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UMI
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01 CULTURE
IN EF1K FOLKTALES
A Dissertation
Presented to
The Faculty of the Graduate School
of Yale University
In Candidacy
for the Depree of
Doctor of Philosophy
by
Donald C. Simmons
September 10B
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IN F O R M A T IO N T O U S E R S
Also, if unauthorized
copyright m aterial had to be rem oved, a note will indicate the deletion.
U M I Microform 3 3 7 0 9 0 2
Copyright 2 0 0 9 by ProQ uest LLC
All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against
unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code.
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TABLE OF Cr TT'T TS
CHAPTER
PAGE
P R E F A C E ....................................
Note on
orthopraphy
Xi
xii
PART I
I.
PART II
II,
11
11
12
Tlomencla ture
Location
.................
Demography
.................
Neiphborinp tribes
12
12
15
.............
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
.....................
Oeopraphical features
28
28
28
.......................
16
3l|
Traditional h i s t o r y ....................
3lj
European contact
.......................
37
A c c u l t u r a t i o n ........................
1^8
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iii
CHAPTER
V,
PAGE
50
50
51
.......................
.......................
Insanity
Bl
..........................
85
89
92
Domestio animals
95?
Food processing
96
112
Beverages
Crafts
Trade
VII.
79
..............
77
................
115
126
. . . .
..............
130
130
Folklore
13 8
179
Communication signals....................
187
Gestures
19
Greetings
.................
20l|
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iv
CT1APPFR
VIII.
PAGE
FAMILY AID KINSHIP G R O U P S .................
Kinship t e r m i n o l o p y ................
206
Klrship proups
211
Inheritance
IX.
.............
Social stratification
21L|
216
216
220
220
W a r f a r e ..............................
220
Ape p r a d e s ..........................
235
X.
206
. .
237
27U
279
28l|.
LIFF C Y C L F ..............................
208
Narriape
288
290
37
321
.
33I)
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V
CHAPTER
XI.
PAGE
S U F F R H A T T I R A L I S M ..........................
Religious concepts
3^6
3^6
P r a y e r s .................................
3^1
C u r s e s .................................
3&5
Divination and o m e n s
37!?
33
.............
Magic-medicine
390
PART III
XII.
I ("LFTALES
. . .
1|.06
I)06
A g r i c u l t u r e .......................
Hunting and fishing
lj.0
1;.07
1+0fi
F o o d .................................
ljO?
O c c u p a t i o n s ..........................
1|.13
M a r k e t s ..............................
)|13
Houses
i|13
............... ...
!)1[>
Material culture
................
Ij17
..........................
l|22
Kinship t e r m i n o l o g y ................
If2?.
Social life
)|16
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Vi
CHAPTER
PACE
M a r r i a g e ...........................
1+23
Children
...............
1+28
Family relationships
1+20
N a m e s ............ ..................
Ij33
1+35
Folklore
.....................
I+36
...............
hl+2
Nicknames...........................
Ilk3
1+1+3
Greetings
. . .
Secret societies
Ape grades
Slaves
Friendship
, *
Supernaturalism
l|l+5
1+1+0
1+50
1+52
..................
1+53
...................
1+51+
1+55
1+55
Supernatural p o w e r s ...............
1+56
Sacrifice
1+57
P ra yers...........................
1+57
O a t h s ...........................
1+58
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vii
CHAPTER
PACE
Divination
.............
l(5>8
Witchcraft
.......................
1|5>9
Magic-medicines
1(60
G h o s t s ................
1(63
Number s e v e n .......................
l(6
Dreams
History
.............
Property and
1(66
1(66
w e a l t h ...................
1(66
T r i c k e r y ..............................
1(66
Emotion
1)70
................
PART IV
x i ii
c o m m e n t : of p f i k
f o l k t a l e :; w it h
Animals
cttlture
reflected
ethnography
in
1(77
1(77
A g r i c u l t u r e ...................
1)76
L|7Q
1.(80
Occupations
Markets
Houoea
1(60
1(60
...........................
M e d i c i n e .......................
1(61
1|62
1(62
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v iii
CHAPTER
PAfSF,
Materiel culture
Kinship terminology
It83
l|89
M a r r i a g e ............. ...
1)90
C h i l d r e n ..............................
l|.91
Family r e l a t i o n s h i p s .................
l|hl
Fames
UQ2
.............
1)93
1|93
Ij-Qf?
Secret societies
Ifh6
1)97
Age g r a d e s ........................
S l a v e s .......................
Friendship
lfO
i|08
ltfi
l|bh
S u p o r n a t u r a l i s m ....................
1|9
History
500
Property
Emotion
00
A c c u l t u r a t i o n ................
$01
$02
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ix
CHAPTER
XIV.
PAGE
ANALYSIS OP THE REFLECTION OF CULTURE
IN F.FIK F O L K T A L E S ......................
503
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE
PAGE
1.
................ ...
2.
3.
Hi
67
71+
Iv*
192
5.
2>6
6.
27
7.
Pictograph of the
8.
2^9
9*
260
. . .
10,
Pictograph of the
11,
Pictograph of the
25>8
261
If lm K b ) k ) ....................................
12,
13,
III-.
262
,
263
261+
31+5
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PREFACE
Tho author obtained the major portion of the
ethnographic data contained herein during residence in
Creek Town from April, 1952 to March, 1953*
Creek Town
The infor
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xii
of Oriental and African Studies, for permission to
attond the Efik language class of the 1900 autumn term,
to Professor George P, Murdock, Yale University, for
criticism, aid in arrangement of data and stylistic
suggestions, end to the Department of Anthropology, Yale
University for a grant which aided his field research.
Note on orthography.
Prior to the
[Vj and
Preference has
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xiii
bo easily phonemiclsed if occasion warrants*
Although Efik is a language in which ton is
important in regard to meaning of morphemes and certain
morphological processes, tones will rot bo marked except
in certain oxamples of folklore and in drum and gong
signals where tones are of special significance for the
understanding of the phenomena.
1
2
The
high
midhigh (a tone halfway
between mid and high
tones)
mid
Ij.
rising
falling
Nearest English
Equivalent
i in
vowel and
are:
1 in be*
1
low
consonant phonemes
Symbol
Tone
plt'
Remarks
initial and final position
between consonants other
t h a n /lcp, m ,
A in *bntf
It/
interconsonantly before
/lcp,
m,
lc/
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xiv
Remarks
Equivalent
e in b a y
E in 'bed*
usually in interoonsonantal
position, but may occur in
initial and final position
a in b a t 1
o in boat*
) in l a w
u in put*
b in b e d
p in p u t
lcp
no equivalent
d in dog*
r in but t e r
t in hat'
lc
lc in king*
m in m e t a l
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XV
Symbol
Iloarest Fngllsh
' Equivalent
n in *no
f{
ng in sing*
in fairy
in see*
no equivalent
in w i n
in yet*
Remarks
a velar fricative
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PART I
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION TO TEE PROBLEM
Although folktales have been recorded and studied
by many scholars, the study of the relationship between
the culture of a society as reflected in its folktales
and the actual ethnography of the same society has been
primarily the concern of anthropologists*
Two central
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3
value for the depiction of society in which they
occur,^
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^ Boas, F,
. _ ^ Herslcovits, M, J.
p. k i 8 .
