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). Aye dates the arrival of the Efik in Creek Town to the fourteenth century. Animals such as goats, chicken and dogs are consumed in Efik cuisine. [11] Ibonda (an Efut clan) has sometimes been appended to Adiabo as one of the seven Efik clans. Objects and images in the exhibition courtesy of Dr. Eli Bentor. Initiated into ekpe society at 9 as was done in those days and now not even a word is mentioned each time you talk about ekpe in manyu. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Oge ruru ka laja nyefee lasha r ya ma gaa rwa r e nyere ya ebe z. [77] Women wore a number of brass rings on their legs and arms. The earliest documented letter to an English captain from a chief of Old Calabar was written in 1770. [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". Welcome, Love, Peace and Unity in Nsibidi. 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. Among the Southern Igbo, the Ekpe society, introduced from the Cross River area, uses contrasting masks to represent the maiden spirit and the elephant spirit, the latter representing ugliness and aggression and the former representing beauty and peacefulness. It became a truly multi-group society, finding its' way to almost all groups in the region and gaining dominance in . [32] Another theory states that there was a disagreement between an Efik woman known as Abasi and an Uruan woman. And it's a symbol in both. 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. Google Scholar Aye, E. A. Thanks for signing up for our daily insight on the African economy. [34], On leaving the Uruan country, the Efik migrated to Ikpa Ene which is nicknamed Akani Obio Efik(English: Old Efik island). I am manyang Mathilda Nkwo of Akiriba village , upperbanyang and I am and still is oneof the oldest living practing manyangero in Manyu. [76] Uffp (native gin) is distilled from palm wine and is sometimes mixed with the bark of Edat to increase the alcoholic content. 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. 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. [77] The fibre of the leaf-stalk of a palm was made into a thread and woven to make clothes and bags. ekpe society cameroonworld market toblerone. A reconsideration of kp and Abaku suggests an agenda for the study of kp in diaspora from a different perspective. The tentative program is as follows: January 27th and 28th, 2012. It is uncertain when Obutong was founded but most Efik scholars hypothesize that it was founded in the 16th century. Ekpe could take life and could give it; it could condemn a whole town to a heavy fine and was promptly paid; it could punish offenders and could forgive; even kings and Obongs could never escape Ekpe laws and edicts.[69]. The Ekpe society is estimated by most foreign scholars to have been introduced into Old Calabar in the 18th century. There is not even one single manyangero mentioned on all the write up on any of the ekpe/mgbe stories. [32] At night when everyone had gone to sleep, the men from Uruan rose up and began to slaughter their hosts. [32] The men were wet and complained of hunger and fatigue. [48] Jeffreys theory is unpopular with a large majority of the Efik. Efik names were often anglicised to gain the trust of European traders. . "[21] Jeffreys assertion regarding Eburutu being a single Ibibio clan is proven false by earlier definitions of Eburutu by Rev. [82] The name Itu ita translates to three manatees and is named because the masts of the ship resembled the manatee (Itu). Efik society consists of various clans which were originally known as "Esien Efik itiaba" (English: Seven clans of Efik) and later known in the 21st century as "Esien Efik Duopeba" (English: Twelve clans of Efik). Another theory narrated by Chief Efiom Obo Effanga of Obutong asserts that Antia Ekot Otong founded Obutong. [64] They insisted that Obutong be completely destroyed. 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. [64] It took several years before the town was rebuilt.[64]. The Neegee or Crocodile Society is considered evil by the Poro and Sande groups. What I want for dollar side is a fine coat and sword all same I tell you and the rest in copper rods. Ekpe" which literally means Lion, is a traditional secret society originated from the Ekoi tribe in Cross River State. With the inception of the transatlantic slave trade, a number of foreign clothes were introduced into Efik society. The group has managed to stay mostly hidden for over more than 100 years. 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. [37] The items believed to have been taken include Ikpaya (woven raffia robe), Akata (throne) and Ayang (Broom). [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. Names such as Okon became Hogan, Orok became Duke, Akabom became Cobham, Ene became Henry, Asibong became Archibong. Large amounts of pepper was also uncommon in Efik cuisines. 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. It was worth every penny and made me feel like a kid again. Ekpe masquerade [1], Its members are only men and are played on special occasion. 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. Among these laws were the Abolition of twin-killings, abolition of the esere bean ordeal, abolition of human sacrifices and several other practices. Welcome to brotherhood Illuminati where you can becomerich famous and popular and your life story we be changetotally my name is Dan Jerry I am here to share mytestimony on how I join the great brotherhood Illuminatiand my life story was change immediately . Due to the peregrinations of Efik traders across the lower Cross River region, The Efik language was regarded as the language of commerce in the Cross river region. It was technically part of Nigeria, according to history, which was the reason we had the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). 