Like what has been asserted severally that Igbo and Efik –Ibibio are historical cousins. Some accounts exist about the groups’ common practice of the Ekpe, Okonko cults and Nsibidi writing systems and several customary practices. They are also non-state, non-empire kingdom and communities, known to be generally democratic and republican in socio-political worldview.
While the Ibibio have an older established continuous occupation of their present location in eastern Nigeria, the Efik, who are believed to be offshoots of the Ibibio, can trace their origin from Ibom area of Arochukwu now Abia State. The progenitors moved to settle in Uruan now in Akwa Ibom, then crossed to Creek town. I will on another day, relate how the Efiks quickly grew more influential during the European trade from the 1500s than their Igbo and Ibibio cousins despite being the least in numbers and being late to emerge in the south east of Nigeria. However, the link is maintained till this day that you can't coronate the Obong of Calabar without kingmakers from Arochukwu and Uruan and other Northern Cross River members of the Efik-Eburutu.
For starters, this is not to suggest that there are no sources of conflicts among the Igbo and the Efik-Ibibio. For instance, the Igbo refer to the Efik-Ibibio as ‘Mmongo’ while they refer to the Igbo as ‘Uneghe’. None of these terms have been confirmed to have derogatory or endearing meaning. But generally the Igbo and Efik-Ibibio are fond of each other and share healthy competition in many areas of the life.
I think this clear geographical and historical relation is responsible for how the Akwa Ibomites always defend the Igbo interest doggedly in most issues in the past and in recent times. You recall how Philip Effiong stayed behind after Ojukwu’s departure to restore peace to a beleaguered Biafra. I saw the Ibibio responses during the reprisal riots in Aba on the Kaduna Sharia killings in the 2001 and how they replicated the riots almost immediately in Uyo. I saw their support for Jonathan up till today just like the Igbos and how Uyo joined in demonstrating for Nnamdi Kanu.
Today, many Efik-Ibibio now join or try to out-compete the Igbo in trade and commerce (especially spare parts, electronics, transport, estates, cloths) and other fields. There is a whole new paradigm by my Efik-Ibibio brothers, outside what the laidback Ijaw, Ikwerre etc haven’t learnt yet, that rather than demonise the Igboman and accusing him of blood money etc- in this modern era, it’s better to join him, learn from him and compete with him. Akwa Ibom is rich in oil but the people don’t rely on that especially now that the resource is waning internationally. It is the spirit driving Godswill Akpabio’s and Udom Emmanuel’s Akwa Ibom. In Udom’s voice ‘Akwa Abasi Ibom m’adakkada!’ the people now go to school, travel like Igbos and work very hard that you actually don’t see any difference with the Igbos.
A symbol of their commercial prowess is a wholly owned Efik-Ibibio settlement in Aba referred to as ‘Ama Mmongo.’ Though you have other non-indigenous settlements in Aba like ‘Ama Awusa’ and Opobo/Ijaw areas, but Ama-Mmong is da bomb-very lively and you have native Igbo speakers intermingle with the other groups. Thus like Port Harcourt, Aba is a very great centre of eastern unity and integration. I dare say that Aba industries thrive because of the patronage from these neighbouring states and there are now big time indigenous goods dealers in Ikot Ekpene, Uyo and Calabar, who learnt their trade from the Igbo towns of Aba, Onitsha and Nnewi. Akwa Iboms not only have the close proximity with Igbos-go to same market and farms, but are utilizing it.
In movies, many Ibibio film acts, sportsmen, musicians had their big breaks and made their way working among the Igbo in Lagos, Aba, Enugu or Asaba. Here in the North, from Kaduna to Kano, you see Ibibios where Igbos are many-who doesn’t want protection?
I have by these few words used generally among the Igbo (especially those from Aro, Ohafia, Abiriba etc.) and the Efik- Ibibio with same meaning, to show the centuries of mutual interaction among the groups. This will show how these three states, Abia/CRS and A/Ibom share so much in common, and are indeed cousins:

