|
Tribe Snapshots Ibibio |
| Location: |
Southeastern Nigeria |
| Population: |
1 million |
| Language: |
Ibibio (Kwa) |
| Neighboring
Peoples: |
Igbo, Ijo, Idoma, Igala, Bangwa |
| Types
of Art: |
The masks and accouterments of the Ekpo society
make up the greatest works of art in Ibibio society.
Drumming and music are also important elements
in Ekpo ceremonies. The wooden sculpture from
this area is also very detailed, and artists are
just as likely to capture beauty as they are the
hideous forms of evil spirits. |
| History: |
The Ibibio have lived in the Cross River area
of modern day Nigeria for several hundred years,
and while written information about them only
exists in colonial records from the late 1800s
on, oral traditions have them in the region much
earlier than this. The Ibibio actively resisted
colonial invasions, and it was not until after
the end of World War I that the British were able
to gain a strong foothold in the region. Even
at this time, however, the British found it necessary
to make use of Ibibio Ekpo society traditions
in order to impose indirect rule in the region. |
| Economy: |
The main economic staple in the region is the
palm tree, the oil of which is extracted and sold
to external markets. Among the Ibibio, those of
the highest rank in the Ekpo society, Amama, often
control the majority of the community wealth.
The Amama often appropriate hundreds of acres
of palm tree for their own use and ensure with
the profits they earn that their sons achieve
comparable rank, effectively limiting access to
economic gain for most members of the community.
The Ekpo society requires that its initiates sponsor
feasts for the town, which fosters the appearance
of the redistribution of wealth by providing the
poor with food and drink. In effect, this allows
the disparity in wealth to be perpetuated in Ibibio
society. |
| Political
Systems: |
Individual villages are ruled by a group of
village elders (Ekpo Ndem Isong) and the heads
of extended families. Their decisions are enforced
by members of the Ekpo society who act as messengers
of the ancestors (ikan). Ekpo members are always
masked when performing their policing duties,
and although their identities are almost always
known, fear of retribution from the ancestors
prevents most people from accusing those members
who overstep their social boundaries, effectively
committing police brutality. Membership is open
to all Ibibio males, but one must have access
to wealth to move into the politically influential
grades. |
| Religion: |
Ibibio religion is based on paying tribute to
the village ancestors. Failing to appease these
ancestors will result in the wrath of the Ekpo
society. The most important ancestors are those
who achieved high rank while living, usually the
house heads. They may control the fortunes of
the descendants and are free to afflict those
who fail to make the proper offering or those
who fail to observe kinship norms. Ala is the
earth deity and is appeased through Ogbom ceremony,
which is believed to make children plentiful and
to increase the harvest. It is performed in the
middle of the year, every eighth day for eight
weeks by each section of the village in turn. |
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