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IKOT EKPONG VILLAGE

Ikot Ekpong village (formerly Nto Ekpong) is presently a quashi-village in Adiasim Atai, Adiasim Clan in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Adiasim Atai is located on Latitude 5.09320 and Longitude 7.65150. The Time Zone (TZ) is Africa/Lagos and the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is UTC+1. Ikot Ekpong village surrounded by Ikot Ubom kindred to the North, Ikot Essien Eyen Village to the West, Ikot Ukana Village to the South and Ikot Inyang Village to the East. The population which is about 1,100 people is distributed on about 5,000 square meters of land space and comprises entirely Annang people with negligible foreigners/visitors settling in the village. The day to day spoken dialect of the people is Central Annang with interjections of English Language or Pidgin English. The elites also communicate fluently in English Language among themselves and non Annang speaking people. Some Ikot Ekpong people also speak Ibibio and Efik dialects especially those that have spent reasonable length of time in those enclaves. Although the population has a seeming average distribution of males and females, the village is also experiencing high upsurge of youths and children possibly because of the uncontrolled birth rate. Although not in the same Local Government Area, Ikot Ekpene, Abak and Uyo are the nearest municipal cities to Ikot Ekpong with distances of about 5.5km, 6.0km and 10km respectively.

Like other Annang communities which are both Patriarchal and Semi-Matriarchal in nature (Ette, 2007), the village originated from a Patriarch called 'Ekpong' who was one of the descendants of 'Adia-Esim' or 'Adiasim'.

Although there is no documentary evidence of the family birth position of Ekpong, the name which literary mean Crown strongly suggests that Ekpong may have been the last born in his father, therefore the father named him “Ekpong Ami” meaning My Crown. Historically, children/offspring were named in relation to the circumstances surrounding their conception and birth. Adiasim as one of the major clans of Annang stock played very pivotal role in the history of Annang land, its people and its history. Most of the Annang historical landmarks and deities were and are still located in Adiasim till date. Examples are 'Asaka-Iba Ajop' in Ikot Ekon village, 'Asukam Adiasim' in Ikot Inyang, 'Eka Ulo Ikot Ukana' among others. These landmarks and deities are highly recognized and revered not only in Adiasim, but the entire Annang kingdom till today.

Adiasim is located at Latitude (lat): 5°5'0"N, Longitude (lon): 7°42'0"E with approximate elevation of 80m.

There are several stories connected with the origin of the name 'Adiasim'. Some of the theories about the origin of the name Adiasim include: Firstly, Esim is believed to be the historical father of what is known today as Adiasim. Oral history has it that Esim (which can be literally translated to mean Tail; also meaning Last) was one of the numerous Children of Annang whose birth position was the last. Annang migrated from Isreal through Egypt and Ghana to the present Annang settlement in the now South Eastern Nigeria which a recent political demarcation now named it Akwa Ibom State (Udo, 1983). In traditional Annang society, family properties & belongings were mostly distributed according to birth position in the family. This means that the first son stands the right to have a lion/better share of the family belongings & wealth before consideration is given to the second, third and other sons. Because of his birth position, Esim was always given the last portion; hence his name "Adia Esim" which literally meaning "He that eats the tail" or "He that takes the last" or "He that takes the least". For easy pronunciation, the name metamorphosed to what is known today as ADIASIM.