^ Ehrlioh, C,
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5
The picture of Crow life drawn from their folk
lore is very nearly as complete as that given in the
ethnological accounts# And in a f ovj instances the
tales are the richer source. While the folk tales
occasionally suggest an interpretation differing from
the one given by the ethnologist, there are no con
spicuous omissions or ambiguities.###
If we were to lose the ethnological studies made
of the Crow Indians and retain solely their folklore,
we could still reconstruct with surprising accuracy
the culture of the tribe# An occasional and minor
phrase might be shrouded in vagueness and certain
details missing, yet the fundamental scheme would be
retained, with the cultural traits seen in a dynamic
sotting#
However, Spencer,
ft
ft
Spencer, K#
9 Elbert, S#
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6
receive commensurate recognition in Pueblo mythology*
Except for Malinowskis study of the role of folk
lore and mythology in the validation of Trobriand social
norms, which is only of tangential interest to the cen
tral problem of the amount of cultural reflection in
folklore since Malinowski did not make an elaborate com
parison of information abstracted from folktales with
ethnographical data, the only known attempt to investigate
this problem outside the realm of American Indian folklore
is Elbert*s study of the role of the chief in Hawaiian
mythology.
11
11 Elbert, S.
o. cit., 19^6.
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Firstly,
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6
Tho initial two approaches have beon Ignored in
past studies, probably beoause ethnographical interest
centers on societal norms of behavior rather than on
idiosyncratic behavioral norms.
hov; a folk
time to complete.
Rather,
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9
all types of tales, myths, legends and traditions were
transcribed without any attempt at artificial selection#
Neither has an attempt been made to distinguish between
kinds of Efik folktales#
(2 )
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PART II
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CHAPTER II
GROUPING AND DEMOGRAPHY
Nomenclature.
their name.
2
^
for the word eburutu. although in 1874 Goldie recorded
that "Eburutu is said to be a man who lived in former
times, to whom Calabar and Okoyong are said to belong."
Efik olalm the word lboku derives from the two Ibo words
Abo oku meaning 'quarrelsome people'.
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12
Looatlon,
Oblo Qko (Creek Town) and Atakpa (Duke Town) are situ
ated thirty miles from the estuary of the Calabar River,
at latitude 4*58" North, longitude 8*17 East,
Duke
The approximate
of
4
Forde, D,, and Jones, 0,1,, 1950, p, 89,
The
figures cited above include only the population data
from table xix for the Efik proper, Mbiabo, Mblabo 2,
Adiabo and Efut,
Hutchinson, T,H,, 1858, pp. 115,133,
6 Sovaux, H., 1879, I, p, 100.
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13
Neighboring Tribes.
Arochuku Ibo.
lower Cross River, while the Efiat dwell near the estuary
of tho Calabar River.
Akpap, the
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14
FIGURE 1
Map of the Calabar area
AROCHUKU- /fi)/Union
IBO
f y
ENYONG
J /
Uwet
Itu *
AFRICA
* Mbiabo
Ikot <
Offioni
OKOYONG
EKOI
Ikonltu
Adiabo
Creek
Town *
Old Town
/'Duke
* WTown
* Hensfiaw ToWi
Seven Fathoi
Point
/
IBIBIO
Qua River
I AT
ORON
ANDONI-IBENO
Scale:
1 lnch-5 miles
Atlantic Ocean
8
Adapted from map In
Forde and Jones, 1950.
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15
Language and llngul stlo relationships.
the beat known dialeot of the Iblblo language.
Efik ia
Goldie
tionaries.
the
Comparison of 148
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16
glottoohronologioal method Indicate oa. 81 per cent of
the basic vocabulary is retained in the first millen.
13
ium,
Efik has come to be generally eooepted as the
literary language of the Ibibio dialects due to a trans
lation of the Bible into Efik by the Churoh of Scotland
Mission and to the influence of Efik traders whose pere
grinations oaused Efik to become the lingua franco of the
lower Cross River area.
14
An extensive investigation of
(Bakassey),
The following
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17
discussion is limited to the consideration of loan words,
extension of meaning or new combinations of Efik words,
and evidence of ohonge within the Efik language as
revealed by archaic words or variations in pronunciation
between the two principal Efik towns, Duke Town and Creek
Town,
lbokpot
'cow of iron'
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18
bicycle, ikpa ukot 'akin of foot* shoe, uf)k lb)k 'house
of medicine' hospital, use /(kp) 'sees thing* telescope,
end utut /(kp) 'pushlng-away thing' handtruck.
Ikayf 'fire' was extended to 'gun' on the intro
duction of firearms; ika/( )kp)
'house
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19
sacred to God) Sunday (also called ederl uaen lk) abasl
Sunday day of Go d s w o r d 1), ederl Ikpo Sunday of mourn
ing* the memorial church service which commemorates the
deceased and also marks the end of the mourners* residenoe
In the deceaseds compound,
Europeans
It is so
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20
paddle a oanoe, but is now used to designate driving an
automobile or piloting on airplane, while ub)1
'steering
The
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21
Efik frequently designate an introduced object
with the name of the group from whom they obtained it
used as a noun in genitive relationship together with
the noun which namos the object; the most common nouns
used to designate n specific group ore mbakara Europ eons, unehe I b o , ibibio Ibi b i o , and um)n 'Union',
The following compounds illustrate this usage:
mbokora
bla
'European purge'
European
)k) tl u m ) n ,
Efik slang appears to oonsist almost exclusively
with circumlocutions for harlots and descriptions of the
female genitalia by humorous phrases,
Originally
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22
River area; however, since most prostitutes of Calabar
also come from this area the word has become a synonym
for harlotry and is currently regarded as a curse.
Nslero eyo H i l l day breaks' is the nickname for a har
lot who charges one shilling and six pence for the
night.
'sweet sweetness
bad smell'.
Several Efik words are almost obsolete.
Akanl
'long time'.
With the
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'Leopnrd-society rattle'.
The pronun
'yam
'viscous',
Oron sup
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Eylp
w a t e r 1 and
Ekot et)Hko,
Asaransa 'kind
'cup of bad
thing',
English words adopted by the Efik include abrankln
'blanket*, afu 'halfpence*, akrasl 'glass', ama 'hammer*,
amlk 'hammock', babru 'paper', ben 'pen', benl
'penny',
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25
bet
English 'pocket')
b)wut
*gari', koml
'pay', mami
(English?), nal
English 'handkerchief',
(a pump
'three
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26
glers who trode in food stuffs to Fernando Po and return
with European liquors#
Efik words of English derivation ooour in many
compounds:
ekpe
'coffee
'as short as
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27
born at n i :ht, becomes Hogan, while the names Nsa,
Eflom, Orok and Aalb)>{ become respectively Henshaw,
Cobham, Ephraim, Duke and Archibong*
Linguistic innovation in Efik can apparently be
classified as indigenous words whioh have beoome either
obsolete or changed in pronunciation, and indigenous
words applied to new objects or ideas, either in new
combinations or in extension of primary meaning to
inolude a new concept*
Linguistic aooulturation in
How
In some cases a
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CHAPTER IIT
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Geographical features.
