The Bahumono (Ehumono, Kohumono) people are the ethnic group in Nigeria located primarily in the
Abi local government area of
Cross River State
)
, image_map = Nigeria - Cross River.svg
, map_alt =
, map_caption = Location of Cross River State in Nigeria
, coordinates =
, coor_pinpoint ...
. They are the largest ethnic group in the region.
They speak the
Kohumono language
The Humono language, ''Kohumono'' (Bahumono, Ohumono), is an Upper Cross River language of Nigeria spoken by the Bahumono
The Bahumono (Ehumono, Kohumono) people are the ethnic group in Nigeria located primarily in the Abi local government a ...
.
History
The Ehumono live along the
Cross River and are known to have migrated from Hotumusa around the region of a rock called Ekpon á Rara, which they claim to be their spiritual and ancestral home. The tribe consists of eight villages namely;
Ebijakara
Ebijakara is a commune in Abi local government area of Cross River State, Nigeria.
History
Ebijakara is one of the original seven village which form the Bahumono
The Bahumono (Ehumono, Kohumono) people are the ethnic group in Nigeria located p ...
(Ebriba), Ebom,
Ediba
Ediba is a village in Abi local government area of Cross River State, Nigeria.
This place is situated in Abi, Cross River, Nigeria, its geographical coordinates are 5° 52' 0" North, 8° 1' 0" East and its original name (with diacritics) is Edi ...
,
Usumutong, Anong, Igonigoni,
Afafanyi
Afafanyi is a village in Abi local government area of Cross River State, Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a count ...
, and Abeugo. They are closely related to the
Efik,
Waawa
The Waawa clan of Northern Igboland, also referred to as ''Ndi Waawa, Wawa People'', are a unique sub-group of the Igbo people in Enugu and Ebonyi State, Nigeria, consisting of several communities, who all speak a unique dialect of Igbo called ...
,
Yakurr ,
Akunakuna
The Akunakuna are an ethnic group of Nigeria and Cameroon, closely related to the Efik, Bahumono and Ibibio people, mostly inhabiting the area around the Cross River. Recent figures have indicated there are over three hundred fifty thousand Akun ...
,
Ekoi people
Ekoi people, also known as Ejagham, are an ethnic group in the extreme south of Nigeria and extending eastward into the southwest region of Cameroon. They speak the Ejagham language. Other Ekoi languages are spoken by related groups, including t ...
and
Annang
The Anaang (also spelled Annang) are a sub-ethnic group of the larger Ibibio people, whose land is primarily within 8 of the present 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State: Abak, Essien Udim, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara, Oruk ...
people.
The Bahumono people during the pre colonial period were adamant to accept the laws of the British administration. They and other upper Cross River tribes foiled the
Cross River expedition of 1895, 1896 and 1898 leading to the massacre of several British personnel. They were once part of the
Aro Confederacy
The Aro Confederacy (1690–1902) was a political union orchestrated by the Aro people, Igbo subgroup, centered in Arochukwu in present-day southeastern Nigeria. Their influence and presence was all over Eastern Nigeria, lower Middle Belt, an ...
.
Culture and tradition
The Bahumono Culture and tradition shares similarities with the neighboring communities . Individuals trace their origin and ancestry through the Eshi which literally means womb or navel, people from the same eshi are considered as brothers and sisters and will trace their origin to the same father and mother similar to the Ananng people. Apart from the Eshi, villages are further divided into Rovone.
The practice of the
Ekpe secret society and fattening room is widely observed while few people practice the Bahumono religion .
Festivals
Major Bahumono festivals include;
* Rathobai
* Afu wrestling festival
* Masquerade parade
* Oboko
* The annual Humono festival
* The traditional boat racing challenge
* Obam
Cuisine
The Bahumono traditional food is similar to the Efik,Igbo and other Cross River communities.Major dishes include
*
Fufu
Fufu (or fufuo, foofoo, foufou ) is a dough-like food found in West African cuisine. In addition to Ghana, it is also found in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Cote D'Ivoire, Benin, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the ...
* Okho(Oha) soup
*
Edikang Ikong
* Ehkpan
See also
*
Usumutong
*
Ebijakara
Ebijakara is a commune in Abi local government area of Cross River State, Nigeria.
History
Ebijakara is one of the original seven village which form the Bahumono
The Bahumono (Ehumono, Kohumono) people are the ethnic group in Nigeria located p ...
*
Ediba
Ediba is a village in Abi local government area of Cross River State, Nigeria.
This place is situated in Abi, Cross River, Nigeria, its geographical coordinates are 5° 52' 0" North, 8° 1' 0" East and its original name (with diacritics) is Edi ...
References
{{reflist
Society of Nigeria
Ethnic_groups_in_Nigeria