Ikot Udo Abia

Ikot Udo Abia is a village in ward four of the Etinan local government area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.[1][2](p26) "Ikot Udo Abia" means followers of Udo Abia. The villagers are the Ibibio people[3][4] who are of the Afaha group within the Iman Clan (their spiritual guide is Itina). The language spoken in the village isIbibio.[5] Ikot Udo Abia lies in the area of Africa which was affected by the Atlantic slave trade of the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries.[6]

Location

The village lies at 4°52'0" north, 7°51'0" east, on the northwest outskirt of Etinan township in the southernmost part of Nigeria, Africa. It is in Nigeria's humid rainfall zone.[2](p25) Approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the south of the village is the coastline of the Bight of Bonny, part of the Gulf of Guinea. The town of Calabar lies to the east, across the Cross river delta, and the town of Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom state, is to the north. To the west is a stream and then, the Abak-Ikot Akan road. Locally, Edem Ekpat, Ndon Eyo I and the Qua Iboe River; Afaha Akpan Ekpo, Ikot Ikpuho (formerly one of the ekpuks of Ikot Udo Abia) and Ishiet Edong to the west; Nung Assang Ikono in Uyo, Ikot Nkang and Ikot Akpabio border the village to the north; and Edem Ekpat lies to the south.

Geography

Environs

The climate of the Ikot Udo Abia area should support rainforest. However, due to human population pressure, the environment is one of secondary forest of wild oil palm, woody shrubs and various grasses. Large tracts of riverine swamp and flood plains with wetland characteristics flank the Qua lboe River valley through Ikot Udo Abia.

Climate

Because of the effects of the maritime and the continental tropical air masses, the climate of Ikot Udo Abia is characterized by two seasons, namely, the wet or rainy season and the dry season.[7] The wet or rainy season lasts for about eight months. The rainy season begins in March or April and lasts until mid-November. The total annual rainfall is approximately 4,000 millimetres (157 in).

The dry season begins in mid-November and ends in March. During this brief period, the continental tropical air mass, northeasterly winds and an associated dry and dusty harmattan haze affects the village. However, as a result of proximity to the ocean, the harmattan dust haze, (locally known as "ekarika") is relatively mild; it may only last for a few weeks between December and January. The farmers benefit from the harmattan characteristics as they are good for harvesting and storage of the food crop.

Ikot Udo Abia records warm to hot temperatures throughout the year. The mean annual temperatures varying between 26 to 36 °C (79 to 97 °F). The humidity varies between seventy-five percent in July and ninety-five percent in January.

Governance

Ikot Udo Abia is part of the Etinan, Nsit Ubium, Nsit Ibom federal constituency. Its senatorial district is Uyo. Ikot Udo Abia is in Ward 4 in Etinan LGA.

Local rulers

The people of Ikot Udo Abia belong to one of four clans or ekpuk: Nung Ediene, Nung Esen Imoh, Nung Udo Ntuen and Nung Umoh. Nung Ediene is the ruling family. Within the Nung Ediene family is the Nung Udo Usoro sub-family. The village leader is selected from Nung Udo Usoro.

Infrastructure

The community has two primary schools: St. Martins UNA primary school and Sixtowns school. Sixtowns was founded to be a service centre for six nearby villages: Ikot Udobia, Ikot Akpabio, Anan-Ikono, Nung Asang-Ikono, Ikot Ebo-Ikono and Ikot Isong, hence its name “ Six Towns.” (It is located in Ikot Udobia but it is associated with the Qua Iboe church which sits on the boundary between Ikot Udobia and Ikot Akpabio). The St Martins school was built by the First African Church (UNA) and is located in the center of the village. There is also a health centre,[8] a market, a sub post office, a youth center, and a mini-water project that was constructed by the government of Obong Akpan Isemin. The village has an electricity supply.[1]

Culture

The culture and arts of the people are influenced by their religious beliefs and their farming and fishing lives. In the late 1800s, the people of the area were receptive to European missionaries.[9] Most people are Christian and festivals tend to occur at Christmas. However, many also maintain elements of their traditional beliefs and ceremonies, especially in times of trouble.

