Sources
Historical literature
Since the inception of the triangular trade, the Efik people have been in the limelight of historical scholarship. Several works have centred on different aspects of Efik culture and tradition. Although little focus has been made on the subject of Efik mythology, several works have been written on aspects relating to Efik mythology. The earliest Efik dictionary by Rev Hugh Goldie reveals a number of mythical animals and places. Goldie's Principle of Efik Grammar is also the goto for the Efik creation story. Works such as Rosalind Hackett's religion in Calabar discuss some Efik deities. Percy Talbot's "Life in Southern Nigeria" is also useful in the study of Efik and Ibibio mythology.Art
Art is an underemphasized contributor to Efik mythology. Efik beliefs in Ndem and Ekpe were transmitted via engravings on Brass plates (Akpangkpang). Prior to the depiction of myths, events and stories on Brass plates, Efik women mainly engaged in decorating houses with geometric designs of various kinds. Aye, Old Calabar, p.91 Women were regarded as the artisans in Old Calabar society. Mr Ironbar also known as Edem Ndarake is regarded as the father of Brass Art in Efik history. The wives of Ironbar were active members of the Calabash engraving industry at Old Calabar. The women would create beautifully finished products which would then be taken as souvenirs from Old Calabar by English traders. However, these products particularly the calabashes were fragile and several goods did not arrive England safely. Mr Ironbar chose to solve the matter by choosing to transfer the designs to Brass which was more durable. After several negotiations with English traders, iron bars were imported from Europe to aid in the manufacture of brass products such as trays, dishes and basins. Several brass dishes were designed with images of Efik deities. These dishes aid in the description of deities and also depict animals that are symbolic to the deities.Songs
Religious songs used in reverence to Ndem and Ekpe contribute to the understanding of Efik mythology. These songs show praise and reverence for the various Ndem. An example of a song is mentioned below: The song above mentions the names of several important Efik deities and declares respect and honour for them. Among the list of deities mentioned in the song are , , , , and . References to the mythical tailedEfik Literature
Efik literature is a major source of mythology. A variety of myths can be found within Efik literature ranging from creation myths to tales of mythical places and monsters. Early Efik writers often inserted many mythical tales within their writings. Aspects of Efik literature that contain myths include Uto (bardic poetry), Mbuk (stories), Ase (commemorative poetry) and Nke (folktales, riddles and proverbs).Folktales
Writers such as E.N. Amaku, Esien-Ekpe Edet Okon, E.E. Nkaña and several others capture several myths in their literary works. Myths may also function as sources of stereotypes. For example, the myth of Akpa Uyok is captured in a poem by Mbukpa E. Eyo. Aye, Old Calabar, p.201 Akpa Uyok is believed to have been an Efik chief who lived for so long that the Efik people sought to get rid of him. They get rid of Akpa Uyok by leaving him in a canoe and abandoning him by a river bank with the hope that the tides will take his canoe away. Akpa Uyok is said to have solicited the aid of three Efik deities against his offenders and curses them denying them the benefits of a ripe old age.Bardic poetry
Bardic poetry is an important aspect of Efik culture and literature. Prior to the inception of the Efik Alphabets, Efik literature was mainly oral. Bardic or Epic poetry was recited in theClasses of Efik Mythology
Creation myth
The creation story of the Efik reveals characters such as Abasi, Atai and the first humans. It is believed that Abasi first created the earth and later created the first humans; a man and a woman. Scheub, p.3 Abasi did not let the first humans live on earth because he wanted no one to contend with him. Abasi's wife Atai disagreed with him and insisted that Man and woman should live on earth. Scheub, p.4 Abasi gave the humans permission to live on earth but ordered that the Humans should not cultivate their own food but should dine in the heavens whenever a bell is rung. Abasi also ordered that the man and woman should not procreate. This second instruction was given so that the humans would never forget Abasi. Each day, a bell would be rung and the humans would visit the heavens to dine with Abasi. The law prohibiting the cultivation of crops of Earth was first broken by the woman. The woman cultivated plants and used them to cook food which she served to the man. The man and woman also broke Abasi's second command by sleeping together and having intercourse. The next time the bell was rung, the man came alone. Abasi asked the man where his wife was located, the man lied, saying she was unwell. In reality, the man had hidden his wife because she was pregnant. The woman had borne a son and later bore a daughter. Abasi was aware of what had transpired on Earth and told Atai that the humans had broken his laws, had neglected and forgotten him. Atai reassured Abasi that the humans would never forget Abasi and sent death into the world. Some versions of the story attest that Atai killed the man and his wife while other versions employ a form of poetic language attesting that Atai sent chaos and death into the world. The names of the first humans are not given but Burton attests that the earliest humans may have been known as Esefe and Ọkpọrọ, as there are names which featured often in Efik proverbs.Myths on deities
