Ibom Heritage

Ekpo Society – Types and Arms | Part 3 | Ibom Heritage

Ekpo society is a large one characterized by many arms. It is even safe to consider them as different types although they are all ‘Ekpo’. We had published other articles on the Ekpo society. Please click here and here.

Ekpo nyòhó

Costumed in a manner to scare women and children once they were seen, Ekpo nyòhó is mainly found deep in the core Ibibio area of Uyo -Ibesikpo – Nsit Ubium – Etinan axis. When the masquerade appears, it is dressed in black furry raffia that gives it a round amorphous shape. With a terrifying face, a sharp machete in hand and some green symbolic leaves, this masquerade is a handful.
This arm was responsible for orderliness and made sure that laws made were carried out on all administrative levels in Ibibio Land.

Ekpo Ndòk

Ibibio people considered this particular Ekpo as the actual ghost. It came out at night and majorly to penalize crimes committed in secrecy. It was considered to be fair and impartial, and hovered around the community unseen.

Ekpo Eko’on

This arm of the Ekpo society had its operations between June and August yearly and was known for bringing calm on the community. Whenever Ekpo Eko’on was out, the community will be quiet as everyone will be on automatic holidays.

Traders were not required to come late from their businesses, nor farmers to return late from their farms. In riverine areas, the same rule applied to fishermen. And then in colonial days when the civil service was birthed, workers knew better than to be found outdoors when the Ekpo was out.

Eka Ekpo

This was considered the mother of the Ekpo masquerade. It had a lot of respect accorded it. Before it emerged for a march, a display, a timeout for whatever purpose, every member of the community was informed. In some communities, you may be allowed to view it from your homes. In others, no one was to see it but the initiates.

Ekpo ntok-ayen

This was the teen Ekpo, worn by young people. It was strictly for entertainment and could be on display at any time or season, but especially during yuletide when travelers returned home to spend time with family. Its costume is usually of white painted raffia and the mask would be friendly, handsome, playful, anything but scary.

Get the book ‘Ibibio Nation: History & Culture’ by Oto-Obong Uwah via this link.

Written by Brownson Nseime, from Jabborro PR

Keywords: Ekpo society types, arms | classes | Ibibio

Ekpo society types and arms
Facebook-f Twitter Youtube Linkedin-in Pinterest Instagram

Address: Office 217, Ibom e-Library Complex, IBB Avenue, Uyo

Oto-Obong Uwah

Oto-Obong Uwah

Oto-Obong Aniefiok Uwah is the author of Ibibio Nation: History and Culture. He represents the new generation of Philosopher-Kings who believe in the unfailing strength of the human capacity to change every contrary situation. A highly motivated individual, he also plies his social trade in public speaking, coaching and mentoring.

He holds a BSC in Accounting from the University of Uyo and an MSC in International Accounting & Finance from the University of Liverpool. In his career, spanning over 19 years as an accountant and budget/cost analyst in the public and private sectors, he has developed a robust aptitude for analytical reviews and cost management towards efficient project delivery; having practiced as a Trainee Accountant with the Federal Civil Service and Cost Controller in the Oil & Gas Sector.

In actualizing various roles within this professional context, he built capacity and mentored other professionals in those roles. Currently an HR Compensation and Benefits professional, Oto-Obong has used his experience as an active labour unionist to push reforms that have led to a fairer welfare and compensation structure within the workplace.

Currently an HR Compensation and Benefits professional, Oto-Obong has used his experience as an active labour unionist to push reforms that have led to a fairer welfare and compensation structure within the workplace.

Oto-Obong Uwah is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He is widely trained on both local and international platforms, enhancing his professional capacity towards improved service delivery.

 

He is a poet, writer, political scientist, public commentator, sports enthusiast, and an accomplished humanist. His latest foray as a humanist is in the field of anthropology and heritage studies, committed to the propagation of the Nigerian cultural heritage.   

Oto-Obong Uwah is of the Pentecostal section of the Christian community, happily married and blessed with three beautiful daughters. As a philanthropist, he has teamed up with his beloved wife to sponsor scores of indigent Nigerians through various levels of education. He is a very sociable person and an astute networker, easily found in the company of smart and intelligent people.

His life’s dream is the consistent improvement of humanity and the continued development of the social eco-system to make for a more fulfilling life for all. Driven by this mantra, he set out in 2015, to document the history of his Atan Offot Community in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. What started as a clan-centered ambition to document the history of a small community created the pathway to a more expansive research that evolved to produce the book shared with the public today. Thus, Ibibio Nation: History and Culture is one of his modest contributions to the current global interest in the history and sociology of ethnic minorities.