macof:


True but the differences are much more than the similarities. Efik/ibibio is one culture, Igbo is another
And Nsibidi has it's origin in the Efik/Ibibio Ekoi/Ejaagham culture

it belongs to them and not Mgbokos...it doesn't mean anything in mgboko but means cruel writings in ekoi.the cross river Igbos borrowed it from the ekois,renamed it to nsibiri and spread throughout the cultural area called ALA IGBO

cococandy:
ekpe is practiced in my hometown mbaise imo state. They have their public displays from time to time Especially during the new yam festival

Yes Umuahia,Mbaise and Ngwa more like Abia state stuff.

cheruv:

it belongs to them and not Mgbokos...it doesn't mean anything in mgboko but means cruel writings in ekoi.the cross river Igbos borrowed it from the ekois,renamed it to nsibiri and spread throughout the cultural area called ALA IGBO

Sure it's Ekoi, my point is Ekoi is of the same cultural structure as Efiks...I merely use "efik/ibibio" to represent all those culturally assimilated and linguistically linked tribes in the region

I don't get why this was a cause for arguments in the first place, it's like general knowledge

macof:


Sure it's Ekoi, my point is Ekoi is of the same cultural structure as Efiks...I merely use "efik/ibibio" to represent all those culturally assimilated and linguistically linked tribes in the region

I don't get why this was a cause for arguments in the first place, it's like general knowledge

This is the first time I've heard anyone attempt to put Ekoi under an Efik/Ibibio umbrella. You probably don't know how dissimilar both languages are. To give you an idea, Yoruba and Idoma are closer to each other than Efik and Ekoi are. It is not general knowledge that Ekoi falls under Efik...unless it's general knowledge that Nupe falls under Yoruba. (This is not even a good analogy: Yoruba and Nupe are closer to each other than Efik and Ekoi).

The Aros, also known as umuchukwu (children of the supreme God and custodian of the great chukwu of Arochukwu – ibini Ukpabi), are a people whose home base in the city of Arochukwu is the last Igbo settlement before the cross river in the south-eastern region of the area now known as Nigeria. Log before the Portugese and the British arrived at the coast of West Africa, the city-state of Arochukwu had developed into a highly organized and progressive power, supported by a heirarchy of preists and chiefs who were agents of the all-powerful (God), ibini Ukpabi, the Aro God. The Aros were highly respected and appreciated within the Igbo and non-Igbo lands of eastern Nigeria. The Aro man was regarded as a sacred being not to be attacked, killed or looted of his merchandise, for such an act against the Aro man brought instant punishment on the perpetrators. Given the protection the Aro man had, from both the influence of ibini-Ukpabi and the Ohafia/Abam warriors, he enjoyed free trade within the region. This resulted in the Aros traveling long distances in varous directions away from their homeland to set up out-posts for trading purposes. Most of the se outposts survived till this day as Aro settlements away from the Aro homeland.

These Aro settlements maintained their allegiance to the Aro homeland and to the Eze Aro, who is the supreme leader of all the Aro people, towns and settlements the world over. We the Aros, like the Jews, take great pride in our culture and identity wherever we go. Though we may settle among other cultures away from the Aro homeland, we still maintain our customs and traditions. The Aro state empire unfortunately suffered a devastating setback with the coming of the British which resulted in the Anglo-Aro war in the turn of the century. The mysticism surrounding the ibini-Ukpabi was destroyed by the British army, and the well organized Aro system of government and infrastructure were recklessly dismantled by the British.


There are over 100 Aro Communities in Nigeria. Until the British firmly established authority in what became Nigeria in 1901, various peoples of Nigeria moved freely and settled in different parts of the country. Some settlements were achieved by peaceful means, others were through a mixture of diplomacy, localized wars and negotiations. Whereas Aro Okporoenyi and Izombe typifies the first category, Aro Ndizuogu and Ndi-Eni (Ndikelionwu, Ndiowu, Ndiokparaeke, Ndiokpalaeze, Ajalli, etc.) are of the second order. Some Aro settlements (communities) within the second order (diplomacy and negotiations) signed away their rights (of conquest) recognized at that time by international law as the strongest right of any nation. Aro Ikwere, Aro Cameroon and Aro Ajalli, among others, have either lost their settlements or are in heated micro-battles with dominant cultures for their independence and sovereignty. The history of the Aros goes back to the Igbo migration and foundings of the kingdom of Arochukwu. Before Igbos started arriving in the 17th century, Ibibios lived in many scattered communities between the Imo and Cross Rivers where they arrived through the Benue and plateau area. Population pressure caused Igbo migrations from the north into the Ibibio areas starting in the 15th century.

Tensions escalated especially when the last and heaviest phases of migrations occurred in the 17th century. The Aro-Ibibio wars and the migration of the Akpa from east of the Cross River, formed the nation. This began during the turning point of the 17th century to the 18th century. The Igbo and Akpa alliance, defeated the original inhabitant Ibibios after several long years of warfare. By this time, the slave trade was popular in the hinterland. The mid-18th century saw the start of mass migrations of Aro businessmen and slave raiders. Priests of Ibini Ukpabi, spread the religion and the Aro Confederacy was in power. Aro culture and influence spread, until it went into a downfall during the last quarter of the 19th century. This was due to the abolition of slavery and the penetration of the Europeans, mainly British colonists. After tensions finally led to bloodshed, the Anglo-Aro war took place from 1901-1902. This resulted in Aro dominance being drastically decreased enough for British to occupy eastern Nigeria. Not only did the Aro suffer a defeat but a terrible loss of importance and influence throughout the settlements.