Abasi is regarded as the supreme being, the all powerful being who created everything. In the creation story of the Efik, Abasi is depicted as a loving father who desires to have a personal relationship with the Humans. When the man lies to Abasi that the woman is unwell to hide her sin, Abasi is already aware that the man and woman have broken the laws. Abasi's knowledge of the affairs on earth reveals his trait as all-knowing and all-seeing. Abasi is also depicted as a listening husband who takes into consideration the advice of his wife. The Efik originally believed that Abasi was too high up in the heavens and was unbothered by the affairs of man.Ndem
Marine deities also known as Ndem (Singular: Idem) form a principal part of Efik traditional religion. The Ndem are regarded as territorial in character as they are believed to reside in several areas in the lower Cross River. Among the Ndem include Udominyan, Anansa, Atabrinyang, Atakpor Uruan Inyang, Afianwan, Ekpenyong, Ekanem and several others. Although Ndem are regarded as territorial, certain Ndem are believed to be present in several other locations while still headquartered at one site. Among these would include Atakpor Uruan Inyang. This is further confirmed in the Uruan saying: "Ke Ndem Efik Iboku, Atakpọr Ndem Uruan ke Ekụk", which can be interpreted to mean "Where there is the Efik deity, there is also Atakpor Uruan to share with it." Many Ndem are described as possessing extremely beautiful features, among them is the deity Udominyang. Udominyang is a symbol of beauty and is believed to reside at the bottom of the river where she possesses a fine mansion. Simmons, p.348 Udominyang is also believed to possess a lot of wealth as she obtains everything that falls into the river from capsized ships and canoes. She is depicted on several brass trays as possessing a fish body with a woman's head and upper torso. Another principal deity is Anansa also known as Anansa Ikang Obutong or Anansa Ikot Obutong or Anansa Enwang. Anansa is exalted in many Efik songs, one of the most popular was sung by Chief Inyang Nta Henshaw. She is believed to reside at the head of a spring or river near theMyths on the Origin of Ekpe
The Ekpe society plays a prominent role in Efik society. During the Pre-colonial era, Ekpe was the government of the day at Old Calabar. The society operates via a grading system. Some ekpe grades include Nyamkpe, Okuakama, Okpoho, Mboko and Mboko Mboko. Aye, Old Calabar, p.71 As much as Ekpe acted as the preserver of law and order in Efik society, the society is also grounded in esoteric rituals. Ekpe is the Efik word for "Leopard" and is believed to be a mysterious being or spirit residing in the forest. Aye, Old Calabar, p.70 According to Savage,"...despite the fact that Ekpe is a forest spirit, very often when Ekpe chiefs go to bring it from the forest to the village, town or shrine, they do so by means of a canoe. Thus this forest spirit is convened by water transport to land." It is also believed that only the initiates of the Ekpe society can see the Ekpe spirit. Several legends surround the founding of Ekpe. One legend as documented by Donald Simmons in 1958 states:An Efut woman named Ata Iroko observed several supernatural spirits playing in the forest. When they departed they left behind the mbɔkɔ which Ata Iroko found and took home. This is the instrument which produces a sound similar to a leopard roar and knowledge of its mechanism constitutes the greatest secret of the Leopard Sooioty, Ata Iroko took the mbɔkɔ to her husband, who showed it to the town chiefs. They were so captivated they Immediately bribed the husband to kill his wife so that no woman would know of the mechanism. Accordingly, the husband killed Ata Iroko, The Efik subsequently purchased the secrets of the Leopard Society from the Efut, Simmons, p.246Donald Simmons also provides another narrative which states that Ata Iroko was shown the secrets of Mbɔkɔ by her father because he loved her so much. On the death of Chief Iroko, Ata and her husband fled with her husband from Usakedet to Calabar. Thereafter, Ata showed Mbɔkɔ to the chiefs who immediately decapitated her and her husband so that no one except the chiefs could dispense the secrets of Mbɔkɔ. Donald Simmons further asserts that when the Efik desire to produce the mbɔkɔ sound, they first make a sound similar which represents the name Ata Iroko. In spite of Simmons assertions, the names mainly called during Ekpe processions include Eyo Ema, Esien Ekpe, Asibong Ekondo, Mutaka and Nkok Ofuta. Another myth narrated in 1964 at the Hart's Enquiry by Barrister E. Koofreh states,
Asibong Ekondo discovered Ekpe floating on the river and he sold it to Esien Ekpe as his personal property. All the people of Usak Edet from where Asibong Ekondo hailed are reputed to be able to live under water and know what transpire there. Their souls normally lived underwater. Until recent times, they performed Ekpe plays under the water. When he sold the Ekpe to the Efiks whose souls do not live under water, Asibong Ekondo showed them how to use it.Aspects of comparative mythology can be observed in the tale narrated by Koofreh. The Balondo of
In the Balondo version, the women had been fishing, the women caught the Nyankpe from fishing in the river, the women caught a giant fish. The head of the fish produced a growling sound. The women made it sing, but the women did not know how to drum it. They tried in vain to control the sound of the fish. Their drumming did not help. The men knew how to drum. Then later they cut the físh, took the head for themselves and gave the tail to the women. Whenever Butamu (Ekpe) escapes into the river or forest, only the women can get it back... The myth does not explain how the men made the society and what it looked like at the beginning. It only says that the men took Nyankpe from the women and made its growling voice the basis of a powerful association.