Stone is
areas ore covered with mangrove swamp, while the true rain
forest commences thirty-five miles northeast of Creek Town.
A difference of seven feet exists between high and low tide
levels in the Calabar River.
Climate and seasons.
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29
Three well-defined seasons occur:
and dry*
rainy, harmattan
Insects
Monkeys
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30
(Coroopithecus sp, and Erythrocebus sp,; Ef, e b ) k ) are
the moat common primates*
The West
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31
African manatee (manatus senegalonsisj Ff, itu) inhabits
the creeks, especially in the Fnyong region, and whales
(Ef. ls)nsl) have been observed near the Calabar River
ostuary.
Rodentia include several species of squirrels
(Soluridae sp.j Ef, adua), a species of flying squirrel
(Ef. efe), the striped mouse (Lemniscomys striatusj Ff*
Jk) n ) ). poroupine (Hystrioidae sp.j Ff, ebi)yQ, several
species of rats (Furidae sp.j Ff, eku) inoluding the cane
bat or cutting-grass (Thryonmys swinderianusJ Ff, oyot),
The spitting cobra (Naia nigricollisj Ef. ebre),
boyal python (Python regiaj Ef. n s a b ) ), a green snake
(Eendroaspis sp.j Ef. akwa Ik)/ mlcp)/) , and the cerastes
snake (Calabaria sp.j Ef. ibom) inhabit the area.
species of crocodile are foundj
Two
Gbocodlle (Ff. florn) , and the narrow-nosed or catafractus crocodile (fiom /k) 1 ).
these are now rare.
*1
f
^ These are the species identified by Informants
Arm Illustrations in Fairbairn, 1933,
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32
^ h a pavonlna; Ef, etle lkpo e k a ), African darter (Anhinga
^ f a rufa; Ef* enlnlm lnyajrf), gray heron (Ardea oinoera
*hera; Ef, eka ukot u b o m ), cattle egret (Bubulcuo ibis;
fikpantana). vulture
)Icp)k)y{ e t o ).
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33
bulbul
(Hirundo aothiopico; Ef, otl)r)), West African rufuschested swallow (Hirundo serairufa gordonij Ef, etl)r)
ndatndat), scarlet-breasted sunbird (Chalcomitra senegalensis oenegalensis; Ef, nsas a k ). village weaver
(Ploceus oucullatus cuoullotus; Ef, nalat o b o t ), orange
bishop (Eupleotes franciaoana franolscana; Ef, lnlm
orange-cheeked woxbill
Ef,
Known
(Mugil sp,
Crabs
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CHAPTER IV
HISTORY AND CULTURE CHANGE
Traditional history.
Apparently
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35
Abasl, however, stubbornly doflod them and oursed tho
Iblblo people.
Inferences predicated
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36
Internecine strife at Creek Town oaused several
families to emigrate and found )but)]rf (Old Town) situ
ated near Duke Town.
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37
Balkio4 writes "On inquiring about the plaoe oalled Egboshari, this gentleman informed me that its Igbo name is
Umonyi, while the Eflk call it *Ibibiof From the plaoe
the Efik derive their origin,
Hutchinson
states "The
Waddell,
referring to
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38
sixteenth century Spanish and Portuguese maps, but first
7
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39
Barbot
12
In describing
King Oyofor
provid
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40
pewter basins, tnnknrds, small yellow, green, purple, and
rod beads, loclcs, looking-glasses, guns, powder, and shot#
Tho Portuguese used purple copper armlets obtained from
Angola as trado g o o d s # ^
15
A twelve-
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41
latter at the time of their redemption were valued at
three pence*
The copper bars used in 1698 weighed one-and-aquartor pounds, and were fifty-five inches long*
bar was equivalent to four of copper*
One iron
1 fi
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L*2
In
However, in
*820 the English squadron captured two Dutch ships oarrya total of 270 slaves loaded at Old Calabar.
In I83O
lc>Donnan,
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43
Tho slave trade at Calabar was officially terminated
^ 1841, when representatives of the British Government
5^8hed treaties with the titular chiefs of Creek Town and
^ k e Town*23
On one ocoa-
, 24
ocourred*
The last recorded attempt to obtain slaves from
'lUl
ckly because a British cruiser was coming to Calabar.
A0c
0l*^ingly, the slaver took his advice and put to sea
Ort
24. Anonymous,
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Ijll.
without discovering the trick the King had played upon
him.2^
To those
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45
to five thousand pounds sterling.
28
Release."
Prior to 1860 Efik forbade Europeans to establish
Qhops on land and oorapelled them to confine trading
Qotivities to their ships.
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46
from pillage*
30
3X
33
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1+7
In 1885 Calabar
&
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Acculturation*
Some
Particularly repugnant to European residents were eventually suppressed by various Nigerian governments under
British officers.
The present
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1*9
At the present
Small encampments of
In
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CHAPTER V
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, MEDICINE AND DRESS
Physical appearonce.
is approximately
and
Two individuals,
The
average weight is 150 pounds for men, and 125 pounds for
women.
Two males on whom anthropometric data are available
possess mesooephalic head form, and platyrrhine nasal
Indices.'**
While pigmen
tation varies from light brown to dark brown, the true black
pigmentation as found among some Ibibio and natives in the
Ekoi area is rare.
especially the chest and arm musoles of men, and the entire
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51
body Is woll proportioned.
tions occur:
Only
tubular end.
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52
region raised.
Trypanosomiasis
Malaria
and yaws are endemic, and tho tertiary form of yaws known
as gangosa is fairly frequent.
Tho Include
Mams,
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53
bark of the Loffaro tree, the leaf and seeds of Agoratum
oonyzoldos mixed with seven Amomum melegueta seeds, the
bark of the Cocos nuolfera or oooonut palm boiled with a
plantain leaf in a new pot, the pounded leaf of Tussilago
farfara mixed with chalky d a y ,
root of Clorodendron splendens.
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54
Bahama grass (Cynodon daotylon) mixed with ground Piper
gulnense,
(Ef* m b a t ),
The crushed mi x
the crushed
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55
of n species of Anohomanes,
The filarial worm Loa loa (Ef. utuyf e nyln).
carried by mangrove flies of the genus Chrysops, attack
the conjunctiva.
(Convulvulaoeae sp.).
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56
baric of tho Loffara tree, or the bark of the Banyan tree
when mixed with freah palm wine*
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57
A mixture of Pycnanthus kombo bark, an egg and a
pieoe of copper wire boiled in a new pot, makes a clyster
to relieve indigestion.
made from tho leaf and seed of Pupalia lappacea, the leaf
of Anthoclelsta vogeli or the leaf of Ficus asperifolia
respectively.
Goiter
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58
To cure Guinea worm (Draeunoulus medlenais;
Ef. mflie) palm oil la rubbed on the affected part, and
when the w o r m '3 head comes out of the flesh to eat the
oil, the worm la wound very slowly onto a needle.
For vomiting accompanied by stomach cramps, a
3mall quantity of kerosene as a soothing drink, or a
small quantity of snuff dissolved in water as a olyster
is recommended.