The Aros have a very rich tradition. One factor is the Ekpe society which is a sacred cult originally from east of the Cross River. The highly religious and judicial cult took a major part in Aro cultism. The use of the writing system, Nsibidi, was based on secret societies like Ekpe. Another is the Ibini Ukpabi shrine, who was a mediating god among the Aros. They influenced neighbours and allies before the British invasion. The shrine was used for selling slaves during the slave trade. The Ekeleke masquerade activity was important in Aro settlements rather than Ekpe. Brought from the Aros in the western Niger Delta, it eventually spread to the Oguta area. They also were known for wearing the popular "George" cloth. The Ikperikpe warrior dance was very famous among warriors in the old days and continues to be practiced.

These parts of their culture were borrowed by or influenced their neighbours during the Confederacy era.

letu:
Yes Umuahia,Mbaise and Ngwa more like Abia state stuff.

Pre-colonial Igbo political organization was based on semiautonomous communities, devoid of kings or governing chiefs. With the exception of towns such as Onitsha, which had kings called Obis, and places like Nri and Arochukwu, which had priest kings known as Ezes, most Igbo village governments were ruled solely by an assembly of the common people. Although titleholders were respected because of their accomplishments, they were never revered as kings, but often performed special functions given to them by such these assemblies. This way of governing was immensely different from most other communities of Western Africa, and only shared by the Ewe of Ghana. Igbo secret societies also had a ceremonial script called Nsibidi. Igbos had a calendar in which a week has four days. A month has seven weeks and thirteen months a year. The last month had an extra day. They also had mathematics called Okwe and Mkpisi and a saving and loans bank system called Isusu. They settled law matters by oath-taking to a god. If that person died in a certain amount of time, he was guilty. If not, he was free to go, but if guilty, that person could face exile or servitude to a deity.

christopher123:


The Aros, also known as umuchukwu (children of the supreme God and custodian of the great chukwu of Arochukwu – ibini Ukpabi), are a people whose home base in the city of Arochukwu is the last Igbo settlement before the cross river in the south-eastern region of the area now known as Nigeria. Log before the Portugese and the British arrived at the coast of West Africa, the city-state of Arochukwu had developed into a highly organized and progressive power, supported by a heirarchy of preists and chiefs who were agents of the all-powerful (God), ibini Ukpabi, the Aro God. The Aros were highly respected and appreciated within the Igbo and non-Igbo lands of eastern Nigeria. The Aro man was regarded as a sacred being not to be attacked, killed or looted of his merchandise, for such an act against the Aro man brought instant punishment on the perpetrators. Given the protection the Aro man had, from both the influence of ibini-Ukpabi and the Ohafia/Abam warriors, he enjoyed free trade within the region. This resulted in the Aros traveling long distances in varous directions away from their homeland to set up out-posts for trading purposes. Most of the se outposts survived till this day as Aro settlements away from the Aro homeland.

These Aro settlements maintained their allegiance to the Aro homeland and to the Eze Aro, who is the supreme leader of all the Aro people, towns and settlements the world over. We the Aros, like the Jews, take great pride in our culture and identity wherever we go. Though we may settle among other cultures away from the Aro homeland, we still maintain our customs and traditions. The Aro state empire unfortunately suffered a devastating setback with the coming of the British which resulted in the Anglo-Aro war in the turn of the century. The mysticism surrounding the ibini-Ukpabi was destroyed by the British army, and the well organized Aro system of government and infrastructure were recklessly dismantled by the British.


There are over 100 Aro Communities in Nigeria. Until the British firmly established authority in what became Nigeria in 1901, various peoples of Nigeria moved freely and settled in different parts of the country. Some settlements were achieved by peaceful means, others were through a mixture of diplomacy, localized wars and negotiations. Whereas Aro Okporoenyi and Izombe typifies the first category, Aro Ndizuogu and Ndi-Eni (Ndikelionwu, Ndiowu, Ndiokparaeke, Ndiokpalaeze, Ajalli, etc.) are of the second order. Some Aro settlements (communities) within the second order (diplomacy and negotiations) signed away their rights (of conquest) recognized at that time by international law as the strongest right of any nation. Aro Ikwere, Aro Cameroon and Aro Ajalli, among others, have either lost their settlements or are in heated micro-battles with dominant cultures for their independence and sovereignty. The history of the Aros goes back to the Igbo migration and foundings of the kingdom of Arochukwu. Before Igbos started arriving in the 17th century, Ibibios lived in many scattered communities between the Imo and Cross Rivers where they arrived through the Benue and plateau area. Population pressure caused Igbo migrations from the north into the Ibibio areas starting in the 15th century.

Tensions escalated especially when the last and heaviest phases of migrations occurred in the 17th century. The Aro-Ibibio wars and the migration of the Akpa from east of the Cross River, formed the nation. This began during the turning point of the 17th century to the 18th century. The Igbo and Akpa alliance, defeated the original inhabitant Ibibios after several long years of warfare. By this time, the slave trade was popular in the hinterland. The mid-18th century saw the start of mass migrations of Aro businessmen and slave raiders. Priests of Ibini Ukpabi, spread the religion and the Aro Confederacy was in power. Aro culture and influence spread, until it went into a downfall during the last quarter of the 19th century. This was due to the abolition of slavery and the penetration of the Europeans, mainly British colonists. After tensions finally led to bloodshed, the Anglo-Aro war took place from 1901-1902. This resulted in Aro dominance being drastically decreased enough for British to occupy eastern Nigeria. Not only did the Aro suffer a defeat but a terrible loss of importance and influence throughout the settlements.