Mythical Creatures
Several mythical creatures can be found in Efik mythology. Such creatures are different from the Efik Ndem which equally have their own separate descriptions in folklore. Some of these creatures include Okukubarakpa (also known as Ukara-akpa), Akaka Obu, Animana, Ikọñwọ, Unanim and several others. Okukubarakpa is regarded as a monstrous serpent that stretches across the river disturbing the waters. Aye, A learner's dictionary, p.115 The creature can be likened to theTwo towns, which lay on either side of a narrow creek, had long been on unfriendly terms. After a while the inhabitants of one of these crossed over at low tide and attacked the other, thinking to gain an easy victory. Instead of this, after hard fighting, they themselves were driven back to the edge of the water, which had, meanwhile, risen so that they, were cut off from escape. Now, in the creek lived a great python named Kukubarakpa, and no sooner did he see the plight of the invaders than he laid himself bridge-wise across the water—his head on the one bank and his tail upon the other. Over his body fled the van¬ quished, and, when all were safely landed on the farther shore, the bravest of the victors tried to follow. Kukubarakpa waited until these were crossing over his body, then sank suddenly, dragging them down with him, so that all were drowned. In gratitude, none of the people whose ancestors were thus saved kill or eat python to this day.Another creature, Ikpun kpun kpun Ine also known as Ọkpọñ ọkpọñ ọkpọñ is described as a mammoth-like creature far greater than the elephant but existing only in fables. Unanim is described as, "a terrible prehistoric creature said to be extinct". Aye, A learner's dictionary, p.143 Unanim is believed to have been aquatic and may have been an ancestor to a species of shark known as . Ikọñwọ is believed to be related to a species of catfish but was far monstrous. The Efik believed that Two giant crabs ( efi, italic=no, Akaka Obu) both male and female, guarded the entrance to the Calabar river and protected Old Calabar.
Mythical Human-like species
Several mythical human-like species can be discovered in Efik folktales and legends. Among them include Amamaisim, the people of the woods and the undead. In all the legends of the people of the lower Cross River can be found the tale of a group of short pygymies with tails known by the name "Amamaisim". Jeffreys, p.28 Etifit, p.25Myth on Bush soul
Prior to the prominence of Christian beliefs in Efik society, the Efik believed in the soul's affinity to animals. Simmons, p.352 Hackett, p.39 Talbot, p.87 It was believed that every individual had a soul in an animal, could transfer their consciousness to the body of the animal and materialise as the animal. Children were taught never to kill a wall gecko ( efi, italic=no, Ukpọñ Eyen). Whatever occurred to the animal-affinity also occurred to the human. According to Rosalind Hackett who quotes Etubom Ewa Henshaw, "There was a hierarchy of animals, the leopard being the highest followed by wild dogs, crocodiles, boa constrictors and other snakes, wall geckos and so on." Animals and some species of fish were regarded as potential affinities, but never plants, insects or rocks. The choice of the animal was made before birth and was influenced by Eka Abasi (The Mother God). A person's personality and behavioural characteristics were considered to be determined by the animal soul. According to Simmons,A very slow person possessed the python as his animal-affinity while a filthy person had a pig affinity, A strong, healthy individual possessed either a crocodile or spitting cobra and the affinity of one who had many white discolorations on the skin was thought to be a species of lizard called owuri; such people had the ability to draw money to themselves at night when the lizard howled. If an Individual craved oil palm fruits he possessed either a monkey affinity or that of a fish called ɔfɔt. A very powerful Individual has the animal affinity of a chimpanzee.
