance email:danjerry04@gmail.com Shame to the Manyu people and great men o Manyu, that you as enlightened as I know will willfully distort a tradition that back dates as long as 400 to 800hundred. But, Ekpe in the course of the colonial period underwent a wide range of fundamental changes in their structure, roles, status . 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 destruction of Obutong occurred in 1854. 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. Animals such as goats, chicken and dogs are consumed in Efik cuisine. This is evident in a testimony by Isaac Parker, a ship-keeper who lived at Duke town in 1765 for 5 months. [64] They insisted that Obutong be completely destroyed. The Ekpe society is estimated by most foreign scholars to have been introduced into Old Calabar in the 18th century. I hope Queen Victoria and young prince will live long time and we get good friend. Letters were also sent by King Eyo Honesty II to introduce missionaries and technocrats into the country with emphasis on the latter. [34], On leaving the Uruan country, the Efik migrated to Ikpa Ene which is nicknamed Akani Obio Efik(English: Old Efik island). A fraternal society that emerged in the western culture between the 16th and 7th century. The Ekpe-men are ranked in seven or nine grades, for promotion to each of which fresh initiation ceremonies, fees and oaths are necessary.[1]. [16] Baikie said Ibibio are traced to the Igbo. Colonial Anthropologist M.D.W. Eli Bentor, Professor of Art History at Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, speaks about the history of ukara cloth and moderates a discussi. Define monsoon, Sanskrit, raja, caste system, caste, Hinduism, reincarnation, karma, dharma, yoga, Buddhism, ascetic, nirvana. (Multiple Deaths at Ndodoghi creek, Ema Atai Ema Atai, Priest-king, lost his sight in death). Ekpe masquerade [1], Its members are only men and are played on special occasion. [80] Ivory bracelets (Efik: Mme) were worn by wealthy women. The island is believed to be named after a fisherman from Mbiabo known as Ene Ankot. 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. There are several theories regarding the origin of the Efik people. Corrections? [46] On their exit from Obutong, they are believed to have sought the permission of Oku Atai to use the Ntinya. 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. Photo by Eli Bentor. The Efik language also borrows words from other ethnic groups such as Balondo, Oron, Efut, Okoyong, Efiat and Ekoi (Qua). 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. One of the most important castes in this society is the jeli caste. In the culture we have discussed, the term jamu refers to: each person's family name, which connects the person to a famous character in the story of Sunjata. the exhibition explores the long- They use a variety of masks to execute social control. Members of the Ekpe society are said to act as What's significant about the black fraternities and sororities in America is that they also trace part of their lineage to the Ekpe society of southeastern Nigeria. On behalf of Ekpe-USA Leadership, I hereby remind every member of Ngbe who has taken the aoth that our fathers and great grand fathers took to uphold those sacred traditions and beliefs, to immediately start preparations to do what they must do to send our brother to join our ancestors. Ikpa Ene was a virgin island on the banks of the Cross river. Click to expose navigation links on mobile. 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? This site uses cookies to help personalize content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. [70] Several meals were composed of yam such as Usu abia, Iwk abia, Afia abia, sb abia, Edifrai abia and fp abia. [52] These atrocities angered the missionaries and European captains alike. These missionaries together with King Eyo Honesty II brought several changes to Old Calabar society. It is uncertain the specific year that the Efik arrived Creek Town. Barbot documents that between 1698 and 1699, payments for provisions were made at Calabar to the following chiefs; Duke Aphrom, King Robin, Mettinon, King Ebrero, King John, King Oyo, William King Agbisherea, Robin King Agbisherea, and Old King Robin. Here's a look inside. She or he is a random of nature, a result of mixed up and confused spiritual genetics. [17] Some oral accounts by early Efik men also support the Igbo origin of the Efik. Nair dates the arrival of the Efik towards the end of the seventeenth century or the beginning of the eighteenth century. The primary society is located in the Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Arochukwu areas of Nigeria, and the secondary society consists of members from the Southern and Eastern Igbo groups of the same country. Sunjata's victory against Sumaworo comes in part because: Sumaworo loses the support of his nephew, Fakoli. [69] The society is divided into five main grades such as Nkanda, Oku akama, Nyamkpe, Okpoho and Ebonko. Another account from the Qua claimed that Ekpe (Mgbe) migrated from Cameroon. 