Author: ibibionationadmin

In Ibibio land, marriage is beyond the fusion of 2 individuals; it brings families and communities together. This is the case in many African and West-Asian cultures. But if you are a bachelor courting an Ibibio damsel, or your son is the bachelor, this article explains how to marry that Ibibio girl. It details the traditions you need to be aware of.

Drop Your Pride!

Firstly, you must know that Ibibio people take a strong exception to being treated with disrespect. If your Ibibio girlfriend lets you pass, her dad, uncles, elder brothers will almost certainly not allow you approach their door with superiority complex. If you manage to brush past them, you could get yourself into trouble. Trouble that physical science may never understand.

One of the worst hindrances you would meet in getting married into an Ibibio family has to do with your proud defiance of the Ibibio culture. It can cost you more than you could imagine.

There is the story of a woman from a community between Uyo and Ikot Ekpene who could not conceive until her husband went back to fulfil all marriage rites that he had arrogantly skipped.

Do not sit in Lagos or even in nearby Port Harcourt and assume you know all about the Ibibio culture. Or that ‘nothing dey happen’. Drop your pride and let the girl’s family show you what to do.

Udioño Ufòk – Knowing the Family

This is the first stage in the actual process of marriage. At this stage the prospective groom goes in the company of his best friend or close associate to visit the father of the girl. Beware of how you visit her father’s house while you are just a suitor. If you have not decided to marry her and cleared with your own family, don’t ask to meet her dad during visits. And when she has cleared you and your family is on board the project, take some gift (with wine inclusive), take a good friend of yours along and schedule a time to go see her father or his representative.

3 Stupid Things You can Do in an Ibibio Marriage:

If you go with a female friend or sister, that’s stupid. Or you tell her dad “I only came to say hi”; or you go alone, you just did something stupid.

During this visit, you will be questioned by her father. He will ask what you do, your religion and your family history.

This is also the opportunity you have to get familiar with the direction to the lady’s home. This is true especially if the dad invites you to his family compound, not just his own built resident – which, may be away from his ancestral home.

No formal demands are made on the groom at this first stage but courtesy demands that you carry a bottle of aromatic schnapps. If the family does not accept alcoholic drinks, carry a non-alcoholic wine.

Click here to know the other Ibibio marriage stages…

Click here to get Oto-Obong Uwah’s book; ‘Ibibio Nation: History & Culture’.

Keywords: Ibibio Marriage; How to marry an Ibibio Damsel

Ibibio people, like other ethnic groups, have their own taboos that began in ancient times. No matter how you see them, these taboos shape Ibibio culture through the strong core values and original social norms that they birth.

As in other cultures round the world, Ibibio taboos serve as a way to maintain order in society. They spelt prohibitions that went with sanctions against offenders.

Let’s look at 5 major taboos the colonial masters met when they arrived Ibibio land.

The Grand Child (Ayeyin) Taboo

The status of ‘grandchild’ was held high in ancient Ibibio society. The society than gave the Ayeyin social and traditional respects. This gave him lots of powers, especially in his maternal grandfather’s estate.

The child of a daughter was exempted from many forms of punishment even for crimes s/he committed in his/her grand parents’ village. If you violated these grandchild taboo, your penalty was grievous.

Although no longer as severe, the grand child taboo is still in effect in today’s Ibibio communities. This is one taboo that is practiced in all related tribes to the Ibibio especially the Annangs, Ekids and Mbuzo.

Food Taboos

There are foods you cannot eat in Ibibio land though these vary from sub-tribe to sub-tribe. For example, where you find a totem, that becomes a taboo. And most totems are plants or animals. The Leopard is a generally accepted totem everywhere among Ibibio people. This is why, in many parts of Akwa Ibom, you cannot eat a Leopard.

In the Itam area of Itu LGA, monkeys roam free. This is because, till today, they forbid the eating or even killing of monkeys.

Twin-Birth (Amana mba)

The story of the killings of twins is popular. Pre-colonial times left many mothers in tears for giving birth to twins. The mothers were banished as outcasts from the village to evil forests, according to history. The society at that time thought that this act cleansed the land.

The question now is, what was the fate of triplets, quadruplets and other multiple births other than twins? Further research is ongoing to confirm.

Sex related taboos

A woman who committed adultery could lead to the death of the husband through the ‘ekpo nka owo’ phenomenon. This referred to an unseen spirit that took the life of any husband who covered up the wife’s adultery. This is still in force especially amongst traditional Ibibios who live in the rural settings.

