Ekpeye
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Ekpeye is a language, a people, a culture and an ethnic kingdom in Nigeria.
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[edit] People
Ekpeye people living in the Ahoada and Ogba-Egbema areas of Rivers State in Nigeria were a population of 80,000 (1991 census), that has increased 63% to approximately 130,000, according to the 2006 census estimates.
[edit] Language
Ekpeye is an Igboid language. Its principle dialects are Ako, Upata, Ubie, and Igbuduya.
[edit] Kingdom
At about 1542 AD, during the reign of Oba Awuarre of Benin. ‘Akalaka’ the man known today as the father of Ekpeye and Ogba left Benin kingdom due to infighting within the royal family; he fled with his family, amidst rumors of his inevitable demise for his disloyalty to the Oba. They moved southwards, following the River Niger, eventually settling along the Orashi River (in current day Ubie in Ekpeyeland, southeastern Nigeria).
The Ekpeye kingdom grew and became a dominant group in the region, politically and commercially. Along with growth, came a sense of organization and unity amongst the Ekpeyes in the region. In the early days leaders emerged in each of the various sub-groups (Ubie, Akoh, Upata, Igbuduya), usually independently, as clan leaders, family leaders and community leaders, but occasionally forming larger units. In recent history there emerged a more unifying leadership. King Nworisa, odu of Ogbele, gave birth to the re-organization of the Kingdom and to the leadership process in Ekpeyeland. He waged war against the British colonial authorities in the Sombreiro River area, and became an obstacle to their intrusion into the Ekpeye dominated part of the river. In the end, he died in exile at Degema in about 1890.
Eze Ashirim, who became the first Eze Ekpeye Logbo, brought peace, publicity and pomp to the Ekpeye monarchy and with it came recognition by the Nigerian government and additional political influence in the region. Today (2006) the revered monarchy, is occupied by a retired Nigerian Air Force officer, His Royal Highness Eze Robinson O. Robinson, The Eze Ekpeye Logbo II of Ekpeye Land.
Although many monarchs in the region are usually hereditary, The Ekpeye monarch is one of a few which relies upon a democratic process in the selection of a new King. Every Ekpeye son or daughter can vie for the throne when it becomes vacant.
[edit] Politics
The Ekpeye sided with the Igbo during the Biafra secession, and felt the susequent repression of the predominatly non-Igbo government afterwards. Their traditional territory lies in an oil rich area, and the Ekpeye have complained about Nigerian policies that provide inadequate remuneration for the destruction of their environment. The oil business has also the disrupted traditional allocation of wealth. Recently the Movement for the Survival and Advancement of Ekpeye Ethnic Nationality has been formed to resist changes that threaten Ekpeye culture.[1][2]
[edit] Culture
Ekpeye people are descendants of the Benin Kingdom; who moved south due to infighting in the Benin Empire. Although Ekpeye culture is similar to Igbo culture due to early interaction and trade between both cultures, the borderland differences are apparent. For example, among the mask traditions of the Ekpeye the Egbukere is the major one, distinctive for the horizontal fish-shaped headdresses and other animal representations, which are quite distinct from Igbo representations. Contrastingly, the Aarungu and the Owu masks exhibit a wide range of forms and imagery, human and animal, many of which are also found the Igbo.
[edit] References
- Amini-Philips, Isaac C. (1994) King Nworisa of Ekpeyeland (1830-1899): his life and times Riverside Communications, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, ISBN 978-31226-6-5 ;
- Amini-Philips, Isaac C. (1998) Establishing a chronology for Ekpeye history Emhai Print. & Pub., Port Harcourt, Nigeria, OCLC 53842667 ;
- Picton, John (February 1988) "Ekpeye masks and masking" African arts 21(2): pp. 46-53, 94 OCLC 40558650;
- Clark, David J. (1971) Reading and Writing Ekpeye Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, OCLC 2464074;
- "Ekpeye: a language of Nigeria" Ethnologue;