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. It is uncertain when Obutong was founded but most Efik scholars hypothesize that it was founded in the 16th century. 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. Membership in the Ekpe (Egbo), or Leopard, society, for example, available to wealthy men who can meet the expense involved, confers high social status and political authority; these men participate in ceremonies concerned with ancestral spirits and are believed to protect the community through magic and religious ritual. What I want for dollar side is a fine coat and sword all same I tell you and the rest in copper rods. 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. They migrated from Bateka and settled in their current location in flight. 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. While some explorers describe the Efik as travellers who past through the Ibibio country, others assert that the Efik are of Ibibio stock. They believed feasting on a human strengthened their bonds. [37] The items believed to have been taken include Ikpaya (woven raffia robe), Akata (throne) and Ayang (Broom). [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. Powered by, Ukara cloth detail, Etara community, Cross River State, Nigeria, Cross River Cultural Heritage: reports from home and from the African Diaspora, Introduction: Spirit Dancers, Water Deities & Mystics in the Cross River Basin and in Cuba, Upcoming film project: Seven year kp ritual cycle, Ntufam Bob Oku literature, music and drawings, Calabar Mgb International Journal / Revista Internacional, Calabar-Cuba Radio with Ene Ita and Ivor Miller, Manyu kp Funeral Rites in Yaounde, 2019, Ivor Miller research archive at Amherst College, Manyu kp procession in Yaound, March 29, 2019, Poster for funeral of Seseku Stephen Tataw (1948-2019), Tortoise shell instrument is played in the funerary procession, kp mask purifies the hearse before the procession begins, Funerary shrine representing the sacred forest of kp, kp members surround the shrine for the final rites. Among these laws were the Abolition of twin-killings, abolition of the esere bean ordeal, abolition of human sacrifices and several other practices. And it's a symbol in both. Imbued with transcendental aura, ukara conveys the sacrality and prestige of the Ekpe secret society. ________. The Ekpe was vested with the powers of policing and bringing justice to the Efik kingdom. 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. http://Ekpesociety.blogspot.com; www.ekpe.org; http://Ekpesocietyusa.blogspot.com; http://ndiboyevengo.blogspot.com, Ekpe Society 1st Conclave from Sept 16 to 17 2009, Ekpe DC Sessekou relaxing during the conclave, Ekpe Society members with Justice Hilman Egbe at a MECA DC meeting, Ekpe Chief Maurice Enoh's funeral in Dallas on January 27th and 28th 2012, Maurice Enoh: The 1st Manyu Ekpe USA Sessekou to die in USA, Maurice Enoh returning from his crowning ceremony as Ekpe Chief in Kepelle Village, Ekpe-USA received at the Smithsonian Museum. 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. [69] The Ekpe spirit cannot be seen by the uninitiated and is represented by Idem Iquo, a masquerade dressed in Esk, a multicoloured costume decorated with other traditional accoutrements. 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. The Efik people speak the Efik language, which is a BenueCongo language of the Cross River family. I'm still struggling to understand her choice. Several accounts have been narrated on the migration of the Efik before their arrival at Old Calabar. Wake Keeping, Viewing and service in Dallas, Texas. [10] The original seven clans are scattered between Cross River state and Akwa Ibom state and consist of Iboku (Duke town, Henshaw town, Creek town and Cobham town), Obutong, Adiabo, Mbiabo (Mbiabo Edere, Mbiabo Ikot Offiong, Mbiabo Ikoneto), Enwang, Usukakpa and Abayen. Opinions expressed belong solely to the author and do not represent the views of other Members, Management, or the Community at large. There is not even one single manyangero mentioned on all the write up on any of the ekpe/mgbe stories. Group members would disguise themselves as leopards, wearing leopard skins, carrying claw-like weapons, and attacking their prey. [78] Raffia palm clothing (Efik: f Ndam) could also be exported from other communities especially when a community made the best raffia clothing. authority as head of the Ekpe (Egbo), or Leopard, society. Ekpe is a mysterious spirit who is supposed to live in the jungle and to preside at the ceremonies of the society. 