(Ef, atayaya),
beach, and then a small amount of mud mixed with cow dung
and used as a clyster.
Roots of Cola edulis scraped and then ground with
seven Amomum molegueta seeds make a olyster for ohildren
who suffer splenitis
(Ef, ikpaklp),
The bark of Draoaena sp,, bark of Ficus benghalonais, the seed of Xylopia ethiopia, seeds of Amomum
melegueta, and the bark of a tree called by Efik eto afla
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59
are prepared as an ointment for paralysis
Kidney pains
(Ef. alcpaubeyQ.
Another
(Ef. okpot).
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60
throat.
The seeds of Arbrus preoatorius, ground and rubbed
on a tooth treat toothache,
For toothache
A further
The swelling of
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61
ulcgjjrf, presumably mumps, is treated by grinding a piece of
clay pot, adding water and using the mixture to wash the
body.
rubbed upwards to moke the swelling reoede, for Efik believe it would increase If the medloine were rubbed down
wards.
It is
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62
(Ef* ntira) Is treated with an ointment ooncooted from
Dissotis rotundifolia leaves, ndom Is)y{ leaves, and the
blood of a milliped.
A potion
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63
first regurgitate into his hands, cloth or hat and thon
throw the vomit to the ground.
A mixture of Tagetes sp. leaves, throe peppers,
three shrimp and the mud from the wall of a house where
wasps have built a nest makes on ointment to restore
proper breathing.
The roots of Smilax kraussiana, oopslcum pepper
and the purple convolvulus plus seven tiny ants, oalled
akpals)>{, constitute a clyster administered to on infant
for the express purpose of making him crawl if the baby
appears to need assistance.
A tiny piece of ekpuk nnya. a poisonous fungus,
is ground, mixed with water and then used os a clyster
for stomach pain.
A half-inch
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64
ground and mixed with water are administered as a clyster
for u n a k ), a disease which affects women in the region of
the groin*
The root of Cola rostrata is out into small pieces,
plaoed in a bottle of brandy and the mixture drunk to
facilitate delayed menstruation*
A olyster
A mixture of
The
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65
week to insure on easy and rapid delivery.
The Efik
To prevent 'blood
For dogs or
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66
Toble II lists the sciontifio and Efik name of
the plants previously mentioned, the part used, the
manner of use, and the disease or oondition for which
the medicine is used*
Table III compares the Efik U3e of oertain
plants with the medical indications of these plants as
given by Githens (1949, pp. 62-122).
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67
TABLE II
DISEASES FOR WHICH PLANTS ARE USED AS CURES
Soiantifio
Part
used
How
Medical
anaTBHTc name
used
remedy"*
Agerotum oonyzoides
Ef*
lfu) eyen
seed
leaf
clyster
ointment
fever
dysentery
Alblzzia zygla
Ef. ubam
bark
root
eyebath
eyeworm
Amomum melegueta
E f . ntokon okpo
seed
clyster
ointment
leprosy, hemor
rhoid, boil3,
pleurisy, splen
itis, swellings
Anchomanes sp,
Ef. yfk )k)t
root
clyster
bolls
Anthoclelsta vogeli
E^ # okpoho
leaf
potion
clyster
dysentery
Arbrus precatorlus
Ef . enyln mbukpo
seed
leaf
olyster
ointment
toothache
hemorrhoid
Brillantasia sp.
E f . adan um)n
leaf
potion
olyster
jaundioe
Bryophyllum plnnatum
Ef. afla i y )
leaf
lotion
clyster
catarrh,
sores, fever
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68
Buettneria africana
Ef ekw)y{ uruk
stem
clyster
lotion
eyestrain
heartburn
cataract
kidney pain
Caladium ap*
E f mblet ekpo
root
clyster
stomach boils
Carapara procern
E f mkporo ubom
bark
potion
aphrodi si ac
Ceratothlea sesamoides
E f ud)t idldet
leaf
olyster
dysentery
Citrus aurantifolia
Ef* ytkprl sokoro
root
potion
ointment
boils, swell
ings, female
breast pains
Citrus aurantium
Ef* ntan ntan sokoro
root
olyster
gonorrhea
Clerodendron splendens
Ef* obublt lk)n
leaf
root
olyster
fever, jaundioe
oonstipation
Cnestis ferruglnea
Ef.
leaf
fruit
gargle
food
pyorrhea,
toothache
sore tongue
Cola edulis
Ef, ek)m
bark
root
fruit
drink
clyster
splenitis
oonstipation
Cola rostrata
Ef* ek)m
root
potion
menstruation
Conlaedulis sp*
Ef * ok)m lnyayf
bark
olyster
fever
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69
Convolvulaoae sp.
Ef uruk ldlay{
root
olyster
gargle
gonorrhea
toothache
Corchorus oiltorus
Ef. etlnyuyf
leaf
olyster
ohlldbirth
Costus afer
Ef. mbrltem
juice
leaf
ointment
dropsy
cataract
Cylioodiscus gaboniensls
E f * any an
bark
potion
clyster
pregnancy
alterative,
elephantiasis
Cynodon dactylon
Ef. ikpam
leaf
ointment
boils, sores
swellings
Cyrtosperma senegalense
leaf
olyster
jaundioe
Dosmodium absoendens
Ef . mbansa>{ ekpo
leaf
potion
ointment
boils, ohest
congestion,
ringworm
eczema
Dlssotis rotundifolia
Elf. mbiet ekpene
root
leaf
olyster
eczema, testic
ular boils,
Jaundioe
Dracaena sp.
Ef. ,jk ?nj.
bark
lotion
goiter
paralysis
Drepanooarpus lunatus
Ef. fikayCa lnya
leaf
root
clyster
barrenness
constipation
swollen t e s M c l e
Ef*silrlliia
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70
Elaols guineensis
Ef. eyop
root
core
potion
olyster
hiccups
stomach boils
Erythrina senegalense
Ef, uslere
bark
clyster
ointment
gonorrhea
constipation
tropical uloer
Pious asperifolia
Ef. ukwok
leaf
potion
dysentery
hemoturla
Pious benghalensis
Ef. uk)rf
bark
potion
gonorrhea
paralysis
Garoinla sp.
Ef. eflari
seed
food
cough
Oloriosa superba
E f . )k)dl okoneyo
root
stem
leaf
lotion
fever
Harungana
madagasoariensis
Ef. oton
leaf
seed
lotion
olyster
boils, leprosy
jaundice
Hellotropium indioum
Ef. edlslm)y{
leaf
stem
lotion
fever
Irvingia gabononsis
Ef. uyo
bark
leaf
olyster
ointment
pregnanoy
alterative,
Chrysops fly bite
Jatropha ouroas
E f . eto mlcpa
leaf
lotion
clyster
dysentery
astringent
Lippia citrlodoro
Ef. nnyanyayfa
leaf
potion
clyster
Jaundice
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71
Lirlodendron
tulipifera
Ef. esonnim
leaf
olyster
gonorrhea
Loffnra sp.
E f , oyfwnna yfka
bark
olyster
fever, chills
gonorrhea
Lophira procera
Ef. ukpa
loaf
olyster
oonstipation
Manihot sp.
Ef. akparaytkpa lwa
leaf
ointment
boils
Menthaceae sp.