Also, it was a serious sacrilege to have sex with a dead person whether as a man or a woman. Ibibio people believed that the dead had transited into the spirit world. And anyone who had intercourse with their bodies was said to be talking with the dead in a vile way.

Furthermore, sexual intercourse with a mourning woman was dishonour to the woman’s dead husband and brought serious danger to the community.

Incest was another taboo. It brought spiritual and social consequences to both the family and community at large.

Birth Defects

Ibibio ancestors viewed abnormal births such as birth deformities and defects etc. viewed with much disdain.  In fact they had the babies killed. And then they made sacrifices to cleanse the land. Presently, the killing of deformed babies is no longer as widely practiced as in pre-colonial times. Sentiments against such births remain the same in deep rural Ibibio areas, however.

Taboos were inseparable from supernatural beliefs of the people. In today’s civilization, people throw out many of those beliefs as irrational and foolish traditional practices. But believe it or not, Ibibio people in ancient times had reasons to adhere to their taboos. There were events that science cannot explain, but we will talk about that topic some other time.

Read more on Ibibio Taboos through the book ‘Ibibio Nation: People & Culture’ by Oto-Obong Uwah. Get it here.

Brownson Nseime is writer, data enthusiast, digital marketer and intern at Jabborro PR.

Uduak Umo is a PR manager, physicist and business developer. He writes in from Jabborro PR, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

 

When Queen Elizabeth II visited Nigeria in 1956, she set foot on Akwa Ibom soil. According to history, the Queen of England has visited our country just twice. This was first in 1956 and then in 2003 for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

So, what made the Queen visit Akwa Ibom?

Spoiler! Firstly, Akwa Ibom State did not exist until 1987, so when the Queen visited our land, we were not yet ‘Akwa Ibom’.  Technically, the Queen did not visit Akwa Ibom.

But she set foot on our soil on a tour to Nigeria just before we won independence from Britain.

Some History

Prior to the time of her visit, Nigeria was under the monarchic rule of the Queen. We gained independence in 1960 and became a republic in 1963.

When the Queen visited Nigeria, the Governor General of Nigeria was Sir James Robertson, a British colonial officer.

Queen Elizabeth’s First Visit to Nigeria

The Queen’s first visit to Nigeria lasted just 20 days; from 28 January to 16 February 1956. It was termed a royal tour that had the queen visit many locations in the country.

It was during this first visit that the Queen inaugurated the federal court in Kaduna, attended the Royal Durbar also in Kaduna, Tin Plant in Jos, Lagos and also Enugu.

The Visit to Itu

Although not widely reported, part of the Queen’s reasons for visiting Nigeria was to lay a wreath at the grave of 20th Century Scottish missionary, Mary Mitchell Slessor. At that time in 1956, Mary Slessor’s recognized grave was in Itu in present day Akwa Ibom State. Today, though, the grave is in Calabar, Cross River State.

To get the Queen into Itu, a special landing for her boat was created on the banks of the monolithic Itu River. The landing had a small jetty built to help the Queen alight from the boat to land. A lobby was also built for her to wait in before proceeding to the grave site. Besides the quay and landing, a rail system was built to lift the Queen’s boat out of water also to land.

Queen’s Beach

The jetty is adjudged to be the first quay system to have been built in the entire South-East and South-South Nigeria. The location is today called ‘Queen’s beach’ in present day Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The Queen’s beach is one of the tourist sites of Akwa Ibom State today in the Itu area. Of course, there is also the intimidating Itu river, the breath-taking rolling hills of Itu and Ibiono, the Mary Slessor Cairn and lots of other such sites worth visiting.

Buy a book on the historical journeys of Ibom people, click here.

Feature Picture shows Queen Elizabeth 11 with Prince Philip leaving the Calabar stadium. The photograph is for sale via Alamy.

Keyword: Queen Elizabeth visited Akwa Ibom

It was President Ibrahim Babangida that actually said that Akwa Ibom State is founder of modern Nigeria. When did he make this statement? When he created Akwa Ibom state, carved out of Cross-River State. This was in September 23, 1987, after a long struggle of 4 decades.

How Modern Nigerian States Began?

Creating Akwa Ibom State was fair and right seeing that Ibibio people were among pioneer groups in the struggle for State Creation. They mounted this struggle using the Ibibio Union. Meanwhile, this Ibibio Union – a socio-cultural organisation founded in 1928 – later transited to a goal driven institution in 1948. The union was known, back then, for ability to unite the Ibibio people thereby giving them one voice to contribute to the development of society.

Record: Ibibio Union was Nigeria’s first ever socio-cultural group.

