In modern-day Efik society, nyny is worn on various occasions such as weddings and traditional events. [37] The items believed to have been taken include Ikpaya (woven raffia robe), Akata (throne) and Ayang (Broom). [46] On their exit from Obutong, they are believed to have sought the permission of Oku Atai to use the Ntinya. 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. She or he is a random of nature, a result of mixed up and confused spiritual genetics. [14], The name "Efik" translates to "Oppressors" and is derived from the Efik-Ibibio verb root "Fik" (English: Oppress). Imbued with transcendental aura, ukara conveys the sacrality and prestige of the Ekpe secret society. 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. [23][24], The Oriental original is most popular among indigenous Efik historians such as E.U. [52] The Captains wrote the acting consul who was stationed at Fernando Po. 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]. 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. Sunjata's sister, Kolonkan, angers her younger brother Manding Bori when she: uses her powers to take the internal organs from animals he and his brothers killed, without cutting the animals open. [45] Eyo Ema's people occupied Otung in the south of Creek Town, Adim Atai and Ukpong Atai occupied the east and Efiom Ekpo's family occupied the Adakuko in the west. 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. [62][63] The first missionaries arrived in 1846. Each ukara is highly individualized and clearly produced to be worn by a specific Ekpe member or to mark a specific Ekpe lodge. [77] The fibre of the leaf-stalk of a palm was made into a thread and woven to make clothes and bags. 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. At Ughoton, to the southwest of Benin, a different type of mask is used, in the cult. Also i want bomb and shell. Ekpe masquerade mimic the form of a lion or leopard moves. Ikpaya is now worn by an Obong-elect during the traditional coronation ceremony. 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. Living in what is now Southeast Nigeria and Southwest Cameroon, the people were physically divided by British and German colonial holdings in Africa. The Efik speak the Efik language which is a member of the BenueCongo subfamily of the Niger-Congo language group. The Efik (Calabar) caste structure of Ekpe . Photo by Eli Bentor. But, Ekpe in the course of the colonial period underwent a wide range of fundamental changes in their structure, roles, status . . Members of the Ekpe society are said to act as messengers of the ancestors (ikan). [32] The men were wet and complained of hunger and fatigue. The destruction of Obutong occurred in 1854. [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. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The indigenous drums of the Cross River region of southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon are distinctive for their "wedge and ring" method of tightening the skin. Within Nigeria, the Efik can be found in the present-day Cross River State and Akwa Ibom state. 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. [68] The society is believed to have been introduced in Calabar from Usahadet. [79] Ikpaya a royal type of gown also made from raffia. 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. [6] The most popular historical accounts of Efik migration attest a movement from Ibom in Arochukwu to Uruan and from Uruan to numerous settlements along the lower Cross river. [32] Another theory states that there was a disagreement between an Efik woman known as Abasi and an Uruan woman. [81] 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. All Ekpe members are hereby reminded that under Ekpe custom, we do not leave the lifeless body of our warriors in the battle field, and we certainly do not leave the remains of an Ekpe chief unguarded. ekpe society cameroonworld market toblerone. I Am Niki Buroro Agbor Ekpe Jerome a holder of a professional Masters in Forestry and wildlife Engineering with focus on Protected Area Management, Masters of Science in Forest Governance and policies from University of Dschang and Professional Masters in Environmental Science (ESIA) university of Yaounde 1. [49] The Enwang are believed to have ruled Atakpa for a number of years. 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 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. The Ekpe Society. These secret societies were used to uphold the legal decisions of the Council of Elders or of the community as a whole, they also ensured conformity in certain rituals and in social behaviour and undertook certain public works for the community (n.d.). [52] The missionaries respected the native law but the European Captains acted rashly and desired that an example be set on Obutong. The economics of the society is based on paying tribute to the village ancestors. 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. identity. But most importantly, it should be mentioned that if its members did not support the ostensible reality of ekpe, as a thing to be feared and appeased, then the Upon leaving the Cameroon territory, the Ibibio arrived at their present location following two major directions. According to Simmons, "Most Informants maintain that the first people to Inhabit Creek Town were Efut fishermen from the southern Cameroons. [65] Cannons were shot at the town and every house was levelled to the ground. One theory states that the Efik and Uruan had separate religious customs and the Efik refused to worship the Uruan deity Atakpor Uruan Inyang. The first letter of the word is correctly written as "" and denotes plurality. "[20] 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. 