Ef. nt )ji
leaf
eyebath
eye trouble
Millettia aboensis
Ef, odudu
leaf
root
clyster
ointment
astringent
throat pain
pregnanoy
alteratlve
Mitragyna stlpulosa
Ef. uyayak
seed
potion
olyster
constipation
Musa paradisiaoa
Ef. uk)m
skin
food
ointment
boils
dysentery
Newbouldia laevis
Ef. )b)tl
leaf
bark
eyebath
mastioated
eyeworm, fever
cough
Oohrooarpus afrioanus
Ef. edej^
bark
seed
potion
clyster
ointment
fever, sores
boils, pleurisy
Ouratea flava
E f , yfkarika ekpo
bark
leaf
root
olyster
jaundioe
hemorrhoid
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72
Paohilobus edulis
Ef, eben
leaf
ointment
forearm
swellings
Paspalum conjugatum
Ef ef )k jlkuku
leaf
olyster
dysentery
leaf
clyster
heartburn
indigestion
pregnanoy
Pentaolethra sp,
Ef, ukana
leaf
olyster
vaginal boils,
female breast
pains
Physostigraa
venemosum
Ef, esere
seed
ointment
boils
swellings
Piper guinense
Ef, otlyfeenl
seed
olyster
ointment
swellings
dysentery
boils
hemorrhoid
Plumbago zeylanioo
Ef, elcpetente
root
ointment
leprosy
Pyonanthus kombo
Ef, abakajf
bark
enema
heartburn
indigestion
Rhizophora sp,
E f , ltu obunnuyf
bark
potion
gonorrhea
Sansevieria sp,
E f , )k)n) ekpe
leaf
potion
croup
Soopnria dulcis
E f , ndlyairf eslen
root
drink
breath for
running
Parari stoloohla
goldleana
E f , ub )ji edop
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73
Smilax kraussiana
E f . uruk ekw)y{
leaf
stem
lotion
olyster
pleurisy
eyestrain
Spondias monbin
E f * nsukakara
leaf
bark
food
olyster
ointment
boils, hiooups
gonorrhea
alterative for
pregnanoy, expell
afterbirth of
goats
Tagetes sp,
E f , edeme er )yi
leaf
clyster
measles, umbil
ical hernia,
urinary troubles
in children
Tussilago farfara
Ef, j{wewep
leaf
olyster
fever
Urera mannii
Ef, ntan
leaf
food
dysentery
galactagogue
Veronica conferta
E f , okpon ik)y{
jfdcuklm
root
lotion
fever
Xylopia ethiopia
Ef, ata
seed
soup
ointment
swellings
paralysis
ringworm
expulsion of
afterbirth
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74
TABLE III
COMPARISON OP PLANTS USED AS MEDICt NE WITH THE
SCIENTIFIC INDICATIONS OP THE PLANTS
Scientific name
Use by Efik
Medical Indications
llsied by Pithens
Abrus
preoatorlus
toothache
hemorrhoid
pleurisy, ulcers
colds, vermifuge
ophthalmia, snakebite
Ageratum
oonyzoides
fever
dysentery
fever, colic
ulcers, wounds
purgative
Alblzzia
zygia
eyebath
diarrhea
Carapara
procera
aphrodisiac
dysentery, fever
malaria, roundworm
parasites, purgative
Clerodendron
splendens
fever
jaundice
oonstipation
sores, snakebite
roundworm
Cnestls
feruglnea
toothache
pyorrhea
sore tongue
wounds, caries
sore throat
cathartic
Cola
edulis
splenitis
constipation
dysentery
indigestion
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Convolvulocee
sp.
gonorrhea
oathartio, gonorrhea
toothaohe
Desmodium
abaoendens
boils, eczema
chest congestion
ringworm
Dissotis
rotund!foila
boils, eczema
jaundioe
yaws, vermifuge
rheumati sm
Dracaena
sp.
goiter
paralysis
fever, diarrhea
flatulence
Erythrina
senegalensls
gonorrhea
tropioal ulcer
oonstipation
wounds, jaundice
gonorrhea
Gloriosa
superba
fever
antiparasitio
Harungana
madagascarlensis
boils, leprosy
jaundice
scabies, tapeworm
diarrhea, bleeding
gonorrhea, sore throat
puperal infection
fever, oolic
Jatropha
ouroas
dysentery
astringent
hemostatic, purge
wound dressing, skin
diseases, roundworm
Llppia
oitriodora
jaundioe
cathartic
Newbouldta
laevls
eyeworm, cough
fever
tapeworm, dysentery
opthalmla
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76
Pentaolethra
sp.
vaginal bolls
female breast
pains
sores, diarrhea
opthalmia, leprosy
roundworm
Plumbago
zeylanlca
leprosy
vesicant, counterirritant
Sooparia
dulois
breathing
ability
gonorrhea
indigestion
Smilax
kraussiana
pleurisy
eyestrain
tonic, diuretic
fever, opthalmia
rheumatism, syphilis
gonorrhea
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77
Efik classification of personality trnlts.
Efik olassify the character or personality of an individual
by modifying the noun owo person* with an adjeotivo or
desoriptlvo phrase.
'argumentative
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78
and Insults his superiors), owo )lcp)s)yf Ido 'strong charac
ter1 ('strong' in the sense of being unamenable to advice
or suggestion), owo isa 'troublesome person', owo lkpono
eslt 'easily provoked person*
(literally:
'big chested
(literally:
'two
(i.e.,
and to
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79
The poor and unfortunate are believed to possess
similar personality types duo to the vicissitudes of their
lot and their dependence on others for existenoe.
Members
Insane Efik
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80
Efik foel a lunatic humiliates his relatives by his foolish
actions, as evidenced in their proverb but inamke ldat anam
ubon me ldat *shame does not affect the insane, it affects
the family of the Insane*.
At least five insane people, two of them women, dwell
in the vicinity of Creek Town.
man who merely aots foolishly; his family usually keeps him
in the form area, but sometimes he may be seen running
through town pursued by his mother.
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81
On December 27, 1951 Mr, W. E. E. Eyo, on Efik of
Duke Town and police magistrate at Aba, died under myster
ious oiroumstanoes while undergoing treatment for abnormal
behavior (e.g., nakedness and ooprophagy).
Although the
Strings of beads
1858, p. 123.
242.
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82
Nowadays the men commence to wear a loin cloth when
they reach adolescence*
For informal
During
the rainy season, when the cold weather brings all the
warm clothes out of storage, woolen-knit stocking caps
appear along with scarfs and sweaters.
The younger men wear English-type shorts, usually
white, blue or burnt-orange, and white, short-sleeved sport
shirts.
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83
For informal occasions the women have cotton dresses
European design.
tnQ
h
woman can carry her young baby slung low over the bock
To make a speoial
'mammy* style.
carry handbags.
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84
k^own leather European-typo sandals*
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
CHAPTER VI
HAIR FEATURES OF ECONOMY
Agriculture,
Generally the
men clear and fire the bush, the women weed and everyone
harvests.
The staple foods of the Ffik are yams and manioc.
Crops of lesser importance include taro, maize, gourds,
melons, peppers, beans and several varieties of plant leaves.
