Ekpo (Ghost) is a

cultural Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human Society, societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, and habits of the ...

society art form that originates from the Efik,

Ibibio Ibibio may refer to: *Ibibio language *Ibibio people *Ibibio Sound Machine, an English electronic afro-funk band who sing in Ibibio See also * Ibiblio ibiblio (formerly SunSITE.unc.edu and MetaLab.unc.edu) is a "collection of collections", a ...

and Annang People in the Cross River/ Akwa Ibom in Southern Nigeria. The practice was also adopted by neighboring regions, namely Arochukwu and Ohafia (

Abia state Abia State ( ig, Ȯha Abia) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to the ...

) during the expansion of the Aro-Kingdom.

History

The Ekpo same in meaning as Ekpe,

Okpo-owo Ekpo (Ghost) is a cultural society art form that originates from the Efik, Ibibio and Annang People in the Cross River/ Akwa Ibom in Southern Nigeria. The practice was also adopted by neighboring regions, namely Arochukwu and Ohafia (Abia sta ...

Akpo-owo Ekpo (Ghost) is a cultural society art form that originates from the Efik, Ibibio and Annang People in the Cross River/ Akwa Ibom in Southern Nigeria. The practice was also adopted by neighboring regions, namely Arochukwu and Ohafia (Abia sta ...

as pronounced by the Efik,

and Annang people simply describe it as a non-living human or a dead soul that comes to the land of the living. In Akwa Ibom Ekpo Masquerades is practiced by almost all its towns especially during its Festivals at Ikot Ekpene, Etim Ekpo, Oruk Anam and Abak as well as the Eket and some other places in the Ibibio land.

In the 21st Century

Due to advent of christianity and modern civilization, the Ekpo Masquerade is no longer regarded as dead souls that comes back to the land of the living, instead it is now known to be a costume worn by living humans and it is regarded as an integral part of the culture and heritage of the people.

References

{{reflist Ekpo Akwa Ibom Akwa Ibom State