However, beginning from 1967 when the 12 state structures was established by the then Military ruler Gen. Yakubu Gowon, the mainland part of Calabar province in eastern Nigeria was only known as the South-eastern state.

This did not feel good to the people and so it led to the name change to Cross River State in 1976.

It was just one of the ways to calm their agitation but the Ibibios and their Annang, Ekid, Oro relatives still wanted a state of their own. As such, the struggle continued.

Buhari Rejected, Babangida Accepted

After the fall of the 2nd republic in 1983, paramount rulers of 10 local government areas of mainland Cross River State sent to the then military ruler Mohammudu Buhari demanding the creation of Akwa Ibom State. This it was fruitless pursuit.

Record: Ibibio Union was one of Africa’s first groups to send indigenes on foreign scholarship.

The Ibibio People, known for their undaunted nature, kept the pressure on. In the course of this struggle, another opportunity came in 1986, when Gen. Ibrahim Babangida set up a bureau to define the political direction of the country. The fathers of Akwa Ibom State submitted the memo again. This time, it won the favour of the President Babangida.

What Babangida Thinks of Akwa Ibom State and Modern Nigeria

When he visited his newly created State, this is what Babangida said;

 “I do not exaggerate when I say that all the states in the federation owe a huge historical debt to the people of Akwa Ibom State, because … the cradle of the movement of state creation is here. In this sense, it can be said that you are the founders of modern Nigeria.”

 

Akwa Ibom state is one of the most important states in South-South Nigeria. It has since grown into 31 local government areas with diverse peculiarities. It is also one of Africa’s largest producer-states of Oil.

For more on the story of Akwa Ibom State, click here.

 

Written by

Brownson Nseime,

Jabborro PR, Uyo

 

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The Ibibio people were known for many fantastic virtues in times past. These virtues historically distinguished them from other ancient ethnic groups in Nigeria. Observe that ethnic groups have specific traits which they are known for. The Igbos are industrious, Hausas are Language-conscious, and Yorubas are famously showy. And then you have the Ibibios with their qualities. Mr. Udom Inoyo identified 4 virtues of Ibibio people in his lecture at book launch of ‘Ibibio Nation: History & Culture’.

DILIGENCE AND TRUST

The Ibibio man is happy to do his job and earn his wages. He is content. He would rather earn the trust of his boss than perform eye-service.

At some point, they were so trustworthy and diligent that elite Nigerians freely granted them access to most protected parts of their homes: the kitchen and the bedroom. This has been their nature since ancient times.

REPUBLICAN NATURE

Ancient Ibibios were frank and very principled. Till date, Ibibio people have the adage “ndiagha ke ufok owo“; a common phrase meaning that one can express his mind without equivocation because his daily bread does not depend on any other.

An Ibibio person has a way of giving his sincere opinion on issues, even if it differs from the common.

LOVE FOR EDUCATION

The advent of colonialism influenced their love for education notably. Back then, the Ibibio people had increased passion for education and wanted to be like their bosses.

In the book ‘The Ibibio Union’ written by late eminent Jurist, Sir Justice Udoma, the union, established in 1927, invested in education immediately. They recorded excellent achievement in being one of the foremost African nationalist bodies to award scholarships to its indigenes to study in foreign countries. This body also worked with colonial education departments to establish Ibibio State College in Ikot Ekpene in 1946.

COURAGE AND EXEMPLARY LIVING

History does not leave out Ibibio women. They were deeply involved in the formation of modern Ibibio culture.

It was Ibibio women who led the famous riot of 1929 in Ikot Abasi. Although writers recorded this as the Aba women’s riot, an Ibibio woman, the exemplary Madam Adiaha-Edem, was the arrow-head. She was paternal grand-mother of Senator Udoma Udo Udoma.

Ibibio people are naturally unintimidated though they are also humble.

For more, please order the most recent book on Ibibio Nation by Oto-Obong Uwah here.

Watch Oto-Obong Uwah speak on the Ibibio Nation on YouTube.

Keywords: Qualities Ibibio People Known For.

 

Nseime Brownson writes from Jabborro PR, Uyo

Ibom Heritage, a project to preserve Akwa Ibom culture, has been unveiled. This took place in Ibom Hall, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, by the Advisor, Oto-Obong Uwah last Friday, March 25, 2022. Thousand of audience attended the unveiling both onsite and online.

Ibom Heritage is an idea of Mr. Oto-bong Uwah, an Accountant who is also passionate about culture and nation-building. According to him, it began when he set out to research the history of his Offot clan. He would then proceed to expand the study to a far wider Ibibio group scope.