Trees of several types, including papaya, borassus or wine
palms, oil palms, bananas, and plantains, are cultivated;
only the last three occur in groves.
Yam buds are planted in hills
high and one foot in diameter, with three to four buds per
hill.
yam is removed from the bud, which remains in the hill and
forms another ya m even larger than the first.
In August,
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86
aopearrance of a small red ant (Ef. nyenye obuflo abla)
heralds the commencement of the harvest season during which
the yam buds are stored on upright bamboo rocks (Ef. lse
abla) until the next planting.
Toro is planted in holes four inches deep and
covered with a hill six Inches high.
twelve months.
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87
(Penteolethra sp, j Ef, u k a n a ), tetrapleura
tetrapleura, Ef, u y a y a k ), mango
(Tetrapleura
(Mangifora lndioa),
(Ef, mbana e y o p ), albescens (Ef, ofla e y o p ), and the thinshelled tenera (Ef, )kp)r) e y o p ),
The latter
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88
There fire eleven types of yam (Dloscorea sp.; Ef.
b l a ):
The
(Manihot
)k)rl
kofim, afla )kp) lwa. )kp) eklmbe, )kp) sam, eka u y a , and
mme na u n ) .
manioc.
There are three types of beans
)k)ti) which Efik name
)k)tl u m ) n .
as Conavolia sp,
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
The shallot
A pepper-like spice
Occasionally,
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90
The Efik construct several types of trap operated
by gravity or the force of a bent stiolc,
Usually these
and when the animal attempts to snatch it, the board falls
and orushes it.
Three traps are operated by the bent-stiok method:
The omum ikpat
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91
animals nock; and the ud)k la)|{ digging ground* trap.
This lost is similarly constructed, but uses o bait which,
when moved, releases the bent stick.
The Porcupine trap or afia e b i is a conical
basket made from pieces of vine lashed together ond open at
both ends.
In its
arrows ond
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92
triangular leaf of the Newbouldia laevis tree (Ef# )b)tl)
Inserted In a silt one-and-a-quarter lnohes from the
releasing end#
Oooaslonally a crossbow (Ef utlha ekwa) Is used#
It oonslsts of an eighteen-inoh length of branoh from a
wine-palm or oll-palm tree onto whloh a hollow wooden
tube and bow has been lashed#
The oross
the force of a bent stick and are baited with palm fruits
or kernels of maize#
Pishing#
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93
oanoos and use baited hooks, nets, traps, weirs and fishpoison*
Only children fish with bamboo poles*
Most fisher
The
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94
Efik, is a conical basket with a hinged door at the trap
entrance*
palm tree.
The ntay(
net suspended between two poles and operated by two men each
holding one pole who wade near the river bank at ebb tide.
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95
The mukanda or mlc)bl iyire is a very large net used to
block small creeks in place of the ntayf weir*
The floats
used on this net are made from the roots of the Oxystigma
manii tree (Ef. ntuflak)
Fishermen use a fish spear as a gaff either with a
single iron spearhead (Ef, llceyf)* or with two or three
iron spearheads (Ef. u s a m ).
Domestic animals.
Presumably
the duck was introduced within the last two hundred years
since Efik oall it unen mbakara
'European's fowl'.
The
milk oows but use them for sacrifices and as a meat supply
for special feasts.
Goats and sheep generally run loose in the village,
although a few Efik use a small shed near the house as a
sheep shelter.
The dog,
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96
medioine, os an aid in hunting, and as a general compound
cleaner since it eats the excrement of small children*
Cats protect the oompounds from rats and mice while pigs
are scarce and only found in the rural districts.
Chiokens
They
In the event
and iron
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97
manioc,
)s)b),
'fry' together
with tho Efik verbal noun prefix edl- to compose the noun
edlfral
'frying*
Major condiments comprise salt, capsicum pepper,
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98
one pint of palm oil, a teaspoon of salt, five stalks of
Piper guinense, and two teaspoons of Capsioum pepper#
The pumpkin leaves are cut into pieces ond placed in the
cooking pot#
Palm
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99
mallow, one grated taro, seven okra out Into small pieces
and a quart of palm oil.
thirty minutes.
A quantity of efere lbaba soup sufficient for six
servings Is made with ten Canavalla seeds, which are first
boiled In water for one hour and then pounded In a mortar.
Three tablespoons of oil and one quart of water are then
added. When the mixture commences to boil, small pieces of
Tallnum triangulare leaves, a small fish, a oup of peri
winkles, a pleoe of meat five inches by four inches, onehalf a stockfish, one tin of dried shrimps, salt and
pepper are added.
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100
Afia eforo aoup la made with condiments and water,
but without palm oil#
added as a spice.
This
soup is eaten with all types of ubuj(, the Efik name for any
food, such as garri, which is swallowed without being
ohewed#
Abak soup is made from palm fruits#
These are
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101
until it becomes yellowish ond odd a teaspoon of salt,
siloes of onion, the pieces of fish and crushed red
pepper.
Add slices of
TJsu|(
A small quantity
The
)s)b)
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102
Edlfral abla la prepared by cutting a peeled yam
Into small siloes and dipping them Into a mixture of
palm oil, salt and siloes of onion until brown*
)f)p abla oonsists of a pleoe of yam roasted In
the fire*
The water-
the manioc and remove the outer rindj plaoe small sticks
in the bottom of a cooking pot, a plantain leaf on the
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103
sticks and the manioc on the leaf.
Just below the leaf.
On the
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104
third day remove and grate the manioc and place it in a
basin for one day.
pour the sifted portion into a raffia bag, and press the
bag with a plank for one day.
of water, pour the thick mixture into a pot and stir vigor
ously as it boils until it becomes gray and viscid.
the fufu into small balls and swallow with soup.
Roll
Women
oil.
Peel and grate manioo to prepare akara lwa.
Immerse in water and slowly drain out the water.
remaining mixture into a white d o t h ,
Pour the
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105
for seven days.
packets into a pot with water, and cook until the leaves
turn black.
for yam.
is
The taro is
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106
contents of the pot end boiled until the leaves stick
to the grated taro.
Put the
Usually a
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107
added.
Rice (Ef. edesl. derived from English ^ i o e * ) is
roasted, fried or boiled.
ing rice to boiling water.
Edesi
Prepare akara
When akara
and taro.
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108
Grind together one cup of )k)tl beans, one oup
of palm oil, one teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of
pepper to moke sufficient molmal for one serving*
Roll the mixture into balls smell enough to fill a
tablespoon and tie in pieces of plantain leaves*
Boil
Add a teaspoon of
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109
food dish, is prepared as staroh except pounded raaJ.ee
kernels are substituted for grated manioc#
Pound maize kernels, add bananas, and then
pound together to produce akara lbokpot#
Boll palm
Bdlfral unen or
In the first
Pluoking is
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110
After a meal an Efik will eat a banana, papaya
or orange, Eduoated Efik frequently mix all three cut
up to make a sweet (also pronounoed tweet), a word
borrowed from England where it is a synonym for dessert,
Cooonut sweet is made by cutting copra Into small pieces
and boiling the pieces with sugar.