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. [66] [42] K.K. It is a male-only society, and members are bound by secrecy. quickly adapted to fulfil other economic and civil functions. [33] Abasi's husband insisted that the problem should be resolved by the chiefs. It proved to be the source of supreme authority in all Efik towns, and its institutions provided, in the past, the highest court whose verdicts transcended all else. [33] When the husband of the Uruan woman learnt of the issue, he wanted to fight the Efik. The Oroko (also Bareka/Batekka) are an ethnic group in Cameroon.They belong to the coastal Bantu group, widely known as Sawa, and primarily occupy the Ndian and Meme divisions of the Southwest Region of Cameroon.The people predominantly speak Oroko, English, and Cameroon Pidgin English.The Oroko are related to several ethnic groups (or tribes) in Cameroon's coastal areas, with whom they share . It has a variety of different characters and is indigenous to areas of Southeastern Nigeria and . The article was a not-so-deep exploration of indigenous African writing systems and languages. [33] Abasi was angered by the Uruan woman and cursed the Uruan people who started to punish her for her insubordination. 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]. Omissions? What role does religion play in society today? Written March 01, 2015 by Web Services Editor, Guarini School of Graduate & Advanced Studies, Copyright 2023 Trustees of Dartmouth College. Nsibidi is a body of ideographic, abstract, and gestural signs deployed by the Ekpe society as a form of coded communication. This exhibition, on view from April 18 to August 2, was organized by the Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, and generously supported by the William B. Jaffe and Evelyn A. [17] Some oral accounts by early Efik men also support the Igbo origin of the Efik. The Efik in Nigeria have Nkanda as the basic Ekpe whereas, in Cameroon we have Ekpe as the starting point in Ekpe. Historians and archaeologists have worked to piece together the human story from prehistory up to today. These lettere were heeded to and in April 1846, the first missionaries arrived Old Calabar. Here are 8 prominent cults and secret societies in Africa. 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. A fraternal society that emerged in the western culture between the 16th and 7th century. In The River Between, Waiyaki's father, Chege, is: The new, white man's religion is represented by the: Early in the story, Waiyaki undergoes his "second birth". Ekpe masquerade mimic the form of a lion or leopard moves. "Egbo" redirects here. (a) What are the Clowns trying to accomplish in this scene? After the tapping process, the wine is left to ferment for five hours. Wake Keeping, Viewing and service in Dallas, Texas. Laws were passed to halt several practices regarded as unchristian. This material is believed to have been imported by the Portuguese (Oboriki). Law and order in Efik society was maintained via a number of secret societies. I bought a $140,000 mobile home in a million-dollar LA neighborhood and love it. Among these missionaries were Rev. Proponents of this theory range from missionaries, explorers, colonial anthropologists and later historians. [59] Ekpe is first mentioned in the historical literature of Old Calabar in the 1770s. The Ekpe Society is a religious and cultural institution among the Efik people, it can also be found among the Annang and the Ibibios. The Ekpe society may be regarded as one of the most important institutions among the Efik people. 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. 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). Their king on the eastern Calabar coast was known as Ating Anua Efiom. [64] It took several years before the town was rebuilt.[64]. "[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. Several types of English dresses were introduced to Efik women such as the Victorian dresses known in Efik as nyny. 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. part of the Balondos or Orokos in Ndian in Southern Cameroon) and Idombi (ie present town, called Bamusso in Ndian-Southern . [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. authority as head of the Ekpe (Egbo), or Leopard, society. [78] Raffia palm clothing (Efik: f Ndam) could also be exported from other communities especially when a community made the best raffia clothing. Ndibo Yevengo- Abakua & Ekpe events; Cuba-Calabar Radio . 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. Oge ruru ka laja nyefee lasha r ya ma gaa rwa r e nyere ya ebe z. [51] Nsutana was a dreaded island where twins were abandoned to die. Festival organised by Global Music Exchange (ht. The cloth is made of plain cotton but transformed into a ritual object when nsibidi symbols are inscribed onto it through indigo dyeing. The Efik acted as the middlemen between the European vessels and the inland slave traders. It is also used by the Igbo and Efik. Jeffreys states that a disruption among the Okobo around the town of Ekeya in the Eket district led to the founding of Obutong. The society is now seen as a fraternity along the masonic lines which tries to represent the interest of Efiks. a Mande tradition based on orally transmitted history. Select search scope, currently: catalog all catalog, articles, website, & more in one search; catalog books, media & more in the Stanford Libraries' collections; articles+ journal articles & other e-resources cherryblossom wrote on WARRIOR's profile. They came from Mbiak Creek in Ibibio country. Objects and images in the exhibition courtesy of Dr. Eli Bentor. Some of the oldest of these societies were Nyana Nyaku and Nsibidi. Among those who migrated with the Ngolo were various other nations who would later become part of the Oroko ethnic group. [82] The name Itu ita translates to three manatees and is named because the masts of the ship resembled the manatee (Itu). [32] Aye argues that the Efik could not have taken the royal emblem of the Uruan people as they would have already had their own royal emblem. [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). 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. [5] 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. The Ekpe society, the regulatory society in Manyu Division also fixed a heavy fine on any defaulter.