When 'Esim' reached a marriageable age, he was given a remote portion of land by his brothers to occupy and expand with his own family. Esim had no choice than to settle in the present day ADIASIM. Due to distance and how interior ADIASIM enclave was as at then, it was always difficult for his kith and kin to visit him. There was virtually no economic activity there to attract people then. However, whenever anybody visit Esim, history has it that; he was always very happy and show hospitality by presenting his yams, cocoa-yams, palm fruits, plantains, bananas and other farm products including live livestock to his visitor(s). However, when other people got wind of Adiasim's fertile soil, bountiful harvest and ceaseless hospitality, they trouped there to buy farm produce, livestock and also use the opportunity to trade some goods needed by Esim in form of trade-by-barter (Udondata & Idem-Agozino, 2001). History has it that the point of contact for the exchanges and trade later transformed to a mini-market. As the volume of transactions increased with different people, hamlets, neighboring villages, communities and even visitors, the then mini-market grow and expanded in bounds. It is on record that the place that the said mini-market later metamorphosed to the present day great ABO or OBO Annang Market. ABO or OBO Annang market is undoubtedly, one of the famous and biggest local markets in Annang land and indeed Akwa Ibom state where virtually every good is transacted. The market conspicuously shares the same boundary with Ukana clan and can be accessed through cities like Ikot Ekpene, Abak and Azumini in Abia State of Nigeria. Other clans/villages sorrounding the market are; Ukana Uwa, Ukana Iba, Ukana Ibogho, Nsasak, Ekpenyong Atai, Mkpatak, Afagha Obong, Afagha Esang and others.

The second theory has it that Adiasim was a center in Annang land and no matter where one came from, getting to that center for farming, trading are cultural celebrations gave it the name 'Adia adisime' (meaning where ever you are coming from, you must converge here) and later shortened to Adiasim. Adiasim was the center of many cultural celebrations like Ekpo and Ekong masqurades, Ese, Uta, Abang and Itembe traditional dances. While some are near extinct possibly because of development, education, religion and technology, some of these traditional celebrations could still be found in Adiasim till date.

The third theory has it that, Annang as as semi-matriarchal community before colonialism; Esim had the first and only daughter called 'Adiaha Esim'. This theory posited that it was 'Adiaha Esim' who founded and expanded the community. In Annang today, 'Adia' is a short way of pronouncing ‘Adiaha’ (meaning first daughter). Therefore, her offspring became known as ‘Nto’ or ‘Mbon’ 'Adia-Esim'. ‘Nto’ or ‘Mbon’ mean descendants or offspring. Overtime, the name 'Adiaha Esim' metamorphosed to Adiasim and the village and people simply known as Adiasim (Ette, 2007)

Despite the above historical perspective, what is indisputable is the fact that during the British invasion of 1901 - 1903, Adiasim was the most populous clan in the whole of Africa (Perham, 1933). Because of its central location, the population, economic and commercial activities of Adiasim people, the most populous market in the then South Eastern State of Nigeria evolved from the area. The market which still exists till today was also very popular and saw the Igbos, the Ibibios, the Efiks and the Ijaws buying and selling there. As at then, it was the only market that claimed to represent the whole of Annang, hence the name Abo Annang. This fact, according to Perham 1933, seems to be the common denominator reconciling the above historical perspectives. Adiasim was undoubtedly one of the historical traditional, economic and commercial hubs of Annang people.

The people of Ikot Ekpong village in Adiasim; like other Annang people are very energetic and hardworking due to their traditional occupation of farming and trading. They are also hospitable, caring, loving and find delight in caring for visitors (Udo 2008). However, as a people that that historically survived various external attacks and invasion by neighboring villages, they are also known to display high level of violence in defense of their historical, territorial and traditional boundaries whenever their individual cum collective existence is put under real or potential threat. This may likely account for the reason why it is alleged that Ikot Ekpong people are known for having very sharp machetes as companions in anticipation of attacks. The sword called ‘akankang’ in the olden days, was and is still believed to be one of the most potent weapons with tremendous traditional, spiritual and supernatural powers of Ikot Ekpong.

Traditional Ikot Ekpong people believed in magic, voodoo and traditional incantations. Its potency was highly trusted. However, with coming of pre-colonial Christian missionaries, a lot of people were converted to Christianity. Today, the village is made up of 98% Christians in various Christian denominations. Presently, there area about 10 christian denominations in Ikot Ekpong, prominent of which is African Apostolic Church. Sundays is usually observed as a sacred worship day in Ikot Ekpong.