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. Omissions? Cow meat was also consumed but the Efik native cow was rarely eaten or milked by the Efik. I hope some Man-of-War come sometime with proper captain all same you look out and help we keep word when French Man-of-War come. [46] On their exit from Obutong, they are believed to have sought the permission of Oku Atai to use the Ntinya. English language is spoken in the South-Western part of Cameroon. 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. 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. [53] Aphrom was a corruption of Ephraim which was an anglicised form of the Efik name Efiom. LEFT Mgballa Ekpe lodge with Ekpe members, Arochukwu, southeastern Nigeria. Some meals have been mentioned often in the 19th century historical literature of Old Calabar. 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. These are: the oral historians, kings' advisors, poets, and musicians whose power is the ability to manipulate words. 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. This site uses cookies to help personalize content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. [45] internal dissensions and population expansion led to the movement of several families from Creek Town to Obutong, Atakpa, Nsidung and Ekoretonko. It is also used by the Igbo and Efik. Individual symbols may also have multiple meanings, rendering context important and interpretation inevitable in the "reading" of the body of represented signs. Ema Atai Ema Atai, Edidem, Biop sai." AHR ~ 125 The economics of the society is based on paying tribute to the village ancestors. The society is not a 'secret society or a cult,'3 what is secret is the representations of its emblem in material symbol - the ekpe stone and the nsibidi (sign language). 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. a king whose attempts to have a special son lead him to make bargains with one Islamic missionary and two noble travelers. The society combines a kind of freemasonry with political and law enforcing aims. [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. [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. I bought a $140,000 mobile home in a million-dollar LA neighborhood and love it. [26][28] This theory was narrated at the Hart's enquiry by Etubom Ededem Ekpenyong Oku but has been criticised by Uruan writers such as Dominic Essien. a warrior-hunter who, despite having been a cripple, becomes the founder of an empire. There are said to be at least three mass migration from Ndodoghi. [19], The Ibibio origin of the Efik is one of the most popular among scholars. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Calabar. Ethnographic - (Mask, Elephant, Cape, Chicken Feather); Elephant Mask with Chicken Feather Cape, Bekom People, Cameroon. [57] The diary of Antera Duke, an Efik, is the only surviving record from an African slave-trading house. Now we can't sell slaves again we must have too much man for country; and want something for make work and trade, and if we could get seed for cotton and coffee we could make trade. . The paper critically examined the Ekpe society in its indigenous form and nature prior the advent of Christianity, Western education and Western influence. Imbued with transcendental aura, ukara conveys the sacrality and prestige of the Ekpe secret society. I'm still struggling to understand her choice. Only males can join, boys being initiated about the age of puberty. In Amos Tutuola's The Palm-Wine Drinkard, the narrator leaves his home and begins his adventure in the bush when: In the excerpt that we read from The Palm-Wine Drinkard, the narrator and his wife encounter: In the Song of Lawino, by Okot p'Bitek, a woman speaks to: Lawino's husband's new wife is called _______________________(Either of two possible answers) in the text. 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 soon into magical power. Unblock notifications in browser settings. Sunjata's half-brother, Dankaran Touman, enrages Sunjata and nearly causes civil war by: murdering an innocent young man, thinking he is Sunjata. 16, 2014 3 likes 6,498 views Download Now Download to read offline Education Spiritual Technology A short description of the ancient Ekpe Masquerade and its cultural and spiritual significance, in the life of the people of the Cross River basin. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 2017). [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. Papers documenting the research materials and scholarly work of Dr. Ivor L. Miller in cultural studies of the African Diaspora. The first letter of the word is correctly written as "" and denotes plurality. [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. Ukara cloth also consecrates the interior of Ekpe lodges, where larger versions of the cloth hang as backdrops. The area from which the Sunjata Epic comes was historically: the geographical location of the great medieval African kingdoms - Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. [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. of Bamum, of Cameroon in his kingly attire seated on the throne with his chiefs flanked round him (Plate 2). [38] The Efik bard Adiaha Etim Anua recites in her 1910 ballad that "Mkpana Ndodoghi Edik. This village was originally named Ta Set Maat. [62][63] The first missionaries arrived in 1846.
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