Pull grown dogs are eaten in local bars or at
special family functions during Christmas, The dog is
strangled by hanging it from the house rafters and then
hitting it with a stick until it sucoumbs.
Efik singe
This mixture is
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Ill
removed.
evaporates
boiled off, the Efik dip a stick in tho mixture and put
it in fire.
The same
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112
process is uaod to manufacture fiah oil, bush kernel
oil, animal-fat oil, and peanut or groundnut oil#
This latter uses peanuts pounded in a mortar,
used in frying and stewing.
and la
or plantain, and animal-fat oil ia eaten with yam, ooooyam, and wateryam.
Beverages,
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113
A cup, reserved solely for the master of the house, ia
stored In a nearby oupboard.
and filter drinking water,
The red
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114
all Efik villages and In most southern Nigerian towns.
Distillation was introduced by Efik and Ibiblo soldiers
on their return from service overseas at the end of
World War I.
Lemon grass tea, made of lemon grass boiled in
woter, with sugar and milk added, is used both as a
beverage and as a remedy for jaundice.
Various other
Milk is
The
person donating the wine then pours and drinks a cupfull to show there is no poison or witchcraft in it.
The wine is then passed about first to the chief or
oldest man, who drinks, and after to the next senior
man.
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115
may share It with another elder, for It Is believed the
Ingredients sink to the bottom and consequently the last
portion of the bottle Is the best.
Crafts,
dry season although they may oommenoe the mat roof and
supporting pole framework in the rainy months.
The
diameter, form the wall end are set into the ground to a
depth of eight to twelve inohes.
house, are first moistened and then rammed into the wall
interstices.
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116
and filled-in Interstices to form a smooth solid
surface on both tho outer and Inner sides*
The mud floors are smoothed with a small,
flat-sided wood tool (Ef* umia m b o t )* and are some
times oolored black with a mixture of papaya leaves,
charooal and water.
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117
and made from tho outoroovcring of tho midrib from
tho palm troo frondo
(Ef. It am
fashioned in a twill-plait
Although the
occa
themselves.
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118
Men rarely wear masks*
Formerly masks of
In
Chiefs of
These
Headdresses
they hollow tree trunks with adzes and fire, and then
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119
wedge tho sides of the trunk wider by beating sticks
braced against both sides*
eight feet
Most oanoes
Although no blacksmith
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120
farm areas.
Decoration of gourds by incisement is now almost,
if not completely, defunct.
Designs include
At present
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121
Women sow square patchwork cloths
for sale in tho markots.
(Ef. m b o f a t )
The akpaaa
In addition, a
The base is
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122
external and Internal warp elements In triplets.
The diameter of
The rim is
A typioal specimen
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123
together by wine palm tree fiber tied In a knot-stltoh.
A typloal specimen measures 22 Inohes long, 11& Inohes
wide, and 5 Inohes deep.
The
It is used only
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124
white when mixed with writer, and Is used to paint
house walls.
The crushed leaves of the awa plant, when
mixed with water, produce green which is used to
line the borders of a house wall, especially the
bottom.
green darkens.
The pounded seeds of a species of Canavalia,
mixed with charcoal and water, yields a blaok color.
The leaves of tho following respectively produoe
black when ground and mixed with charcoalt
papaya,
taro,
oalled edlam.
The roots of the )ni) tree produce yellow
when ground and mixed with a small quantity of water.
When dried, it is shaped into small sticks six inches
long, and sold in the market.
Tho inner wood of the ironwood tree is ground
by rubbing a small quantity of sand on a board of the
wood.
After being
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125
Tho white chalk termed ndom is obtained from the
ground and used as a face powder, or occasionally in
medicines#
For
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126
pot of w i n e 1 consists of a combination hitch and loop
knot, and Is used by palm wine tappers to hoist their
wine pots.
The mkp)k)bl
Efik U3e a
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127
Tho Efik have an eight day week*
the days, in consecutive order, ore:
slewa Ibibio, akwa ikw), akwa )fl
The names of
akwa ederi,
ekprl ederi, ekpri
The repetition
On
Markets
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128
market 13 scheduled the market to automatically
canoeled.
Six
to eight men load their yams, palm oil, garri, and mats
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129
into a largo oanoe equipped with a sail, depart at
night and travel in the small oreeks to avoid Nigerian
patrol boats.
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CHAPTER VII
RECREATION AND COMMUNICATION
(lamea.
One child
The messen
name and the game continues until only one child remains.
He, in turn, receives seven chances to guess the oorreot
name of the fish and if he fails the children piok him
up and throw him into the grass.
Fifteen or more ohildren sit in a line to play
eyen nsab)
'child of python.
a mother.
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131
ohalk to powder the baby.
When
the mother asks the reason they inform her the baby is
dead, whereupon she runs to oatch any member of the
group.
Eaoh
When
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132
stick In front of the person sitting at his right
before the ohild on his left oan do the some.
Anyone having two sticks in front of him must leave
the game*
In Islp *palm kernel* the ohildren sit close
together In a circle.
At the end
and
Children
sit around tho sand, and eaoh puts a stick into the
sand where he thinks the ring is located, and withdraws
the stick.
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133
point.
the gome.
Another child
They all
folded.
The players of the b o y s ' game adim, also pro
nounced edlm, hold sharpened stioks and encircle an
individual who twirls a palmfruit husk tied to a string.
As the husk posses the boys attempt to stab it with
their spears.
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134
and the last person to remain reoelves a knock on the
head from all the others.
The catcher
of the okpo retires from the game, and the team which
retires its members first wins.
not oatoh the okpo another man from his side joins him,
and if these two are unsuccessful still a third man
comes to their aid.
Two people play nsa, which is the ubiquitous
Afrioan game of warri or manoala.
In each
picks up the seeds from one oup and places one seed in
each of the next eight spaces.
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135
likewise with the seeds of the next oup*
When a player
throws the sticks and counts the number which land with
the inner side upright*
a winning combination*
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136
stones Is disqualified and he who accumulates them all
is the winner*
Nsa yfkpaslp eben nsa of the Afrioan pear tree
seed* is played with the seeds of the African pear tree*
An individual takes one seed in eooh fish*
Then another
The two hands are turned over, and one seed from
Another seed
After
hand contains the same number; however, one hand has all
except one*
from one hand, and palming the seed from the other*
Nvori is played by two persons, usually young
boys, who stand ten to fifteen yards apart*
One player
The other
After
the first hit soatters the seeds, eaoh seed must be hit
again whereupon it is removed from play*
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137
Two persons play edlp eslp *hlding the palm kernel*
One player hides a palm kernel and the other searches for
It, while the first beats a rausioal bow.
The seeker is
from a neighbor.
The
neighbor
borrowed it.
compound
culture.
If a ohild makes a slip of the tongue (Ef. ntijfkat)
and one of his companions says ntlifcat before the ohild
oan oount to three, the companions have the right to knook
the ohild on the head.
Ndl)k ndl)h)ro *plaoe and remove* is a game played
among friends.
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138
visits him.
Persons
The
and songs.
Speoial verb
Buk mbuk
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139
wealthy and marry the chiefs daughter, and explanatory
tales such as why men no longer become pregnant.
Since
and took her away to his home town which had a law no one
should defecate there under penalty of death.
