Calabar Kingdom

^{Geography and economy
The peninsula lies roughly between latitudes 4°25' and 5°10'N and longitudes 8°20' and 9°08'E . It consists of a number of low-lying, largely mangrove covered islands covering an area of around 665 km²(257 sq; mi). The population of Bakassi is the subject of some dispute, but is generally put at between 150,000 and 300,000 people.
Bakassi is situated at the extreme eastern end of the Gulf of Guinea, where the warm east-flowing Guinea Current (called Aya Efiat in Efik) meets the cold north-flowing Benguela Current (called Aya Ubenekang in Efik). These two great ocean currents interact creating huge foamy breakers which constantly advance towards the shore, and building submarine shoals rich in fish, shrimps, and an amazing variety of other marine life forms. This makes the Bakassi area a very fertile fishing ground, comparable only to Newfoundland in North America andScandinavia in Western Europe. Most of the population make their living through fishing.
The peninsula is commonly described as "oil-rich", though in fact no commercially viable deposits of oil have yet been discovered. However, the area has aroused considerable interest from oil companies in the light of the discovery of rich reserves of high grade crude oil elsewhere in Nigeria. At least eight multinational oil companies have participated in the exploration of the peninsula and its offshore waters.
[edit]History
A kingdom was founded in Bakassi around 1450 by the Efik of coastal southeastern Nigeria, and was incorporated within the political framework of Calabar Kingdom along with Southern Cameroons. During the European scramble for Africa, Queen Victoria signed a Treaty of Protection with the King and Chiefs of Calabar on 10 September 1884. This enabled the United Kingdom to exercise control over the entire territory of Calabar, including Bakassi. The territory subsequently became de facto part of the republic of Nigeria, although the border was never permanently delineated. However, documents released by the Cameroonian, in parity with that of the British and Germans, clearly places Bakassi under Cameroonian Territory as consequence of colonial era Anglo-German agreements. Interestingly, even after Southern Cameroons voted in 1961 to leave Nigeria and became a part of Cameroon, Bakassi remained under Calabar administration in Nigeria until ICJ judgement of 2002.^[4]
[edit]Bakassi People
Bakassi people are mainly the Calabar people, the people of Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, including the Efut, Efik,Ibibio, Annang, etc.
[edit]Political status
Bakassi is currently administered by Cameroon after the end of Nigerian control.
[edit]Territorial dispute
Nigeria and Cameroon have disputed the possession of Bakassi for some years, leading to considerable tension between the two countries. In 1981 the two countries went to the brink of war over Bakassi and another area around Lake Chad, at the other end of the two countries' common border. More armed clashes broke out in the early 1990s. In response, Cameroon took the matter to the International Court of Justice on 29 March 1994.^[5]
The case was extremely complex, requiring the court to review diplomatic exchanges dating back over 100 years. Nigeria relied largely on Anglo-German correspondence dating from 1885 as well as treaties between the colonial powers and the indigenous rulers in the area, particularly the 1884 Treaty of Protection. Cameroon pointed to the Anglo-German treaty of 1913, which defined spheres of control in the region, as well as two agreements signed in the 1970s between Cameroon and Nigeria. These were the Yaoundé II Declaration of 4 April 1971 and the Maroua Declaration of 1 June 1975, which were devised to outline maritime boundaries between the two countries following their independence. The line was drawn through the Cross River estuary to the west of the peninsula, thereby implying Cameroonian ownership over Bakassi. However, Nigeria never ratified the agreement, while Cameroon regarded it as being in force.