The Aros have a very rich tradition. One factor is the Ekpe society which is a sacred cult originally from east of the Cross River. The highly religious and judicial cult took a major part in Aro cultism. The use of the writing system, Nsibidi, was based on secret societies like Ekpe. Another is the Ibini Ukpabi shrine, who was a mediating god among the Aros. They influenced neighbours and allies before the British invasion. The shrine was used for selling slaves during the slave trade. The Ekeleke masquerade activity was important in Aro settlements rather than Ekpe. Brought from the Aros in the western Niger Delta, it eventually spread to the Oguta area. They also were known for wearing the popular "George" cloth. The Ikperikpe warrior dance was very famous among warriors in the old days and continues to be practiced.

These parts of their culture were borrowed by or influenced their neighbours during the Confederacy era.

Keep lying to your self the Efik ibibio history is well documented in great libraries all over the world you cannot change , alter, steal or pervert our history! here is the correct account of the revisionist history that you are trying to tell by your lies: For the Attention of those who want the truth:The History of Nsibidi Writtings.
THE IBIBIO CIVILIZATION OF AROCHUKWU


The Ibibio word "Nyibi" which means turn in English, is the root of Nyibidi. Nyibidi means turning. The play was usually accompanied with drummings. The drum is called Ibit. The drum for the ruling Crown is called Ibit Itam. Itam means crown, hat, or headgear. Ekpe was indeed the governing deity and Ibit Itam was one of their major plays. Ukara means governance or government in Ibibio. Ukara cloth is worn by those in the government of Ekpe. The Ekpe and even Ekpo masquerade of old used to dance in a circular motion in order to induce a trance-like effect or feeling. Hence Nyibidi. Ibibio is the largest language of the Cross River and Akwa Ibom territories. Efik, Ekoi, Annang, Oron, Eket, Qua, Ibeno, Okobo,etc. are all variations of Ibibio. The Ibibio owned and controlled Arochukwu until they lost it in 1634 to the allied forces of the migrating Igbo and the Akpa. The Igbo slaves of the Ibibio rebelled and joined forces with the Akpa who were themselves of Ibibio origin. The Ibibios left both Arochukwu and their ancient Long Juju, but those who remained continued to run the oracles and influence the Igbo converts/practitioners of Ekpe. The Ibibios and Efiks taught Nsibidi to the Igbos through the Ekpe society. The chief language used in Ekpe is Ibibio. The Ibibios and Efiks knew Arochukwu as Ibom and Mbot Abasi. Mbot means creation. Abasi means God. Therefore, Mbot Abasi means the creation of God or, simply, the people of God. While in Arochukwu, the Ibibio leaders had a secret society called Ekpe. Ekpe means leopard or lion. The leadership operated (and still does)in an esoteric manner. Only members are privy to the innerworkings of the group. They developed an elaborate system of logograms through which their ideas, knowledge, and activities were recorded. Nyibidi which means turning (going in circles), evolved into Nsibidi. Nsibidi is Ibibio for what is at play or, what's playing? Nso = what. I(as in letter "e" = is. Bidi = play or playing. NSO-I-BIDI (NSIBIDI) or NSO-I-BIRI(NSIBIRI) means what's playing? What's at play? Therefore, Nsibidi means what is playing or, what's at play? Nsibidi was later adopted as the name for the writings associated with Ekpe society. It is true that the Europeans found most of the Nsibidi script among the Ekoi, but it is really of Ibibio origin. When Aro and their allies conquered the Ibibio in 1634, they took over the oracle but retained its priests, with Loesin as the chief priest. It was he who later initiated Aro indigenes into the cult as priests. IBINI UKPABI is the IGBO corruption of IBIT UKPABI. Some say the Igbos used the word IBINI as homage to the slave-raiding Oba of Benin who caused their migration to Arochukwu. After the IBIBIO lost AROCHUKWU, the Igbos renamed the Ibibio deity IBI ITAM (Drum of the Crown). They called it IBIT UKPABI. IBIT is IBIBIO for DRUM. UKPABI is an IGBO name. The corrupted version, IBINI UKPABI, is what they use these days. Since Arochukwu(Mbot Abasi in Ibibio or God's creation/people in English) is the spititual center of the Igbo race, you can say that their 'holyland' is actually of Ibibio origin. I'll call it the IBIBIO CIVILIZATION OF AROCHUKWU. The Ibibio created it and that explains why the Aro deities have mostly Ibibio names.

The Igbos could not fully adapt Nsibidi because translation from Ibibio into Igbo had too many constraints. Original meanings of Ekpe society's Nsibidi often got lost in translation.

