User:Philipakoda/sandbox/Ñkụhọ

Ñkụhọ, also referred to as Nkugho or the fattening room, is an Efik term used to describe a cultural practice that involves confining a young girl in a secluded room for a period of 3 months to 7 years. The primary objective of this practice is to educate, feed and take care of the girl until she reaches a certain age or becomes deemed suitable for marriage. The practice was common among ethnic groups such as the Efik, Oron, Ibibio, Eket, Ijaw, Igbo and Ejagham. It was believed that a girl was not yet a woman until she had undergone this process.

Etymology
The word "Ñkụhọ" comes from the root verb, "Kụk", which means to enclose or to encircle.

History
It is uncertain when the tradition of Nkuho began or how the programme was developed. The fattening room practice was

The Process of Fattening
There are two types of Nkugho i.e. Nkugho eyen owong or mbobi and Nkugho akwa anwan.

Nkugho Eyenowong
This was mainly for circumcis