Efik people

The Efik, also known as the Akwa Akpa people, are an ethnic group located primarily in southern Nigeria, and western Cameroon. They are related to the Akwa Ibom or Ibom people of Akwa Ibom State. Within Nigeria, the Efik can be found in the present-day Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State. The Efik speak the Efik language which is a member of the Benue–Congo subfamily of the Niger-Congo language group. The Efik refer to themselves as Efik Eburutu, Ifa Ibom, Eburutu and Iboku. The bulk of the Efiks can be found in Calabar and the southern part of Cross River State. Prior to 1905, Old Calabar was a term used to describe the Efik settlements of Duke Town, Creek Town, Old town, Cobham town, Henshaw town, Adiabo and Mbiabo (consisting of Mbiabo edere, Mbiabo Ikot Offiong and Mbiabo Ikoneto). The Efik have also been referred to as "Calabar people" in historical literature. The term "Calabar people" was particularly popular prior to the nineteenth century and was synonymous with the Efik. Efik society consists of various clans which were originally known as "Esien Efik itiaba" (Seven clans of Efik) and later known in the 21st century as "Esien Efik Duopeba" (Twelve clans of Efik). The original seven clans are scattered between Cross River state and consist of Iboku (Duke town, Henshaw town, Creek town and Cobham town), Obutong, Ito, Adiabo, Mbiabo (Mbiabo Edere, Mbiabo Ikot Offiong, Mbiabo Ikoneto), Enwang, Usukakpa and Abayen. The last three clans had greatly dwindled in number and many of their members are believed to have integrated into other Efik clans. Ibonda (an Efut clan) has sometimes been appended to Adiabo as one of the seven Efik clans. Other clans such as Biakpan, Utuma and Umon communities in Biase have shared Efik ancestry although they have...