No Word Meaning Origin/ Usage location
1 Abasi/Obasi/Bassey God Igbo/ Efik-Ibibio
2 Nna Father or fondly name for young person “
3 Nne Mother or fondly name for young person “
4 Nene Grand-mother or fondly name for a young lady “
5 Nnanna Grand-father or fondly name for young person “
6 Mma Beauty/Good or fond name “
7 Ekpat Bag Aro, Ohafia, Abiriba/Efik-Ibibio
8 Akpan/Okpan First son Efik-Ibibio/Aro, Ohafia, Abiriba
9 San-sana Clean Efik-Ibibio/Aro, Ohafia, Abiriba
10 Ekpe Tiger cult Efik-Ibibio/Igbo
11 Ekpo Masquerade Igbo/Efik-Ibibio
12 Momoiko Water leave Efik-Ibibio/Aro, Ohafia, Abiriba
13 Ukpoghiri Key “
14 Utuen-Ikang Lantern “
15 Okpokoro Table “
16 Usan Plate “
17 Ikpang-nkwukwo Water yam porridge “
18 Akparawa Youth “
19 Nwoko Male Igbo/ Efik-Ibibio
20 Okorie Male of Orie market day “
21 Ndem Water spirit Efik-Ibibio/Aro, Ohafia, Abiriba
22. Inem Sweet thing “
23. Ete Father or fond name for older male Efik-Ibibio/Aro,Ohafia, Abiriba
These words are mutually intelligible to the areas I mentioned them with. Please if you are from the areas mentioned feel free to support or dispute any point I have raised above, or any term. If you have more additions, corrections or observations, please feel free to make them.
Ndito eka m mi, yak nyin ibono k’ima ye emem, ye mboho!
Let’s keep the love, peace and unity among us all my Igbo, Efik-Ibibio blood relations.




Pic: Igwa Mang in Abiriba

Nwanne,
The solidarity btwn Uneghes and Mmoños need to be rock solid! You know why Bkos they're the only group in Nigeria excluding their language that looks like the Igbo in all respects
As a point of correction, Igbo language doesn't have the "ng" sound as Ibibio has so in Igbo the "ng" sound is replaced by "ñ" for eg Añuri. So the Igbo form isn't Mmongo but Mmoño
Moreover, the Igbo term for calabar is Atakpa though I dunno what it means

cheruv:
Nwanne,
The solidarity btwn Uneghes and Mmoños need to be rock solid! You know why Bkos they're the only group in Nigeria excluding their language that looks like the Igbo in all respects
As a point of correction, Igbo language doesn't have the "ng" sound as Ibibio has so in Igbo the "ng" sound is replaced by "ñ" for eg Añuri. So the Igbo form isn't Mmongo but Mmoño
Moreover, the Igbo term for calabar is Atakpa though I dunno what it means

The striking similarities in traditions and customs between Igbos and Ibibios were observed by the westerners when they arrived southern Nigeria and they were thus given the name: 'qua ibo' or 'kwa ibo' meaning 'like the iboes'. 'qua' or 'kwa' is an English word meaning 'just like' or 'having attributes of'. Kwa Ibo was to later become Akwa Ibom. Till today we still have the qua ibo or kwa ibo church in Calabar metropolis.

Nice one. I basically see them-Efik/ibibio as sisters and brothers. They are always the first and most times the only Non Igbo groups to show big support for Igbos in Nigeria. A lot of them in Akwa/Cross states marry from Igboland or have a few igbo ancestry and vice versa. I've been trying to find the true origins of Liyel Imoke,some sources say he has Igbo ancestry but someone close to him say he is not Igbo.
Anyway,some colonial historians claim that they-Akwa/Cross were only people that seperated from their Igbo kins a long time ago in other words they descended from igbos. I think it's only an overstatement by the European historians,but that show how Igbos and Akwa/Cross natives are quite similar in the eyes of non Igbos.

In addition, the Ibibio-Efik are the only non-Igbo group that have shown a penchant to learn the Igbo language. It seems to be a regarded highly amongst them to be able to speak Igbo. In the hey days of the 1960s, many Ibibio-Efik people sent their kids to Enugu or Aba for secondary school studies partly to be able to learn Igbo language. I have come across lots of them speak Igbo as a second language. In Calabar, Igbo is widely taught in primary and secondary schools taken by both Igbo and Efik/Efut school kids. Also in Calabar, when you tell some of them to teach you Efik, they instead tell you to teach them Igbo.

A section in Cross-River state was founded by Awka migrants and the people till today still speak Igbo and also Efik. My father, who has interest in Igbo history, told me about this but I don't remember the full details at the moment.

The Idomas are another non-Igbo group that have fondness for the Igbos. Tuface Idibia is an Idoma who loves the city of Enugu, having attended IMT, and is often seen driving around Enugu. He is a very simple guy who doesn't go around with security or escorts. In the Christmas of 2011 spent in Enugu, while driving my dad and siblings one evening, Tuface drove past us and we recognized him from a distance and honked and he honked back at us. Several of them are able to speak Igbo fluently. While in UNN, I know this Idoma lady who speaks Igbo fluently and you would never tell she is not Igbo except you see her name

bigfrancis21:

A section in Cross-River state was founded by Awka migrants and the people till today still speak Igbo and also Efik. My father, who has interest in Igbo history, told me about this but I don't remember the full details at the moment.