Festivals and traditions

The Idiong was a traditional institution where members use Nsibidi and Obong Akpan Ekandem of Nung Esen Imoh and a member of Etukudo Ntuat’s Nung Udontuen are associated with this cult . A method of communication with secret writing and signs was the signature of this communication. There was Ndomo cult whose high priest was Obong Urua Inwek. There was Ndem Cult handled by then Obong Udo Oworen Ekpo Umoh before he was converted to Christianity. The Eka Ekpo were exclusive for men and Obong Ikpe Ayaeka of Nung Udo Ntuen was a spiritual head and Afe Ekpuk Nung Udo Ntuen was the shrine for Eka Eka Ekpo and Obong Udo AkpanOffiong was the Akwa Ekpo before conversion to Christianity. For the Ekong cult Obong Udo Ekong Ntuat was the leader and head. Women participate in the Ebre traditions. The Ebre focuses on promoting women's rights, checking social ills and fostering security through law and order and maintaining local unity. Nka is a group for children to encourage community work, mutual cooperation and discipline.

Unless there is an important village activity such as the funeral of a prominent citizen or the accession of a traditional ruler, traditional ‘‘masquerades’’ proceed at the end of the farming year. For example, the Ekpo Masquerade takes place in August. Other traditional activities include Ufok Nkugho and Ufok Mbobo, the fattening ceremonies, Uka Usung Idim, Obobom, Ekon, Abobobo, Aba, Okpo, and the Ebre dance. The Mbok ceremony demonstrates the bravery and chivalry of the village men. There is also Ikara, Abang, Eka Ekong, Ekong Ubek Ebre and the Ekong Ukabade Isua.

The children and youth of the village enjoy a number of games, sports and hobbies including: Ikoso, Ekak, Mbre Offiong, Ndebe, Ukor, Okokpok Ukot, Nwod Ikpa and Nyoro.

Native laws and customs

Marriage is formalized through a process that begins with several activities which could be summed into three- Introduction, traditional marriage and now wedding. Ekpo Nka Owo is a punishment for infidelity. The concepts of eyeyen, edem eka, ukot and imaan are respected. Stealing and other crimes are punished.

Religion

Christian churches in the village include: St Pius Catholic whose first head was Obong Benson Orok and the church has an indigenous priest in the name of rev Fr Anthony Akwaowo from Nung Udo Ntuen, First African (UNA), Apostolic, Lutheran, Methodist, Qua Iboe, Methodist, Salvation Army, Assemblies of God, Deeper life brought to the village by Mr Sunday Udofia, and Brotherhood of the cross and star which was brought and church built be Okpson InyangIdem. There are also numerous traditional cults and secret societies. Villagers place faith in oracles, myths and folklore.

Food

In Ikot Udo Abia gari, fufu, plantain and yam are staple foods.[2](p25) A wide variety of soups are prepared to eat with the staples. They are made with seafoods, such as crayfish, shellfish (periwinkles for example) or dried fish, palm oil, palm fruits, meat from cow skin, chicken or goat, local spices and leaves such as afang (Gnetum africanum), pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis), water leaf (Talinum fruticosum), editan, Ntrong, etighi (okra) and atama.[10][11] Examples are edikaikong soup, atama soup, afia efere ebot (white soup, made without palm oil), efere ndek iyak (fresh fish soup), efere nyama,” ubo, “ bitter leaf soup, melon soup, ikpafai ntuen, and mkpafere.

Porridges are made from yam, plantain, cocoyam, maize and cassava. Examples are ekpang nkukwo, Ekpang iwa. Yam is also used to make fufu dumplings. And cassava is use to make iwa unenge and Ekpang which is moulded with mfang aya or plantain leaf.

Other popular ingredients are: Uyayak, ata, ukpatro, pepper, used as a thickening agent, , mfhon and mfhon inun.

Local fruits and spices include: udari (African star apple), ekom (African walnut), udari, ekom, nkarakuben, nyatet, mkpantok, ebaenaenag, ekpudo, adiang, ubon, brefud, isip eyop, amango, eben”. Pineapple, ekpamfetokpoebot, nkarika, ibong, ntuen ibok apple and guava is also available.