[edit]ICJ verdict
The ICJ delivered its judgment on 10 October 2002, finding (based principally on the Anglo-German agreements) that sovereignty over Bakassi did indeed rest with Cameroon. It instructed Nigeria to transfer possession of the peninsula, but did not require the inhabitants to move or to change their nationality. Cameroon was thus given a substantial Nigerian population and was required to protect their rights, infrastructure and welfare.^[6]
The verdict caused consternation in Nigeria. It aroused vitriolic comments from Nigerian officials and the Nigerian media alike. Chief Richard Akinjide, a former Nigerian Attorney-General and Minister of Justice who had been a leading member of Nigeria's legal team, described the decision as "50% international law and 50% international politics", "blatantly biased and unfair", "a total disaster", and a "complete fraud". The Nigerian newspaper The Guardian went further, declaring that the judgment was "a rape and unforeseen potential international conspiracy against Nigerian territorial integrity and sovereignty" and "part of a Western ploy to foment and perpetuate trouble in Africa". The outcome of the controversy was a de facto Nigerian refusal to withdraw militarily from Bakassi and transfer sovereignty. The Nigerian government did not, however, openly reject the judgment but instead called for an agreement that would provide "peace with honour, with the interest and welfare of our people."^[7]
The ICJ judgment was backed up by the United Nations, whose charter potentially allowed sanctions or even the use of force to enforce the court's ruling. Secretary-General Kofi Annan stepped in as a mediator and chaired a tripartite summit with the two countries' presidents on 15 November 2002, which established a commission to facilitate the peaceful implementation of the ICJ's judgement. A further summit was held on 31 January 2004. This has made significant progress, but the process has been complicated by the opposition of Bakassi's inhabitants to being transferred to Cameroon.^[8]
Bakassian leaders threatened to seek independence if Nigeria renounced sovereignty. This secession was announced on 9 July 2006, as the "Democratic Republic of Bakassi". The decision was reportedly made at a meeting on 2 July 2006 and The Vanguard newspaper of Nigeria reported the decision to secede. The decision was reportedly made by groups of militants including Southern Cameroons under the aegis ofSouthern Cameroons Peoples Organisation (SCAPO), Bakassi Movement for Self-Determination (BAMOSD), and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).^[9]
[edit]Resolution
On 13 June 2006, President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and President Paul Biya of Cameroon resolved the dispute in talks led by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York City. Obasanjo agreed to withdraw Nigerian troops within 60 days and to leave the territory completely in Cameroonian control within the next two years. Annan said, "With today's agreement on the Bakassi peninsula, a comprehensive resolution of the dispute is within our grasp. The momentum achieved must be sustained."^[10]
[edit]Withdrawal
Nigeria began to withdraw its military, comprising some 3000 troops, beginning 1 August 2006, and a ceremony on 14 August marked the formal handover of the northern part of the peninsula. The remainder will stay under Nigerian civil authority for two more years.^[11]
The Nigerian Senate ruled on November 22, 2007 that the hand over of Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon is illegal. The federal government is yet to take action. The government handed the final parts of Bakassi over to Cameroon on 14 August 2008 as planned, but a court had stated this should be delayed until all accommodations for resettled Bakassians had been settled; the government did not seem to plan to heed this court order,^[12] and did set the necessary mechanisms into motion to override it. Fishermen displaced from Bakassi had been settled in a landlocked area called New Bakassi, which they claim is already inhabited and not suitable for fishermen like them but only for farmers.^[13]
Ibibio
Ibibio people (also known as Moco or Moko during slavery) are an ethnic group in southeasternNigeria. They are closely related to the Anaang and the Efik peoples. "Ibibio" may also refer to those who speak the Ibibio language. Ibibio was an ancient state in the old Calabar Kingdom. During colonial period in Nigeria, the Ibibio Union was formed asking for recognition by the British as a sovereign state (Noah, 1988)
Geography
The Ibibio people are found predominately in Akwa Ibom state and is made up of the related Anaang community, the Ibibio community and the Eket and Oron Communities, although other groups usually understand the Ibibio language. Because of the larger population of the Ibibio people, they hold political control over Akwa-Ibom State, but government is shared with the Anaangs, Eket and Oron. The political system follows the traditional method of consensus. Even though elections are held, practically, the political leaders are pre-discussed in a manner that is benefiting to all.