About the Event

The event had in attendance many dignitaries some of Ibibio extraction and other Nigerian elite. Former Vice Chairman of Exxon Mobil Mr. Udom Inoyo, was present to deliver the inaugural lecture. There was also Prof. Effiong Johnson, who reviewed the book launched same day; His Eminence, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, the Oku Ibom Ibibio and Royal Father of the Day; Salihu Tanko Yakasai former aide to the Kano State Governor and Founding Curator of Global Shapers Community of the World Economic Forum; Mr. Segun Showunmi, Political Affairs Analyst; Mr. Unwana Effiong Esang, MD/CEO, Primera Microfinance Bank; Edidiong Ekwere, Dan D’ Humorous and others.

Highlights of the event included the lecture by Mr. Udom Inoyo, colourful theatre presentations, the book launch of ‘Ibibio Nation: History and Culture’, authored by Oto-Obong Uwah himself and the book review by Professor E. Johnson.

Mr. Udom Inoyo, in his keynote address and lecture, stirred the audience when he advocated against a culture of costly funerals.

“As a people, we must discourage costly burial ceremonies. Borrowing money or selling property to sponsor ‘befitting burials’ rather than investing in economic ventures is senseless”, he said.

Prof. Johnson Confirms Credibility of the Book

Speaking about the book in his review, Professor Johnson gave a resounding guarantee on the credibility of the book, emphasizing;

“I stake my honour to say that this book is what he (the author) has said it is. There is no Ibibio person here seated who will read this book that will fail to have a positive consciousness of who you are…” adding as he ended to a standing ovation;

“…this is one book that must find representation in your library”.

Ibom Heritage Advisor and author of the book, Mr. Oto-Obong Uwah in unveiling the Ibom Heritage project, presented a 3D video of the proposed centre. He stated, while the artist design played as video, that the building project would be a lifelong one and not necessarily one to be actualized immediately. He stressed that, at the moment, Ibom Heritage is focused on informing and educating people while the physical facility will be built in the next few years.

Watch the event on Facebook here.

Keywords: Ibom Heritage Unveiled in Akwa Ibom

Purchase the Book, click here.

There are more than 5 masquerades you should be afraid of in Akwa Ibom State, but in this article, I will talk about 5 of the scariest. Some of them are so horrible, women can’t survive a sight of them. Some are Ibibio cultural cults, while some are simply cultural plays. Meanwhile, please get this book; Ibibio Nation: History & Culture by Oto-Obong Uwah, click here.

Ekòng

This is by far the goriest to watch and you will never find a photograph of it online. It is reported that some years ago near Ibiono, a pregnant woman saw ekòng masquerade by accident and immediately suffered miscarriage. From a description of a member of the ekòng secret cult, the masquerade is bathed with corpses, torn flesh, fresh blood and other repugnant trappings.

Ekpo

The Ekpo is founded on the belief in life after death. And it is regarded as the soul of ancestors that return to the land of the living in masquerade form. It returns to participate with their kinsmen in communal festivals such as farming and rites of passage.

Ekpo is a cult.

To become part of this circle you must be initiated. Also, every activity of this sect is designed to pour fear, dread and caution on women and non-initiates.
Ekpo was known for instituting justice and performing judicial, administrative and religious duties during pre-colonial times.

Atӓt

This means wasp and the head of the masquerade is shaped like a basket. The body-worn costume is woven and the physique of the masquerade is dwarfy. The Atӓt masquerade is played as a festival in a few communities in the state. It is known for the security role it played in ancient Akwa Ibom before colonial times.

This Akwa Ibom masquerade is also known to possess supernatural powers as with the others. Only that it some times performs magical art to the amazement of admirers. Besides these, it was useful in instituting moral values amongst women and other members of old Ibibio society. The aim of the Atat masquerade was to maintain in the cultural society.

Utuèkpè

This means spider in Ibibio. As the name implies, this masquerade behaves like a spider during its display. It would scale heights on strings aided by other members of its troupe.

Nnabò

This is a cult with a very ferocious masquerade. The masquerader himself is made to undergo certain spiritual rites to be able to wear the costume and then be brought out for display. It is found mainly in the Annang areas of Akwa Ibom State.

Primary keywords – masquerade, akwa ibom, ekpo

Brownson Nseime writes from Jabborro PR, Uyo.

Members of the media attended a press conference to announce the launch of Oto-Obong Uwah’s book on Ibibio history. It held on Saturday February 26, 2022 at the Ibom e-Library facility in Uyo.

