|
Tribe Snapshots Eket |
| Location: |
Southeastern Nigeria |
| Population: |
1 million |
| Language: |
Eket (Bantu) |
| Neighboring
Peoples: |
Igbo, Idoma, 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 often very detailed, and artists
are just as likely to capture beauty as they are
the hideous forms of evil spirits. |
| History: |
The Eket are really a subgroup of the Ibibio,
and their history is best described in that context.
The Ibibio have lived in the Cross River area
of modern day Nigeria for several hundreds of
years, and though 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 were very resistant
to 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 incorporate Ibibio Ekpo traditions in order
to impose indirect rule in the region. |
| Economy: |
The main economic staple in the region is the
oil palm, 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 trees for their own use and, with the
profits they earn, ensure 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 foster 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 Ekpo Ndem Isong,
a group of village elders, 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 limits, 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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