[edit]Location of Ibibio Land
The Ibibio people are located in Southeastern Nigeria also known as Coastal Southeastern Nigeria. Prior to the existence of Nigeria as a Nation, the Ibibio people were self-governed (a nation) (See Calabar Kingdom). The Ibibio people became a part of the Eastern Nigeria of Nigeria under British colonial rule. During the Nigerian Civil War, the Eastern region was split into three states. Southeastern State of Nigeriawas where the Ibibio were located, one of the original twelve states of Nigeria) after Nigerian independence. The Efik, Anaang, Oron, Eket and their brothers and sisters of the Ogoja District, were also in the Southeastern State. The state (Southeastern State) was later partitioned into two states (Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State).
[edit]History
[edit]Origin
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. With common ancestors, the Ibibio also include the Annang,Efik,Oron,Eket and Ibeno with combined population of over ten million.
"Ibio-ibio" means short or brief and doesn't have anything to do with height of the Ibibios. The name was given due the ibibios brief way of doing things. There are many areas in Ibibio land that have their dialectical differences. In some places family is called ekwere, "Ikot" andekpuk in other areas. Goat is called ibut in Eastern Ibibio Ikono (present day Ikono Local Government Area) but called ebut in others. Head is pronounced iwud in some areas but called ibuot in others. Road is called okpo-di-ghe and usung in other places.In Ibeno House is called "ulok" and while it is called "ufok" by some other Ibibio groups. The name "Ikot" often replaces "the house of... or the people of", referring to their origin or ancesstors. Another meaning for Ikot in Ibibio land is bush.
[edit]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.
[edit]Political System
While "kingship" and chieftaincy among the Ibibio are modern creations (introduced during colonialism), traditionally Ibibio society consists of villages and towns ruled by a group of elders (Ekpo Ndem Isong) and the heads of extended families. Their decisions are enforced by members of the Ekpe 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.
[edit]Religion
[edit]Pre-Colonial Era
Ibibio religion is based on paying tribute to the village ancestors. Failing to appease these ancestors will result in the wrath of the Ekposociety. 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.
[edit]Colonial and Post-Colonial Era
The Ibibios were introduced to Christianity through the work of early missionaries in the 19th century. Samuel Bill started his work at Ibeno. He established the Qua Iboe Church which later spread places in the middle belt of Nigeria. The Methodist Church, the Roman Catholic little boy church, and Presbyterian Church rode into the Ibibio hinterland. Later, day churches were also introduced, for e.g. The Apostolic church, Independent churches, like Deeper Life Bible Church, came into the area in the second part of the 20th century. Today Ibibio people are predominately Christian area.
The Ibibio practiced the killing of twins before it was abolished during the colonial era, with help of missionary Mary Slessor. It was common practice for twin babies to be taken to their community's local evil forest and left to die as it was a taboo for twins to be born. This belief corresponds with the same taboo that has been previously found with the Igbo people.
[edit]Written Language of Ibibio People
The official language of Ibibio people is the Ibibio-Efik Language (or Ibibio-Efik Language). Various dialects of their language include Anaang,Efik, Ibibio, Oron, Eket (also known as Ekid).
[edit]Art
The masks and accouterments of the Ekpe society make up the greatest works of art in Ibibio society. Drumming and music are also important elements in Ekpe 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.
Ikom
Ikom is a Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Ikom in the east of the area on the Cross River and the A4 highway at5°57′40″N8°42′39″E.
It has an area of 1,961 km² and a population of 162,383 at the 2006 census.
The postal code of the area is 551^[1]
Opobo
Opobo is an area in southern Nigeria. It did not exist as such until 1870. From pre-historic time, what become known as Opobo was formerly known as Ikot Abasi which was one of the communities (states) in the old Calabar Province ^[1]. It was and still is a coastal community (a mangrove swamp). Next to it was Bonny. In Bonny was an Igbo slave called Jubo Jubogha who had formed and led the Anna Pepple house of Bonny. In 1870, Jubo Jubogha (Jaja of Opobo) arrived in Opobo from Bonny. He overpowered the indigenes and formed what he called "Kingdom of Opobo" which he named for Opobo the Great, a Pepple King in Bonny that reigned from 1792 to 1830.