"There was no war between Aros and Ibibio -what happened was what one would accurately describe as a coup. The Aros who were assistants (slave by Europeans) at the Ibritam Shrine organized a coup with the help of Ekoi, Akunakuna, and Igbos and seized the shrine from their Ibibio masters. Talbot** put the date at 1300 -1400 based on the geneaology and calculation of the ages of relatives of informant who claims their forebears were in charge of this shrine -we dispute this because the informant forebears couldn't have been incharge since religious affairs in Ibibio land was entrusted to the group known as Annang today ,and this informant came from a different group. However, Talbot also based his date from Aro informant. We still think that the date was much earlier. However the consensus is that the Aros were in possession of the shrine before trade with the Portuguese and later Slave trade with Efik and later the Ijaws-Bonny and kalabari when Ibibios prohibited transportation of people across their territory."
“Obot Okon Ita or Obinkita(an Igbo corruption of the name) was the capital of the Ibibio kingdom of Obong Okon Ita and Ibom(nation in Ibibio) before its conquest by Igbo and Akpa invaders in 1690–1720. This town is significant in Aro History because Obinkita became the center where defeated Ibibio warriors were judged.ion in Ibibio. This is why all Aro villages assemble at Obinkita during the Ikeji festival. Obinkita is now one of the 19 villages of Arochukwu.”
“Agwu Inobia or Eze Agwu the man that was the founding father of igbo Arochukwu

Agwu Inobia or Eze Agwu was one of the founding fathers of the city of Arochukwu, the third largest city in Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. He was the descendant of Nna Uru (a immigrant from the Igbo heartland to the Obong Okon Ita area) and king of the Eze Agwu clan centered in their capital the Amanagwu city-state. As new settlers, the Eze Agwu clan was resisted by the regional power Obong Okon Ita which led to the start of the Aro-Ibibio Wars. The war initially became a stalemate. Both sides arranged a marriage between the king of Obong Okon Ita and a women from the Eze Agwu clan in an attempt for a peaceful coexistence. The marriage eventually failed to bring peace but eventually played a decisive role in the war.

King Agwu Inobia invited Priest Nnachi from the Edda group near Afikpo to help him break the stalemate and win the war. When he arrived, Nnachi and Eze Agwu allied with prince Kakpokpo Okon of the Ibibio kingdom of Obong Okon Ita. Kakpokpo Okon was the son of the marriage between the Igbo women of the King of Obong Okon Ita. The Eze Agwu/Nnachi faction decided to help Kakpokpo attempt to overthrow his brother king Akpan Okon and the coup was heavily resisted. Nnachi called on an Eastern Cross river group known as the Akpa for help. The Akpa are said to have possessed guns and are credited for introducing the weapon to the region. Princes Osim and Akuma Nnubi led Akpa soldiers to help fight against the Ibibios. The alliance between Eze Agwu, Nnachi, Kakpokpo Okon, and the Akpa eventually defeated the Obong Okon Ita forces (1690–1720) under the leadership of Osim Nnubi. As a result of the Aro-Ibibio Wars, the alliance formed the Arochukwu kingdom. Akuma Nnubi was appointed king of Arochukwu in the place of his brother Osim Nnubi who died during the end of the war. Prince Kakpokpo Okon died and the Ulu Okon dynasty was assimilated into the Eze Agwu lineage. The Amanagwu was incorporated as the first of the 19 city-states of Arochukwu and Eze Agwu became one of the three lineages of Arochukwu.”

"The other major slave-exporting state was a loose confederation under the leadership of the Aro, an Igbo clan of mixed Igbo and Ibibio origins, whose home was on the escarpment between the central Igbo districts and the Cross River. Beginning in the late seventeenth century, the Aro built a complex network of alliances and treaties with many of the Igbo clans. They served as arbiters in villages throughout Igboland, and their famous oracle at Arochukwu, located in a thickly wooded gorge, was widely regarded as a court of appeal for many kinds of disputes. By custom the Aro were sacrosanct, allowing them to travel anywhere with their goods without fear of attack. Alliances with certain Igbo clans who acted as mercenaries for the Aro guaranteed their safety. As oracle priests, they also received slaves in payment of fines or dedicated to the gods by their masters as scapegoats for their own transgressions. These slaves thereby became the property of the Aro priests, who were at liberty to sell them."

http://countrystudies.us/nigeria/7.htm
__________________

The Truth of the rich Efik And Ibibio Traditions are well documented and has been a subject of intrigue to the europeans even before colonization and hence there is a lot of literature on our history of shared traditions, Readers will do well to read those account from Talbots, to Amah jones in peer reviewed journals and scholarly books and not ogogor/kiakia fueled figment of imagination of a few igbo wannabe revisionist historians posted on fringe websites and lacking in proper academic referencing as above.

A Copy can never be an Original.

notobs:
The Truth of the rich Efik And Ibibio Traditions are well documented and has been a subject of intrigue to the europeans even before colonization and hence there is a lot of literature on our history of shared traditions, Readers will do well to read those account from Talbots, to Amah jones in peer reviewed journals and scholarly books and not ogogor/kiakia fueled figment of imagination of a few igbo wannabe revisionist historians posted on fringe websites and lacking in proper academic referencing as above.

A Copy can never be an Original.

the europeans linked the origin of nsibidi to the igbos,ekoi,ibibio,efik and ejagham,they linked it mostly to the ejaghams because they have the most number of people practising the nsibidi writing script than the other ethnic groups as of then,the igbos who were well educated in nsibidi ideograph were those who were members of the ekpe secret society,if you are not a member of the ekpe secret society some nsibidi ideograph won't be made known to you

Sigh.

I'm not allowed to post on my own thread again. Thank you moderators. Fulaman198, haba na.