I wish you remembered the details about this. It would be interesting to know. We have traditions of doing business (blacksmithing, the practice of medicine and trading) in the Cross River/Akwa Ibom zone. But we have no traditions of settling down there and founding permanent settlements. We hardly settled down permanently anywhere in those days, as there were strict rules that travellers must return to Awka periodically (although there were a few exceptions).

Was your father talking about Awka Ikot Ene, by any chance?

Radoillo:


I wish you remembered the details about this. It would be interesting to know. We have traditions of doing business (blacksmithing, the practice of medicine and trading) in the Cross River/Akwa Ibom zone. But we have no traditions of settling down there and founding permanent settlements. We hardly settled down permanently anywhere in those days, as there were strict rules that travellers must return to Awka periodically (although there were a few exceptions).

Was your father talking about Awka Ikot Ene, by any chance?

To be honest, I do not remember the name of the place in Cross River even though my dad had told me the name, but this was years back. But I do know that the town is somewhat close to Calabar (off Calabar metropolis).

Nice one

Yeah. Most of the Efik/ibibio i've encountered in Igboland speak Igbo fluently especially the Okada and Keke drivers.
While in Enugu,2 of my aunty's house helps were Idomas and spoke Igbo like a native. I never knew they were not igbos till i was told.

bigfrancis21:


To be honest, I do not remember the name of the place in Cross River even though my dad had told me the name, but this was years back. But I do know that the town is somewhat close to Calabar (off Calabar metropolis).

Are you talking of Akamkpa or Odūkpāni?

Nice thread OP. Let's continue to keep the unity intact. Reminds me of a Margaret Ekpo a true Efik/Igbo legend. Let me also use this opportunity to give a shout out to my alma mater at Etimbo-Akpabuyo Calabar. To folks like Edet, Nsikan, Bassey and Itoro, you guys were more than blood brothers to me. Mme e sere.

Erik/Ibibio history with Igbo isn't the same as idoma. Idoma mingle through Enugu boarder while efik/ Ibibio and Igbo share genes and are more related . aro Confederacy is all over south east and its efik/ Ibibio/ Igbo blood 90% . do u know that Ibibio traders are one of d founders of Nike in Enugu state? U hardly speak Igbo sentence without sharing one or two words with efik/ Ibibio. Efik/ Ibibio migrated from arochukwu and their remnants r now igbos while idoma move to Igbo land and mingle. What's dcreal name of Ibibio? It's IBO bio. Igbo is IBO .British couldn't pronounce IBO and IBO bio so they corrupted it to Igbo And Ibibio. If Igbo is IBO and Ibibio is IBO bio then Igbo= Ibibio

Akwa Ibom and Igbo have always shared very strong similar cultures. Akwa Ibom as a name derives from the phrase, 'Qua Iboe' or 'Kwa Ibo', meaning 'like/in the same capacity as the Ibos', given to the Ibibios by the British upon contact with them and noticing that they were almost the same as the Igbos culturally except for language differences.

In Cross River today, a church still survives named 'Qua Iboe church'.

http://quaiboechurchnig.wikifoundry.com/

My two cents.

Qua Iboe is Akwa IBO corrupted by British as qua Iboe. Akwa IBO is greater Igbo ie Igbo's outside 5 south eastern states which later became Akwa IBO state

THE EGBO ARE IGBO –

The majority of the captives taken to the Americas were from the coastal Egbo tribes and were referred to as Calabaris.

Presently in Igboland they are known as the Efik,Ibibio,Oron and Ekoi etc. and are well associated with a secret society known as the Egbo Society.

Although the present day Efik and Ibibio living in Nigeria generally deny
ancestral relations with the Igbo, this was not always the case as described by A.E. Afigbo, Professor of History at the University of Nsukka.

“ Until three or four decades ago there were many Efik and Ibibio
communities which proudly laid claims to Igbo origins but today would
treat such suggestions as an affront. Here we find the classic example of the trick which time and political consciousness play on historical writings.”

The explorer William Balfour Baike writes in 1854 that the Efik mark
was formerly the same as that used by some Igbos but more recently they have adopted another.

Egbo captives meaning those such as the Igbo descended Efik and Ibibio were targeted throughout the entire period of the slave trade beginning with the Spanish and Portuguese traders of the 16th century and continuing to arrive in the Americas throughout the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

The Aro slave trading network of Arochukwu first established itself in
1620 with the intent of enslaving the Egbo tribes. In regards to this task they settled in the most southeastern corner of Igboland,lands belonging to the semi-autonomous Egbo nation called Egbo-Shari.https://www.africaresource.com/rasta/sesostris-the-great-the-egyptian-hercules/the-greater-igbo-nation-by-ishaq-d-al-sulaimani/comment-page-2/