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. Google Scholar Aye, E. A. The economics of the society is based on paying tribute to the village ancestors. [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. The Sunjata Epic is usually understood to tell the story of: the rise and fall of the seven Nubian (Kushite) kings. [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. [23][24], The Oriental original is most popular among indigenous Efik historians such as E.U. The group is a mutual aid society known for elaborate street dances and very high. Instead, each settlement had its own lodge of the . Cameroon with the Ekpe cult. 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. 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. [11] Ibonda (an Efut clan) has sometimes been appended to Adiabo as one of the seven Efik clans. A reconsideration of kp and Abaku suggests an agenda for the study of kp in diaspora from a different perspective. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In Ekpe, he is a product of a dynasty of more than five Generations of Ekpe Sisikus, also known as Nfor Ngbe or Ekpe Chiefs. These artists sew the white cloths with raffia thread so that parts of the ukara (in a pattern of nsibidi symbols) will not be exposed during the dyeing process. After the decline of the slave trade, the Efik transitioned into the business of exporting palm oil from the Cross river. LEFT Ezillo man drawing a grid pattern to be filled with nsibidi designs, Ezillo, southeastern Nigeria. Modern Efik society is a melting pot of people of diverse origin. They are well respected agents of wealth distribution in the community. Ed Keazor Follow Barrister-at-Law Advertisement Advertisement Recommended An account from the Qua said the origin of the Ekpe people can be traced to Cameron. Another account claimed that Efik people introduced the Ekpe between 1720 and 1729 during the initial migration of Calabar. Aye and Eyo Okon Akak. National Museum of African American History and Culture. The Efik (Calabar) caste structure of Ekpe . Why do you think it is important for us to understand our past? Ekpe translates to Leopard in the Efik language and is believed to be a spirit that resides in the forest. expectations of the members to prioritize the group over their own families. The first letter of the word is correctly written as "" and denotes plurality. Originally, the Efik obtained slaves by going to war with other communities or creating confusion in other communities. Among these missionaries were Rev. The missionaries who arrived in 1846 contributed to the changes in women's attire in Efik society. [76], Prior to the introduction of European-styled clothing, the Efik wore loin clothes made of Raffia (Efik: Ndam). 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. Prior to the introduction of industrialised cubic-shaped seasonings such as maggi and know, Crayfish was used to make meals more spicy. Names such as Okon became Hogan, Orok became Duke, Akabom became Cobham, Ene became Henry, Asibong became Archibong. Among these included Yams, Fufu and an unidentified type of black soup frequently mentioned in 19th century Old Calabar literature. La communaut cubaine Abakudescendante des communauts fik Ekp et Ejagham gb du Sud Est du Nigria et du Sud Ouest du Camerouna t fonde la Havane dans les annes 1830 par des leaders capturs des villages de Cross River. As Sidney Kasfir has pointed to (in reference to the Ekpe society in southeastern Nigeria and adjoining Cameroon), material, performative, and ritual structures in masking are not fused together but can be used to different ends and can travel different paths ( Kasfir 2019: 15). Photo by Eli Bentor. Sunjata's aunt, Tenenba Conde, childless herself, must raise the child Fakoli, son of Kosiya Kante, after Kosiya sacrifices herself for her brother's sake. Other trading items sold by the Efik included rubber, ivory, barwood and redwood. Due to the role they played during the era of the triangular trade, their prominence in literature and art, there has been a lot of academic scholarship on the people. [9] The largest group moved to Creek town from Ndodoghi led by the priest-king Eyo Ema Atai.[38]. Probably about 8000 BC one group reached Nigeria by an overland route and settled at Ibom (Arochuku) there they erected the famous shrine now known as the Long Juju of Arochuku. "[18] References to the Igbo origin of the Efik were also made at the Hart's enquiry into the Obongship dispute where Etubom Efiom Obo Effanga asserted that the term "Iboku" meant quarrelsome Igbos. At Ughoton, to the southwest of Benin, a different type of mask is used, in the cult. Bell of King Eyo Honesty II at Creek Town, Ekeng ita (also known as James Henshaw), Obong of Henshaw Town (c.a 1875). [72] Iwewe is also regarded as a sacrificial meal often prepared for the Efik deities. These lettere were heeded to and in April 1846, the first missionaries arrived Old Calabar. Ekpe Efik was used as a government instrument in Bakassi in exercising authority for more than 200 years ago (E.O.Efiong-Fuller, 1996).