MissMeiya:
I'm not allowed to post on my own thread again. Thank you moderators. Fulaman198, haba na.

please ma'am can you go on with the postings on Nsibidi... Notobs is merely a troll and an intellectual fraud to say the least... Some of us are here to learn from your wealth of knowledge on the subject

kmariko:


please ma'am can you go on with the postings on Nsibidi... Notobs is merely a troll and an intellectual fraud to say the least... Some of us are here to learn from your wealth of knowledge on the subject

Thanks. I will soon. I just emailed the person behind the project this morning.

MissMeiya:
I'm not allowed to post on my own thread again. Thank you moderators. Fulaman198, haba na.

What's wrong? How can I hello you miss?

Fulaman198:


What's wrong? How can I hello you miss?

My knight! Are you the culture mod? Can you ban derailers?

christopher123:



Pre-colonial Igbo political organization was based on semiautonomous communities, devoid of kings or governing chiefs. With the exception of towns such as Onitsha, which had kings called Obis, and places like Nri and Arochukwu, which had priest kings known as Ezes, most Igbo village governments were ruled solely by an assembly of the common people. Although titleholders were respected because of their accomplishments, they were never revered as kings, but often performed special functions given to them by such these assemblies. This way of governing was immensely different from most other communities of Western Africa, and only shared by the Ewe of Ghana. Igbo secret societies also had a ceremonial script called Nsibidi. Igbos had a calendar in which a week has four days. A month has seven weeks and thirteen months a year. The last month had an extra day. They also had mathematics called Okwe and Mkpisi and a saving and loans bank system called Isusu. They settled law matters by oath-taking to a god. If that person died in a certain amount of time, he was guilty. If not, he was free to go, but if guilty, that person could face exile or servitude to a deity.

true this. Igbo are known to be one of the earliest civilizations to practice democracy in Nigeria. There wasn't just one monarch who ruled over everyone rather we had a system of government known as "Oha na Eze" . Meaning "the people and the king". The people before the king.

Only in a few areas was kingship hereditary. In most places,it was by 'divine' selection or good old voting overseen by the kingmakers.
Titled men known as the nze na ozo lead the people alongside the king priest. Each kindred producing an nze to represent them much like the current house of reps thing we have going now.

And then the umuada society (our old version of feminists if I may say that)
a group made up of first daughters of every household to see to the rights of the women. Although in some areas umuada societies consist of all females and not necessarily the first daughters.


Fascinating really.

Your such a smart lady, have you come in contact of nsibidi written in uli or native black chalk?

cococandy:


true this. Igbo are known to be one of the earliest civilizations to practice democracy in Nigeria. There wasn't just one monarch who ruled over everyone rather we had a system of government known as "Oha na Eze" . Meaning "the people and the king". The people before the king.

Only in a few areas was kingship hereditary. In most places,it was by 'divine' selection or good old voting overseen by the kingmakers.
Titled men known as the nze na ozo lead the people alongside the king priest. Each kindred producing an nze to represent them much like the current house of reps thing we have going now.

And then the umuada society (our old version of feminists if I may say that)
a group made up of first daughters of every household to see to the rights of the women. Although in some areas umuada societies consist of all females and not necessarily the first daughters.


Fascinating really.

The Ekoi people speak Ekoi also known as Ejagham. Ekoid language (Niger–Congo family) of Nigeria and Cameroon. Ekoi is dialectically diverse. Western varieties include Etung and Bendeghe; eastern Keaka and Obang.
The Ekoi are one of several peoples who use nsibidi ideographs, and may be the ones that created them.Nsibidi (also known as nsibiri, nchibiddi or nchibiddy) is a system of symbols indigenous to what is now southeastern Nigeria that is apparently ideographic, though there have been suggestions that it includes logographic elements. The symbols are at least several centuries old: Early forms appeared on excavated pottery as well as what are most likely ceramic stools and headrests from the Calabar region, with a range of dates between 400 and 1400 CE. Nsibidi's origin has been attributed to the Ekoi people of southern Nigeria.

The origin of the word nsibidi is not known. One theory traces the word to the Ekoid languages, where it means "cruel letters", reflecting the harsh laws of the secret societies that hold nsibidi knowledge. In Calabar, nsibidi is mostly associated with men's leopard societies such as Ekpe. The leopard societies were a legislative, judicial, and executive power before colonisation, especially among the Efik who exerted much influence over the Cross River.

The origin of nsibidi is most commonly attributed to the Ejagham people of the northern Cross River region, mostly because colonial administrators found the largest and most diverse nsibidi among them. Nsibidi spread throughout the region over time and mixed with other cultures and art forms such as the Igbo uli graphic design. In 1909 J. K. Macgregor who collected nsibidi symbols claimed that nsibidi was traditionally said to have come from the Uguakima, Ebe or Uyanga tribes of the Igbo people, which legend says were taught the script by baboons, although one writer believes Macgregor had been misled by his informants