History
Even after the name change, Opobo (now Ikot Abasi)was still in Calabar Division. Jubo Jubogha became involved in oil-palm trading with European (a major trading activity of Calabar Division people, and Kings of Calabar Kingdom). He started a trading post at Opobo Town, close to Opobo (now Ikot Abasi) 4 miles southwest of the Opobo River. The European traders called him King Jaja. Jubo Jubogha (King Jaja) was never in good term with Kings of old Calabar Division (Kings of Calabar Kingdom), especially the Annang, and the Ibibio as Jaja declared himself as the middle-man in palm Oil trading, thus asking merchants from the mainland states of old Calabar Kingdom, especially merchants from Annang, Eket, Ibibio, and Opobo (now Ikot Abasi) to stop trading directly with the European. This resulted in a war (Ikot Udo Obong War) between Jaja and the Annang and Ibuno people of Calabar Kingdom as recorded by Nair ^[2]. In 1887, he was deceived when he was told to go and negotiate with the Queen of England by the British (with the help of Annang people and sent on exile to Saint Vincent in the West Indies (Annang heritage article).
Opobo now (Ikot Abasi) remained under Calabar and became part of Ibibio Union formed by Annang and Ibibio Of Calabar Kingdom. According to Noah^[3], the Colonial native courts in Ibibioland included one at Opobo (now Ikot Abasi) that served the following areas: Andoni, Opobo Town, Essene, Ukam, Ekparakwa, Annang, Soo, and Kono. Opobo continued to be a part of Calabar area into the time Calabar Kingdom became Southeastern State (State name of the old Calabar Kingdom in Nigeria as of 1967).
Ikot Abasi Map — Satellite Images of Ikot Abasi original name: Ikot Abasi geographical location: Eket, Akwalbom, Nigeria, Africa geographical coordinates: 4° 41' 0" North, 7° 55' 0" East http://www.maplandia.com/nigeria/akwalbom/eket/ikot-abasi/
[edit]Ikot Abasi Today
Current news and events
Main article: Ikot Abasi People
Pictures of Ikot Abasi http://www.picsearch.com/pictures/travel/cities/africa/west-central%20africa/nigeria/cities%20a-l/ikot%20abasi.html
Nigerians have the patience that Americans lack –President, American Varsity, Yola http://www.aksgonline.com/articlePage.aspx?qrID=592
Ekoi people
Ekoi people, also known as Ejagham, are an ethnic group in the extreme southeast of Nigeriaand extending eastward into Northern Cameroon. Ekoid Bantu languages are spoken by many groups, including the Atam, Boki, Mbembe, Ufia, and Yako. The Ekoi are related to the Efik,Annang and Ibibio people of southeastern Nigeria and have lived closely with them and also claim to have migrated from the Cameroon's to their area. The inhabitants of Kwa, located nearCalabar, claim to be the first Ekoi people to have migrated from the Cameroon's. The Ekoi are best known for their Ekpe headdresses.^[2]
^{Geography
The Ekoi in Nigeria are found in Cross River State. The Ekoid languages are spoken around this area, although English (the national language) is also spoken.
[edit]Origin
The Ekoi believe that the heirs of the first settlers of their present settlement own the land; while newcomers are not allowed to buy land, they are able to purchase rights of settlement. Ekoi men have traditionally hunted, while women have engaged in agriculture, raising yams, plantains, and corn (maize). Women also fish, and both men and women participate in weaving.
[edit]Rulers
Ekoi towns are ruled by councils of elders, but townspeople are free to attend meetings. Native courts that were instituted under British administration provide an appeals system outside of the decision making by the elders. Representatives from various towns sit on the courts.^[2]
[edit]Ekoi mythology
Main article: Ekoi mythology
The primary traditional Ekoi deities are Obassi Osaw, the sky god, and Obassi Nsi, the earth god, similar to the Efik. Ancestors and natural forces are also emphasized in Ekoi worship. Various Ekoi cults are devoted to the welfare of common activities, such as farming. Before the establishment of British colonial administration, the egbo was a prominent Ekoi secret society that had strong social regulatory functions as well as influence in religious matters. Members of the egbo used a form of ideographic writing called nsibidi, variations of which were formerly found among other ethnic groups in southeastern Nigeria.