On March 25, 2022, ‘Ibibio Nation: History and Culture’ will be released. Written by Oto-Obong Uwah, the book is a product of broad reaching research. This is because the author is a dedicated researcher and passionate advocate of cultural renaissance, besides being an accountant. Additionally, respected scholars have placed their reviews on the book increasing its credibility as a result. This is why many believe the book is a must have for people keen on the unique story of the greater Ibibio group.

Why Document Ibibio History

Director of Ibom Heritage, Mr. Ottoabasi Abasiekong, explained why the author had to write this book. He said this as he addressed attendees at the event. He also stressed that the book will take Nigerians back in time in order to attain a thriving future. This means that the past is critical to achieving the future.

Register here to join waitlist for the book

“Today marks the beginning of a journey back in time as we hope to use the book, ‘Ibibio Nation: History and Culture’ to deeply enshrine a sense of nationhood in the minds of every Ibibio son and daughter. It will also enlighten Nigerians that propagating a prosperous future is rooted in the culture of self-knowledge and preservation,” he said.

“…topics of the last 100 years of Ibibio history that are relevant to today include Resource Control, Women’s War of 1929, Civil War etc. These are dealt with in detail as it relates to the involvement of key Ibibio men and women,” Abasiekong further added.

Mysterious Topics Treated

There are hot constructs that this author handles so plainly. Issues such as name identity, ancestral worship, invasion by the Church, taboos and totems are among some. Abasiekong added that this book does explain famous but mysterious topics like the issue of twins genocide. He said these to whet the appetite of expectant audience. Expectedly, such details will reveal a new angle to the world renown story of 20th Century Scottish missionary, Mary Mitchell Slessor and her work.

From the briefing, some reactions expect this book to provide much needed credible knowledge on the Ibibio history and culture.

‘Ibibio Nation: History and Culture’ is sure to provide solid resource for scholars and curious readers alike. The aim of the author was to properly situate the Ibibio story and its use in the Nigerian project of nation building.

To join the waitlist for the book, please click here.

Watch a brief video of the briefing here.

Key phrase: Ibibio History book by Oto-Obong Uwah.

There are fascinating God-made places in Akwa Ibom you should aim to visit. And they are, oh so luscious, oh so undiscovered. From the hills and rivers of Itu to the hidden blue rivers of rural Ibesikpo and Ukanafun parts, Akwa Ibom is a discovery to probe.

Rolling Hills of Itu

Itu and its neighbouring Ibiono local government areas are replete with wavy God-made landscape. This part of Akwa Ibom State is the highest altitude at an average of 2m above sea level. The hills of Itu and Ibiono are in some places steep and others gently sloping. Visit Itu, but watch the slopes. It is one of the fascinating God-made places you must investigate in Akwa Ibom.

Oron River Bank behind Maritime Academy

Everyone rushes to the popular Oron fishing port where boats come from Cameroun and neighbouring states to Akwa Ibom State. But behind Maritime Academy, through an obscure road, is a breathtaking sight – a steep gully formed by the mighty Cross River hugging long stretches of shoreline. Visitors who dare to approach the river through this path will suddenly happen on a terrific gaping valley intervening between modern life and the sprawling river.

Ukanafun blue river

Until today, photos of the Ukanafun Blue river are non-existent. Not even tourism authorities have pictures of the location, yet it is there as confirmed by dare-devil adventure seekers. To get there, one would need to probe through either Ukanafun or Etim Ekpo, negotiating your way through some times hostile clans and villages. Alternatively, one may view the blue river from the air by flying a drone or a chopper along the Iwukem-Azumini river into mainland Ukanafun.

The Torquoise Ibesikpo river

Unknown to many Akwa Ibom people, there is more than one blue river. Somewhere inside Ibesikpo has been a river whose colour is resplendent turquoise. It flows through more than 4 villages in Ibesikpo with the bluish colour. As if the colours were were avoiding urban parts, the turquoise parts restrict itself only to the remotest parts.

See a video of the Ibesikpo river on Akwa Ibom Estates/YouTube, here

Island Beaches, Undiscovered and Undisturbed

Not only is mainland Akwa Ibom blessed with Nigeria’s longest beaches, the state has more than 38 undisturbed islands according to state owned TV station, AKBC(2020), with so many others undiscovered. Because of this, among states in West Africa, Akwa Ibom State has one of the longest stretches of sea-sand beaches.

There are more God-made locations in this blessed state occupied by Ibibios of Nigeria and their related ethnic brothers. To understand the depths of Ibibio culture, get the book; “‘Ibibio Nation: History and Culture”, click here to order a copy.

Keyphrase: 5 Fascinating God-made places in Akwa Ibom