For about a thousand years, the Ibibio lived in the area which later became Arochukwu. During their staying, they founded several states (Obong Okon Ita and Ibom) and had a strong cultural presence. Igbo migrants into the region, was led by the Eze Agwu clan in the mid-17th century. The Ibibios resisted these newcomers and this resulted in a stalemate. The Eze Awgu clan searched for ways to subdue the stiff Ibibio resistance. The Priest Nnachi from the Edda group near Afikpo, was called by their king Awgu Inobia (Eze Agwu) for help. When he arrived, Nnachi and Eze Agwu allied with prince Kakpokpo Okon of the Ibibio kingdom of Obong Okon Ita. Kakpokpo Okon was the son of a marriage between an Igbo women of the Eze Agwu clan and the King of Obong Okon Ita in an attempt of a peace treaty. The Eze Agwu/Nnachi faction decided to help Kakpokpo attempt to overthrow his brother king Akpan Okon. The coup was heavily resisted which called for even more help. Through Nnachi, an Eastern Cross river group answered the call for help. They were known as the Akpa. These warriors and traders, may have had European guns which were new to the Aro territory. Being the Igbo allies, the Akpas were led by the royal Nnubi family. Osim and Akuma Nnubi led Akpa soldiers to help fight against the Ibibios. Together with Igbo forces and Ibibio rebels, they defeated the Obong Okon Ita forces (1690). During the final battles, Osim Nnubi was slain in Oror city state making it the capital of Arochukwu. In Obinkita the remaining Ibibio warriors became prisoners and were judged and that is why the city state is the holder of the Ikeji festival. But at the end of the war, Osim and Kakpokpo were dead. In order to honor Osim's legacy, his brother Akuma was crowned the first EzeAro (king). After his death, Nnachi's descendants took the throne starting with his first son Oke Nnachi. The Arochukwu kingdom, was founded.[1]

Aftermath[edit]
After Arochukwu was formed, it began to expand because of the growing population and territorial protection. Ibibio groups who were kicked out and their allies (Obot Mme, Mako, and etc.) sporadically attacked Arochukwu shortly after its formation. In order to neutralize Ibibio invasions, Aro forces formed vigilante camps which eventually grew into communities on the Arochukwu-Ibibio boundaries and repelled the invasions.

notobs:


Keep lying to your self the Efik ibibio history is well documented in great libraries all over the world you cannot change , alter, steal or pervert our history! here is the correct account of the revisionist history that you are trying to tell by your lies: For the Attention of those who want the truth:The History of Nsibidi Writtings.
THE IBIBIO CIVILIZATION OF AROCHUKWU


The Ibibio word "Nyibi" which means turn in English, is the root of Nyibidi. Nyibidi means turning. The play was usually accompanied with drummings. The drum is called Ibit. The drum for the ruling Crown is called Ibit Itam. Itam means crown, hat, or headgear. Ekpe was indeed the governing deity and Ibit Itam was one of their major plays. Ukara means governance or government in Ibibio. Ukara cloth is worn by those in the government of Ekpe. The Ekpe and even Ekpo masquerade of old used to dance in a circular motion in order to induce a trance-like effect or feeling. Hence Nyibidi. Ibibio is the largest language of the Cross River and Akwa Ibom territories. Efik, Ekoi, Annang, Oron, Eket, Qua, Ibeno, Okobo,etc. are all variations of Ibibio. The Ibibio owned and controlled Arochukwu until they lost it in 1634 to the allied forces of the migrating Igbo and the Akpa. The Igbo slaves of the Ibibio rebelled and joined forces with the Akpa who were themselves of Ibibio origin. The Ibibios left both Arochukwu and their ancient Long Juju, but those who remained continued to run the oracles and influence the Igbo converts/practitioners of Ekpe. The Ibibios and Efiks taught Nsibidi to the Igbos through the Ekpe society. The chief language used in Ekpe is Ibibio. The Ibibios and Efiks knew Arochukwu as Ibom and Mbot Abasi. Mbot means creation. Abasi means God. Therefore, Mbot Abasi means the creation of God or, simply, the people of God. While in Arochukwu, the Ibibio leaders had a secret society called Ekpe. Ekpe means leopard or lion. The leadership operated (and still does)in an esoteric manner. Only members are privy to the innerworkings of the group. They developed an elaborate system of logograms through which their ideas, knowledge, and activities were recorded. Nyibidi which means turning (going in circles), evolved into Nsibidi. Nsibidi is Ibibio for what is at play or, what's playing? Nso = what. I(as in letter "e" = is. Bidi = play or playing. NSO-I-BIDI (NSIBIDI) or NSO-I-BIRI(NSIBIRI) means what's playing? What's at play? Therefore, Nsibidi means what is playing or, what's at play? Nsibidi was later adopted as the name for the writings associated with Ekpe society. It is true that the Europeans found most of the Nsibidi script among the Ekoi, but it is really of Ibibio origin. When Aro and their allies conquered the Ibibio in 1634, they took over the oracle but retained its priests, with Loesin as the chief priest. It was he who later initiated Aro indigenes into the cult as priests. IBINI UKPABI is the IGBO corruption of IBIT UKPABI. Some say the Igbos used the word IBINI as homage to the slave-raiding Oba of Benin who caused their migration to Arochukwu. After the IBIBIO lost AROCHUKWU, the Igbos renamed the Ibibio deity IBI ITAM (Drum of the Crown). They called it IBIT UKPABI. IBIT is IBIBIO for DRUM. UKPABI is an IGBO name. The corrupted version, IBINI UKPABI, is what they use these days. Since Arochukwu(Mbot Abasi in Ibibio or God's creation/people in English) is the spititual center of the Igbo race, you can say that their 'holyland' is actually of Ibibio origin. I'll call it the IBIBIO CIVILIZATION OF AROCHUKWU. The Ibibio created it and that explains why the Aro deities have mostly Ibibio names.