Oral history has it that the first son of Ekpong was killed through food poisoning by his (Ekpong's) best friend at a very tender age in unclear circumstances. This act from Ekpong’s best friend pained him to the extent that when he later beget another son, he (Ekpong) named him 'Ami Mfioiyoke Agwo' or 'Mfioiyoke Agwo' which is literally translated to mean 'I do not trust anyone'; it could also be interpreted as 'I cannot not vouch for anyone'. Mfioiyoke Agwo eventually became the only surviving son of Ekpong out of all the children he begets. It is believed that Ekpong lived and died at where is today known as 'Anwa Nto Ekpong', a local central square and tourist attraction where local and ancient artifacts and antiques were exhumed some years back in the village. Over time, and because of the difficulty in pronouncing the lengthy name, the name 'Mfioiyoke Agwo' metamorphosed into what the present day villagers know as 'Mfiok-Agwo'. The name 'Mfioiyoke Agwo' is historically believed to have been tinkered by the neighboring villages and visitors in the course of interaction who may have found a little bit challenging pronouncing it. Although the number of children that Mfiok-Agwo begets could not be authoritatively ascertained, his first son Uko was a very strong and brave warrior who helped to protect his father's hamlet against external attacks. The name ‘Uko’ means strength or power. Uko who had 2 sons lost the first son named Akpan Uko to one of the external aggressions/attack by warring communities during a land/boundary dispute, leaving him only with the second son named Udo Uko. Through the sacrifice of Uko, there was relative peace in Ekpong's Kingdom as a result of the giant strides made by Uko in protecting his father cum grandfather's land from external invasion. With this conquest, Uko's second son, Udo Uko was able to expand the kindred with 5 male children namely;

1. Akpan Udo Uko Mfiok-Agwo Ekpong 2. Udo-Ekpo Udo Uko Mfiok-Agwo Ekpong 3. Etok-Udo Udo Uko Mfiok-Agwo Ekpong 4. Umana Udo Uko Mfiok-Agwo Ekpong 5. Effiong Udo Uko Mfiok-Agwo Ekpong

Although still under contention today, 'Effiong' is said to be an adopted child of Udo Uko Mfiok-Agwo Ekpong. Effiong is believed to have taken refuge in Ekpong's kingdom probably due to inter community war that ravaged their original village. Ekpong took him (Effiong) as a son with equal protection, rights and privileges while he was also helping Ekpong in his farm works and other activities. The ancestral home of 'Effiong' is said to have been traced to one of the historical settlements called 'Ngwarigwa' along Usung Urua Ekpo in the then colonial Abak local authority. It is also worthy of note that today, the village frowns intensely on anyone who by acts of omission or commission tends to do anything that has the semblance of discrimination against any of the kindreds including the descendants of Effiong. There are about 7 to 8 generations to the present day Ikot Ekpong.

Ikot Ekpong village has expanded along the lines of these 5 sons that have become kindreds today. The five kindreds that make up today's Ikot Ekpong are; 1. Nto Akpan Udo Uko 2. Nto Udo-Ekpo Udo Uko 3. Nto Etok-Udo Udo Uko 4. Nto Umana Udo Uko 5. Nto Effiong Udo Uko

Each of the kindred have their heads (Chief) which in most cases is the eldest person in that kindred. However, all adult men in these kindred belong to the general Ikot Ekpong village council whose Chairmanship rotates among these kindreds. The Chairperson of the women group also rotates among the kindreds but not necessarily in the same order as their male counterparts. There is also a very strong youth movement called Ikot Ekpong youth Association.

Bibliography Ette, E. U. (2007) Annang Heritage Preservation Available http://www.annangheritage.org.

Ette, E. U. (2009) Annang Wisdom: Tools for Post-Modern Living. Bloomington, Indiana Xlibris Press.

Udo, E. U. (1983) The History of the Annang People, Calabar, Nigeria. Apcon Press Ltd.

Udondata, J & Idem-Agozino, U. (2001) Annang Orthography, Uyo, Scholars Press.

http://www.mapanet.eu/EN/postal_codes/?c=NG&n=4&r0=&r1=NG-AK&r2=17&r3=01&l=0

http://kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.fr/2013/06/annang-people-nigerias-artistic-people.html