The Facinating Facts About The Ibibio People
The
Ibibio, one of the earliest inhabitants of southeastern region of Nigeria is
undoubtedly the fourth largest ethnic group with over 6,509,000 population.
they are found in Akwa ibom, Cross River and eastern part of Abia state.
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| Ibibio Dance |
Early History
The
Earliest Ibibio people in Nigeria were said to have come from the lineage of
the Afaha clan whose original home was Usak Edet in the Cameroon. After the
people first arrived in Nigeria, they settled in a place called Ibom, which was
founded and named by their forefather who also bears the name.
They
lived there for a very long time. As a result of clashes with the Igbo tribe,
they left Ibom Kingdom and moved southward. The Ibibio first settled in Ikono
from where they dispersed to further places becoming the aboriginal people of
the present Ibibio lands.
Demographic
The
Ibibio are found in the coastal region in south south and
southeastern part of Nigeria. they are further divided into the following six
ethnic groups : Riverain (Efik), Northern (Enyong), Southern, (Eket), Delta
(Andoni-Ibeno), Western (Anang), and Eastern (Ibibio proper).
These main groups are further divided into subgroups that are identifiable by geographical location.
Cultural And Linguistic Relationship
All
the Ibibio people have similarities in personal names, culture, cuisines, and
tradition. And also speak closely related dialect. The Efik-Ibibio being the
best known dialect, was established as the literary language of the Ibibio.
The
dialectal differences among the various Ibibio tribe can be attributed largely
to the long period of terrestrial isolation with reduced interaction resulting
to the formation of difference in the language.
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| Typical Ibibio Women Attire |
Religious Believe And Practices
THE
Ibibio people practice two religion; Christian and traditional religion.
Although
the Ibibio traditional religious rituals concern several deities, they also believe
in a supreme being “Abassi” which translates to the “god of sky”. They do not
assign any priesthood or cult in regard to the worship of this supreme being.
They also believed the supreme being to be the creator of human beings.
Worship
of the ancestor is a very important part of the Ibibio culture. Rituals and
sacrifices are usually made in the
ancestral shrine, which is kept at the house of the eldest member of the
lineage group. Disgruntled ancestors may wander among the living, causing harm
until the ceremony of Obio Ekpo ("world of the dead") is performed so
that the spirit can enter the world of the dead.
The
Ibibio have a concept of good (eti ) and evil/bad (idiok). A person
has two souls, the immortal soul (ukpong ) and the animal-linked soul
(ukpong ikot), which can live in lions, leopards, bush pigs, antelopes,
and pythons. The latter also dies at death, whereas the former is reincarnated
or becomes a malevolent ghost troubling the living.
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| Ibibio Idol |
Traditional Food Of The Ibibio
The
Ibibio are widely known for having one
of the best delicacies in the south. Here are some of the signature dishes
originated from them;
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| Ibibio Food |
Ekpang Nkukwo
This cocoyam porridge is a luxury dish of the people of Efik-Ibibio origin. The time and the quantity of ingredients devoted to the preparation of this food stamps it a special dish. Ekpang Nkukwo is paraded with ingredients like cocoyam, water yam, cocoyam leaves, periwinkles, dry fish, crayfish, palm oil, and pepper. This food is prepared for traditional weddings, baby christening, and other cultural festivals.
Afiaefere
This
kingly delicacy is the Efik-Ibibio version of white soup. It is the toast of
traditional ceremonies. There are two major types of afiaefere; afiaefereebot
(goat meat afiaefere) and afiaefereunen (chicken afiaefere) -afiaefereebot is
commonly served at traditional events. Aiden fruits, calabash nutmeg, and negro
pepper are some of the native spices for preparing this soup. It is best served
with pounded yam.
Afang Soup
This
soup is made with shredded afang leaves and water leaves. This soup is as
nutritious as it is medicinal. Afang soup gets its thickness from the bulk of
vegetables used in preparing it.
Idikangikong
Idikangikong
is prepared with a combination of
pumpkin and water leaves, assorted sea food, fish, and meat. This soup is best
served with fufu or eba.
Traditional Marriage Of The Ibibio
The
Ibibio Traditional marriage have alot of similarities with the Igbos; starting
from the groom scheduling a day for his first visit, to the formal declaration of intentions, to
the introduction ceremony where the marriage list will be presented to the
groom and his family, and finally to the traditional wedding ceremony.
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| Ibibio Couple |
The
wedding event kicks start with beautiful meals presented neatly for the guests.
The spokesman at the event introduces each meal and explains to the guests that
the daughter to be married can prepare every single meal mentioned and
presented. AkwaIbom people pride themselves with their ability to cook well and
cook different varieties of food. The food presented could vary from appetizers
to proper meals such as, Cassava chips and coconut {Edi ta iwa}, Roast corn and
pear, Roast plantain and palm oil, Palm kernel and garri, Afang soup, Edi tan
soup, Edi kangikong soup, Atama soup, Ekpannkukwo and loads more.
When
the guest are done feasting, they’ll be ushered to the main wedding venue for the
rest of the marriage event.
The marriage lists are usually presented days before the wedding ceremony to ensure that everything requested on the list has been provided.
The Festival
Celebrated By The Ibibio
Traditional events of
the Efik-Ibibio are usually colourful. They often display their beautiful and
unique cultural heritage during such events. People from around the world
usually flood over to witness such fascinating festive scenes.
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| Ibibio Masquerade |
Among these festivals:
· are the new yam festival of harvest of the Ibiono and Ikono people. It is a clan communion and group solidarity, a re-affirmation of traditional authority and social order, accompanied by the awesome appearance of masked ancestral spirits. The new yam festival also called Usoro Usuuk Udia is usually celebrated in the month of june, and September.
·
Usoro Iyak is a fishing festival
usually celebrated by the riverine communities. This festival takes place
during the month of November and December.
·
Usoro Idiong, a festival of
traditional medicine men and diviners usually celebrated in the month of
August.
·
The Usoro Isong Inyang, the water
regatta festival is associated with fishermen, to celebrate the dexterity of
canoe men in their occupation. It is a festival to display mastery of the art
of sea faring and warfare as a result of the nature of the terrain.
· Ikot Eyo is an ancient annual festival of animated puppet displays. This communal festival is meant to celebrate important traditional events such as rites-of-passage, initiations and coronations that take place all through the year at village and town playgrounds.
Commercial Activities
Agricultural Activities
Most
of Ibibio wealth comes from the exportation of palm oil products, distributing
their oil produce to other states in Nigeria.
The
Ibibio primarily cultivate yams, cassava and taro. They also cultivate other
food crops like plantain, chillies, maize, beans, and pumpkin.
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| Typical Ibibio Male Attire |
Industrial Arts
The
Ibibio are renowned for their skills in wood carving. Weaving is also a common
practice usually done by the youths while the women indulge in the art of mat
making.
Trade
The Efik are well known in trading of palm oil and fish farming in a considerably large scale.
Division Of Farm Labour
Just
like many tribes who cultivate yam, yam is also considered as the king of crops
of the men. Men do must of the clearing, planting and harvesting of the yams
while women weed, plant and tent to other crops. They also collect the
harvested yams into baskets and carry them to the market for sale.
In collecting the produce from palm trees, men generally do the climbing, and the women collect and carry the fruit to the market. The extracting and processing of palm karnel is usually done by women, who retain the palm kernels. Also, raffia palms may be tended by men, but are usually owned by women, and are used to make wine, mats, and poles.