The Igbos could not fully adapt Nsibidi because translation from Ibibio into Igbo had too many constraints. Original meanings of Ekpe society's Nsibidi often got lost in translation.

"There was no war between Aros and Ibibio -what happened was what one would accurately describe as a coup. The Aros who were assistants (slave by Europeans) at the Ibritam Shrine organized a coup with the help of Ekoi, Akunakuna, and Igbos and seized the shrine from their Ibibio masters. Talbot** put the date at 1300 -1400 based on the geneaology and calculation of the ages of relatives of informant who claims their forebears were in charge of this shrine -we dispute this because the informant forebears couldn't have been incharge since religious affairs in Ibibio land was entrusted to the group known as Annang today ,and this informant came from a different group. However, Talbot also based his date from Aro informant. We still think that the date was much earlier. However the consensus is that the Aros were in possession of the shrine before trade with the Portuguese and later Slave trade with Efik and later the Ijaws-Bonny and kalabari when Ibibios prohibited transportation of people across their territory."
“Obot Okon Ita or Obinkita(an Igbo corruption of the name) was the capital of the Ibibio kingdom of Obong Okon Ita and Ibom(nation in Ibibio) before its conquest by Igbo and Akpa invaders in 1690–1720. This town is significant in Aro History because Obinkita became the center where defeated Ibibio warriors were judged.ion in Ibibio. This is why all Aro villages assemble at Obinkita during the Ikeji festival. Obinkita is now one of the 19 villages of Arochukwu.”
“Agwu Inobia or Eze Agwu the man that was the founding father of igbo Arochukwu

Agwu Inobia or Eze Agwu was one of the founding fathers of the city of Arochukwu, the third largest city in Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. He was the descendant of Nna Uru (a immigrant from the Igbo heartland to the Obong Okon Ita area) and king of the Eze Agwu clan centered in their capital the Amanagwu city-state. As new settlers, the Eze Agwu clan was resisted by the regional power Obong Okon Ita which led to the start of the Aro-Ibibio Wars. The war initially became a stalemate. Both sides arranged a marriage between the king of Obong Okon Ita and a women from the Eze Agwu clan in an attempt for a peaceful coexistence. The marriage eventually failed to bring peace but eventually played a decisive role in the war.

King Agwu Inobia invited Priest Nnachi from the Edda group near Afikpo to help him break the stalemate and win the war. When he arrived, Nnachi and Eze Agwu allied with prince Kakpokpo Okon of the Ibibio kingdom of Obong Okon Ita. Kakpokpo Okon was the son of the marriage between the Igbo women of the King of Obong Okon Ita. The Eze Agwu/Nnachi faction decided to help Kakpokpo attempt to overthrow his brother king Akpan Okon and the coup was heavily resisted. Nnachi called on an Eastern Cross river group known as the Akpa for help. The Akpa are said to have possessed guns and are credited for introducing the weapon to the region. Princes Osim and Akuma Nnubi led Akpa soldiers to help fight against the Ibibios. The alliance between Eze Agwu, Nnachi, Kakpokpo Okon, and the Akpa eventually defeated the Obong Okon Ita forces (1690–1720) under the leadership of Osim Nnubi. As a result of the Aro-Ibibio Wars, the alliance formed the Arochukwu kingdom. Akuma Nnubi was appointed king of Arochukwu in the place of his brother Osim Nnubi who died during the end of the war. Prince Kakpokpo Okon died and the Ulu Okon dynasty was assimilated into the Eze Agwu lineage. The Amanagwu was incorporated as the first of the 19 city-states of Arochukwu and Eze Agwu became one of the three lineages of Arochukwu.”

"The other major slave-exporting state was a loose confederation under the leadership of the Aro, an Igbo clan of mixed Igbo and Ibibio origins, whose home was on the escarpment between the central Igbo districts and the Cross River. Beginning in the late seventeenth century, the Aro built a complex network of alliances and treaties with many of the Igbo clans. They served as arbiters in villages throughout Igboland, and their famous oracle at Arochukwu, located in a thickly wooded gorge, was widely regarded as a court of appeal for many kinds of disputes. By custom the Aro were sacrosanct, allowing them to travel anywhere with their goods without fear of attack. Alliances with certain Igbo clans who acted as mercenaries for the Aro guaranteed their safety. As oracle priests, they also received slaves in payment of fines or dedicated to the gods by their masters as scapegoats for their own transgressions. These slaves thereby became the property of the Aro priests, who were at liberty to sell them."

http://countrystudies.us/nigeria/7.htm
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christopher123:
Your such a smart lady, have you come in contact of nsibidi written in uli or native black chalk?

thank you.

Well I know about Uli body art and native black chalk designs. Or so I thought they were. I just didn't know there's a name for it until the thread that was the inspiration for this one was birthed. Neither did I know that It was/is a form of communication.

I just got sort of spellbound right away.

cococandy:
thank you.

Well I know about Uli body art and native black chalk designs. Or so I thought they were. I just didn't know there's a name for it until the thread that was the inspiration for this one was birthed. Neither did I know that It was/is a form of communication.

I just got sort of spellbound right away.