Economy

The villagers are engaged in crop farming (mostly cassava), raising livestock, fishing, hunting and gathering. Secondary industries include food processing and manufacturing, forestry, and blacksmithing. Tertiary industries include provision of services and governance. The village has a fabricator of cassava processing plant replacement parts.[2](p34)

Farming

The farming year is divided into three seasons: the early, late and dry seasons. Cassava is the main crop, and its root processed into fufu, tapioca, flour, starch and porridge.[2](p25) The Nka Iwa association is the cassava growers and processors' association in the village.[2](p30) Irrigation is via streams and boreholes.

Vegetables crops are also farmed, for example, fluted pumpkin, bitter leaf, waterleaf, okro, pepper and afang (Gnetum africanum), atama, editan (an orange cultivar[12]), ntron, uyayak, mmeme, and utazi.

The village has natural groves of palm trees and most families have a manual palm oil press.

Other tree crops are cocoa, rubber and raffia palms, coconut, udari, eben mbakara, eben, ekpudo, ndiya, mkpantok, nkarakubeng, nkarika, effiat, ibon, ekom, mango, and ebaenanang.

Tourism

The African slave trade route at the section of the Nsiak Ikot Ekpoh road passed from Nsit, through Urua Mkpafi and on to Ikot Udo Abia. The Ikot Udo Abia slave market was located behind the present St Theresa’s secondary school, Edem Ekpat. The route continued through Ndon eyo 1 to the McGiver terminal at Ikot Inyang Ossom by the Qua Iboe river. It then crosses the river to the villages and the 'mysterious canoe tree' in Ikot Esen Akpan Ntuen in the Mkpat Enin local government area.

Notable people from Ikot Udo Abia

The village is the birthplace of several notable Nigerian people:


Environmental degradation

In Ikot Udo Abia, oil exploration, drilling and gas flaring are threats to the environment.


See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Local governments in Akwa Ibom State." Special Duties Dept., Military Administrator's Office, Nigeria, 1996 p132. Accessed at Google Books 7 February 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Sanni L. O. "Cassava Postharvest Needs Assessment Survey in Nigeria," International Institute of Tropical Agriculture 2007 ISBN 9781312653, 9789781312656.
  3. ↑ Upkong D. et al "Ikono: the cradle of Ibibio nation : (historical origin and cultural heritage)." Dorand 2001 p62 9780011455, 9789780011451. Accessed at Google Books 7 February 2014.
  4. ↑ Etuk E. S., Okehie-Offoha M. U. and Sadiku M. N. (ed.) "Ethnic and cultural diversity in Nigeria." Africa World Press 1996 p9. ISBN 086543283X, 9780865432833.
  5. ↑ Frawley W. J. "International Encyclopedia of Linguistics, volume 1." Oxford University Press 2003. ISBN 0195139771, 9780195139778.
  6. ↑ Northrup D. "The Abolition of the slave trade in Southeastern Nigeria, 1885–1950 (review)." African Studies Review 2007 50(2) p 228-229. Project MUSE. Web. 8 Feb 2014.
  7. ↑ Adams B. N. "Handbook of world families." Sage 2005 p28. ISBN 0761927638, 9780761927631. Accessed at Google Books 8 February 2014.
  8. ↑ "Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria: handbook." Ministry of Information and Culture, Nigeria 1987 p28. Accessed at Google books 8 February 2014.
  9. ↑ Udofio E. "Etinan village headship dispute." Xlibris Corporation 2013 p ix ISBN 1483661504, 9781483661506 Accessed at Google Books 8 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "Nigerian afang soup recipe." All Nigerian recipes website. Accessed 7 February 2014.
  11. ↑ "Atama soup." Efik food blog. Accessed 7 February 2014.
  12. ↑ Oseni T. O. "Orange cultivars in Nigeria." Nigerian Journal of Science Vol 21. 1987. Science Association of Nigeria, Ibadan University Press.

Note: This page was created by Sir Iniobong Udoffort Akai Abasiubong Akwaowo Ediene Udobia for Ikot Udo Abia. Anyone with additional information should kindly add such information and append his/her name as a contributor under this note. No attempt should be made to expunge the name of Sir Iniobong Akai from this document.