Mythical Places
Several mythical places can be found in the Efik cosmology. The Efik believed that the world was flat as such, the edge of the world was known as Ononkoni ( efi, italic=no, Ọnọkọni)). The Efik believed in the existence of a realm known as where the spirits of the dead reside. Aye, A learner's dictionary, p.119 Ọnọsi is said to have been located around the village of Usahadet and was bordered by the realm of the Ndem (Marine deities) known as Obio Ndem. Obio Ndem was believed to be the meeting place of the society known as Ekongeze.Myth on Witchcraft
The Efik word for witchcraft is . The Efik believe that there are two types of i.e (White witchcraft) and (Black witchcraft). Hackett, p.36 Simmons, p.383 Aye, Old Calabar, p.78 Jeffreys, Witchcraft, p.98 White witchcraft is utilised for protective and positive purposes while black witchcraft is used to cause harm and destruction to others. A person possessing the power of white witchcraft never attempts to kill or hurt someone but protects people by exposing the possessors of black witchcraft. Simmons, p.384 A practitioner of black witchcraft often causes death, sickness or loss of wealth to a person. Practitioners of white witchcraft often admit that they possess such power, while a practitioner of black witchcraft does not admit to possessing such power. Black witches are believed to join together to form a society and meet at night to cause people harm. According to Simmons,Under ordinary conditions they are only visible to possessors of white witchcraft, but when they congregate at night they are visible to everyone and reported to be red in color. This is due to the removal of their skin which they leave at home to make people think that they are asleep while they go outside to dance in their raw flesh.Some nocturnal animals are often associated with practitioners of witchcraft such as owls, bats, cockroaches and moths. Aye, Old Calabar, p.79 Dogs barking at night are believed to have spotted a witch. Witches were believed to use bats and rats as messengers to discover where money was hidden. Witch trials were often common in Old Calabar. The earliest mention of a witch trial can be found in W.F. Daniell's 1848 work titled "''On the Natives of Old Callebar, West Coast of Africa''". A witch trial often occurs in situations where a person is ill and is unable to discover the source of his illness or a person dies and is suspected to have been killed by witchcraft. Aye, Old Calabar, p.80 Simmons, p.388 If a person believed the cause of his illness was the workings of witchcraft, he would cut his hair and send it to all the Efik towns stating that if he died, they should launch an inquiry regarding his death. A person accused of witchcraft usually demanded that he undergo a witch trial to prove his innocence. The suspect ate eight Calabar beans and drank a mixture of ground Calabar beans and water. If the suspect was a witch his mouth shook and mucus came from his nose. If he was innocent he lifted his right hand and then regurgitated. Should the poison continue to affect the suspect after his innocence had been established, an antidote was administered consisting of either male or female excrement, depending on the suspect's sex, mixed with water which had been used to wash a female's external genitalia. This mixture was taken as a drink. If the suspect is found to be guilty, however, no antidote is given and he is allowed to die. After his demise his corpse is thrown into the forest.
Myths of death and the Afterlife
The Efik originally believed in the power of reincarnation. Hackett, p.42 The Efik believed that seven reincarnations were to occur before the final judgement by Abasi. If an infant had a mark on its body which was equally on the body of a previously deceased sibling, the infant was believed to be a reincarnation of the deceased sibling. Waddell, p.381 Belief in reincarnations accounts for the assigning of personal names such as Nyong ( efi, italic=no, Nyọñ) which is given to a child whose siblings have died before they were born. Simmons, p.355 The name may also be given to a child who resembles a deceased relative. According to Simmons,One Efik belief postulates the existence of several worlds each separated from the sky above and the earth below. A person who dies in one world becomes reborn in the world below... When an Individual has passed through the entire seven worlds in seven generations he travels on a path which connects world seven with world one. Before he commences another seven-world cycle he renders an account to God of his actions during his sojourn in each of the worlds.The spot where the individual renders an account to God of his actions was known as Usan Emana ( en, italic=no, Plate of Birth). Spirits about to reincarnate were believed to dwell in Effiatt (formerly known as Tom Shott's island). The Efik also believed in the existence of a realm inhabited by the souls of the dead. According to Aye, "It was believed that all the ghosts of persons who die in a year sail in a large canoe at midnight of every December 31, singing and paddling to their new home in Ọnọsi thus: ''Ekpo ke ẹnyọño Ọnọsi-o uwaya''! The ghosts are returning to Onosi-o uwaya." There was also a belief in a realm deep within the Land of the dead known as mkpọsọk which could be likened to the greek
External influence on Efik mythology
Due to peregrinations of the Efik across the Cross river and their external trade with the Europeans, several foreign influences can be seen in the myths of the Efik. Oral tradition maintains that the earliest Europeans to interact and trade with the Efik were the Portuguese. Later Europeans entrants into the Cross River were the Dutch, British and French. Christianity also played a role in shaping Efik mythology. The earliest Christian missionaries arrived from Jamaica in April 1846.References
Bibliography
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