Yes those designs you see have meaning
Just that in igbo land today you rarely find mud houses

Those days

Uli and nzu will be used to for patterned designs

macof:


Sure it's Ekoi, my point is Ekoi is of the same cultural structure as Efiks...I merely use "efik/ibibio" to represent all those culturally assimilated and linguistically linked tribes in the region

I don't get why this was a cause for arguments in the first place, it's like general knowledge

Ekoi and efiks aint same

Just like confusing igalla and igbo

They are not

christopher123:



Yes those designs you see have meaning
Just that in igbo land today you rarely find mud houses

Those days

Uli and nzu will be used to for patterned designs

yea. Who knows maybe they were used to identify which house was which.
I'm aware royal houses A.K.A Obi of the kings had special designs for them.
Worship houses, the shrines or whatever had different designs too.
Maybe some of those sent out a particular kind of message to visitors and/or residents of the village/s.

Then maidens wore body art patterns different from married women made with Uli the red earth dye. I guess theirs probably screamed "see me here. Virgin. Not yet taken"

cococandy:
yea. Who knows maybe they were used to identify which house was which.
I'm aware royal houses A.K.A Obi of the kings had special designs for them.
Worship houses, the shrines or whatever had different designs too.
Maybe some of those sent out a particular kind of message to visitors and/or residents of the village/s.

Then maidens wore body art patterns different from married women made with Uli the red earth dye. I guess theirs probably screamed "see me here. Virgin. Not yet taken"

NOW YOU ARE REASONING, NSIBI IS MORE OF A CODE, AND IN IGBO LAND THOSE DAYS, YOU HAVE TO BE EDUCATED IN NSIBIDI FOR YOU TO DECIPHER THEIR MEANING, MORE OR LESS SECRETIVE THING, YOU KNOW THEIR WAS NO UNIVERSITIES IN THEN


But that is the way it is my dear, which part of igbo are you ?


I am enjoying this thread, derailers are low apart from notorious notobs, all are intellectual arguements, but notobs is making a salient point silently in a wrongful manner

macof:


True but the differences are much more than the similarities. Efik/ibibio is one culture, Igbo is another
And Nsibidi has it's origin in the Efik/Ibibio culture

I never said they are same cultures. I said they have established relationships amongst them due to geographical proximity. We have what is Cross riverain Igbo culture too. Nsibidi has it's origins in Ejagham before the efik/ibibio adopted it. Am actually more interested in the aboriginal settlers of the Abia/Cross river area,who were driven away by the Ibibios.

christopher123:




But that is the way it is my dear, which part of igbo are you ?


r

abu m nwa Ada mbaise.

The Igbos are not Efik/Ibibios, Ekpe and Nsibidi is the cultural heritage of the Efik Ibibio others are just wannabe. Thats the truth.

Key question what is the meaning of Ekpe = Efik/Ibibio language used to describe big cats, espercially lion it could also be used for leopard, tiger etc thats that not igbo language.
The igbo equivalent for this words is agụ owuru = leopard and odum = lion. and we are discussing Ekpe and its sacred language and not odum or agu owuru as the revisionist will want you to believe. They can never controvert this truth for its sacrosanct.

Nsibidi is another Efik/Ibibio lanugage which we all know as the language of Ekpe cultural society.

Whats the link to igbo? Ekpe and Nsibidi Both language of the Efiks and Ibibio, what has igbo to do with it? if it was their cultural heritage they would have had Igbo words to describe it. Stop fooling yourselves revisionist historians. A copy can never be Original.

notobs:


The cubans and brazillian of efik/ibibio ancestry are the ones practicing Ekpe and Nsibidi , Not Igbo, Go there and also find the part of your Igbo history and cultural practices that were taken there and are preserved till today, we the Efik/ibibio have found ours in Ekpe/Nsibidi, the yourubas and other African groups have also found their culture preserved in the diaspora.
The igbos should do same and not try to usurp our own cultural heritage. The igbos cultural practice includes the OSU CASTE system, ebegede dance etc, go to cuba and brazil and the Americas and do research to find out if the people bothered to preserve such cultural practices! and stop this intellectual fraud that you guys are projecting.

This is too funny,lol. Intellectual fraud ko, repetitive arguement ni.

You hardly find/see Efik/ibibio people competing or fighting against igbos on nairaland considering the kinship between both groups. So why argue about a forgotten script which an Igbo researcher is trying to reinvent?
The relationship between Efik and Igbos cannot be erased or hiden,we are more like distant cousins and neighbours. Infact,i noticed a new trend....men from Akwaibom/Cross river are actually marrying more Igbo women. Go and ask Akpabio.lol. Nsibidi or no nsibidi, we are good neighbours and brothers.

MissMeiya:


My knight! Are you the culture mod? Can you ban derailers?

Sure if they have done something wrong my Queen, can you pinpoint some examples and report them please

notobs:
The Igbos are not Efik/Ibibios, Ekpe and Nsibidi is the cultural heritage of the Efik Ibibio others are just wannabe. Thats the truth.

Key question what is the meaning of Ekpe = Efik/Ibibio language used to describe big cats, espercially lion it could also be used for leopard, tiger etc thats that not igbo language. The igbo equivalent for this words is agụ owuru for leopard and odum for lion. and we are discussing Ekpe not odum or agu owuru

Nsibidi is another Efik/Ibibio lanugage which we all know as the language of Ekpe cultural society.

Whats the link to igbo? Ekpe and Nsibidi Both language of the Efiks and Ibibio, what has igbo to do with it? it it was their cultural heritage they would have had Igbo words to describe it. Stop fooling yourselves revisionist historians. A copy can never be Original.

You do realize that one point 14,000 years ago these people could have been one people right? I bet that never occurred to you. You were not around thousands of years ago to know.