[edit]Ekoi Language
The Ekoi (Ejagham) is one of the Ekoid languages. These have similarities with the Ibibio language. For example, God is known as Abasi in Ibibio and Obasi in Ekoi.
Ekpe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nsibidi symbols
Ekpe, also known as Egbo (Ibibio: Leopard), is a secret society flourishing chiefly among theEfiks of the Cross River State, the Oron, the Ibibio, the Annang of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, as well as Nigerians Efik/Ibibio/Oron/Annang in the diaspora, such as in Cuba. The society is still active at the beginning of the 21st century, allegedly only playing a ceremonial role. There are two distinct but related societies, the primary one in the Cross River and Akwa Ibom areas, and the secondary one among the Igbo in the southern Ngwa and Ndoki areas. Members of the Ekpe invented Nsibidi, a script. Ekpe is not the same thing as Ekpo, or Ekong, which are other societies in the Cross River basin, especially in Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State, Annangdo not practice Ekpe.
Ekpe (Egbo)
Ekpe Ekoi skin covered head dress
Egbo or Ekpe is a mysterious spirit who is supposed to live in the jungle and to preside at the ceremonies of the society. Members of the Ekpe society are said to act as messengers of the ancestors (ikan). The economics of the society is based on paying tribute to the village ancestors. Only males can join, boys being initiated about the age of puberty. Members are bound by oath of secrecy, and fees on entrance are payable. The Ekpe-men are ranked in seven or nine grades, for promotion to each of which fresh initiation ceremonies, fees and oaths are necessary. The society combines a kind of freemasonry with political and lawenforcing aims. For instance any member wronged in an Ekpe district, that is one dominated by the society, has only to address an Ekpe-man or beat the Ekpe drum in the Ekpe-house, or blow Ekpe as it is called, i.e. sound the Ekpe horn, before the hut of the wrong-doer, and the whole machinery of the society is put in force to see justice done. Ekpe members always wear masks when performing their police duties, and although individuals may nonetheless be recognized, fear of retribution from the ikan stops people from accusing those members who may overstep their limits. Formerly the society earned a bad reputation due to what the British viewed as the barbarous customs that were intermingled with its rites. Nonetheless, the British authorities, prior to 1960, made use of the society in enforcing order and in helping the acceptance of European technology and techniques, such assanitation.
[edit]Amama
Social importance is attached to the highest ranks of Ekpe-men, called Amama. At least in the past, very large sums, sometimes more than a thousand pounds, were paid to attain these upper levels. The trade-off is that the 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, which has the effect of limiting access to economic gain for other members of the community. The Ekpe 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.
[edit]Art and ceremonies
The Ekpe-house, an oblong building like the nave of a church, usually stands in the middle of the villages. The walls are of clay elaborately painted inside and ornamented with clay figures in relief. Inside are wooden images to which reverence is paid.
At Ekpe festivals masked dancers perform. Some of the older masks show horns and filed teeth. Non initiates and women are not allowed to come in contact with the masked dancers.
[edit]Ekpe in other places
[edit]Abakuá
Main article: Abakua
Abakua or Abakuá (various spellings are used) is an Afro-Cuban men's initiatory fraternity, or secret society, which originated from the Ekpe/Egbo society in the Cross River region of southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon.
[edit]Igbo people
Certain parts of Igbo land have adopted the Ekpe society, such as communities of Umuahia town in Abia state. Ekpe has also existed in places such as Umuahia as the secret society Okonko, which carries out similar practices as the Ekpe society. This includes upholding laws and occasionally holding ceremonies that include masquerades. ^{[citation needed]}
400 x 241   33 kb
550 x 638   162 kb
500 x 484   60 kb
2080 x 1544   715 kb
250 x 290   39 kb
448 x 336   97 kb
300 x 197   26 kb
147 x 91   13 kb
600 x 251   45 kb
610 x 207   51 kb
600 x 407   21 kb
2080 x 1544   739 kb
96 x 36   1 kb
120 x 80   4 kb
615 x 250   68 kb
44 x 66   1 kb
42 x 66   1 kb
10 x 11   1 kb
320 x 240   19 kb
120 x 80   3 kb}}