Tortoise
told his child he wanted to follow her and visit her, but
she warned him of the law against defecation and refused
to permit him to accompany her when she returned.
Tor
When
Later
he went and stood on the road, and when he saw some people
who lived in the same town as his daughter, he said,
Please, when you pass here on your return you will see a
packet placed here in this place; take it and give it to
my eldest daughter."
self in it.
tortoise she was very annoyed with her father and cried
that he was going to die and leave her.
Later tortoise
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140
the chief's eldest son.
So
a lizard diviner.
Then she
should cook ya, white soup, add fish and meat, and leave it
by the rubber man. This the woman did, and when tortoise
came he saw the food and the person sitting nearby,
greeted him.
and
Tortoise said,
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141
man and the rubber caught and hold hi.3 hand.
Tortoise
He then pleaded
to tie him up with vino and throw him into the bush to
die.
Furthermore,
Accord
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142
When the raon attempted to remove his penis from the
woman*s vagina, he was unable to do so*
man attempted to extricate herself*
In vain the wo
for help and people oame to inquire what was the matter*
Seeing the situation, they went to the husband and begged
him to administer the antidote, which he finally did*
The lover was able to free himself, but the husband later
divorced the woman and obtained twelve pounds from both
culprits as damages*
women*
An analysis of 810 examples of proverbs, tone
riddles, stereotyped saroasm, riddles and tongue twisters
collected in Creek Town yielded the following result:
Type
Number of examples
proverb
655
Percentage
80*8#
tone riddle
94
11*6
saroasm
37
4*1
riddle
21
2*6
*4
tongue twister
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143
retribution will come 55, advice 45, family relations 42,
admonitions to be careful 32, gossip and tale bearing 29,
knowledge 28, oharaoter 27, designation of the reason
some ootion is done 25, poverty 23, against boasting 21,
admonition to work hard 20, experience and practice 17,
fickleness of friends 15, peace 13 wanted from quarrel
13, against greed 12, children 12, innooenoe 12, ingrat
itude 11, hatred 11, insult 10, marriage 9, misfortune 8,
procrastination 0, travel 8, duties of slaves and servants
7, thoro is no fear concerning the outoome of some aotion
6, do not tell secrets 5, responsibility 5, lost opportun
ity 5, theft 5, and when a small person does something big
or overcomes a big person 5,
abasi ama
God
if loves
owo
utere
person
vulture
)du)
)n)
ooraes
to.
oomes to him.
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144
(2) abla lb)k
)lcpuh)
Herbalist
owo
changes
ukp)rf fo
soul
)n)
fl
ukp)j<
soul
eyfwen
of person another,
Tho herbalist ohanges your soul and gives you the
soul of another person.
lyakke
enarf
aman
iba
cow
bear
two,
killed them,
(4 ) akari
yfkarl
lslnke
ub)k kekpat
akarl
tfkarl
of trickster.
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145
(5) akayf
Denier
efik
ayayfade
)f)A
of hernia
removes
cloth.
yfkp)
mblam
)k)m
Idem lm)
ln)h)
God
ldl)k unam
animal
nnuk
horn.
(9) afllo
Who
etle
nte
abasl
sits
as
God?
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146
Who is like Qod?
an am idl )k
mlbineke
enye
ndl)k uf)k
doesn't know
poverty.
idlyflmeke
will not allow.
nso
mfln
ndla
nso
mkp)y{
akpa
owo idem
ud)y()
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147
d 4 ) akpala )li
Stinging-ant
)fl)k
mkp)^
afayf
uylre
uylre
eylre
ft
owot
aya ly)
kills
Aya Iyo.
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148
(18) ekik) unen
Cook
lba
lkp)kke
)k)m klet
two
do not orow
roof one.
orow on one
ub)k fo
ketak
lkut
If
ukwak
klnl
ukwak adatde
iron
when
iron
This proverb
Is hot.
to giving
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149
Efik folklore includes three types of riddles,
a riddle being defined as a form which poses one or more
questions or statements, whose answer or answers are
culturally aocepted as oorreot.
The third
(a r a n ).
(nsida kik)t
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l 0
Aside from its inherent interest, as a folklore
form, linguistic specimen, example of Efilc humor and
minor form of indigenous education, the most common form
of simple riddle possesses theologioal and historical
implications.
our father
in the simple riddle supports the existence of the highgod concept in indigenous theology, and controverts
Jeffreys contention that the phrase is merely a trans2
literation of a Christian expression.
The historical implications become apparent when
the Efik riddle is compared with the Jamaican riddle.
Beckwith^ reports that one popular form of riddle is
Mmy father has in his yard...,1' shortened to "my father
has..,."
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151
Efik and Jamaloan riddles stem from the same African
prototype*
eberl
klet
Ladder one
etlnyln
abasl enyenede
id aha
ld)k
ndl
ldlay(
1 am cricket
A*
mb)pke
has
eketlyf
Cricket
said*
person
rfkp)
thing*
enyln
I do not d o s e eyes
ldlari
owo
nn)
ntan
for
sand*
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152
(3) Q
llkp)
klet etlnyln
abaal
Thing
one
God
our father
akadeka
anyone de
possesses
nte ukuak
becomes
strong as
Iron
)ny)|{ edlsajla
mmem mmem
coming home
weak*
aflakde
going to
workt
A,
Penis.
(4) Q,
A,
nsl
da
klk)t
lyere
What
ndom
lkp)j(
chalk
on Itself?
i&M
Gourd.
(5) Q
nsldoro kutayf
nsldoro
kublom
keslt
utayf
utajf?
nsltle
nte
What Is like
ete
nsltie
nte
eka
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163
A third type of riddle exists which may be
denominated a tone riddle.
cited one as an
Chang
Frequently the
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154
The tons riddle la used as a form of amusement,
greeting, explanation for an action, indirect method
of cursing, and eroticism between the sexes*
The use
Query:
Answer:
1 1
even
1
3
ikanke
Child
1 1
idap
1
3
lfi)kke
ukut
Sleep
suffering
eka
Query*
I l l
)k)k)k
1 1 1
k)fl )r)
11
1
ke mben mm)y{
Bamboo
3 3
ebet
1
)t)
awaits
high-tide.
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155
1 1 1 1 1
Answers
ekp)r)
k)fl)r)
kealt
etak
Penis
la floating
Inside
vagina
3 3
ebet
11
nsene
awaits sperm.
Cursing among the Efik frequently results In a
law suit before the Native Court.
This m ay be avoided
Query:
Answer:
1
eyop
1
eml
1 1 1
adade
iba
Palm
which
stood
two
1
ekpe
1
eml
1 1 1
enye ada
it
stands three.
1 1 1
oklmde uka
1
lta
your mother
1 1 1
enye oklm
it
pins
1
your father
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156
Occasionally the query of a tone riddle ia used
as a periphrastic method of justifying a particular
action.
5
saying:
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
11
11
oyom mb)'planter of
cocoyams wants
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157
to the Ibibio-Efik linguistic group but extant in the
g
folkloro of many groups speaking tonal lunguagoa.
1
(1 ) Query:
1
3
inyerfe
mb)k)k
oko
Who
shakes
sugarcane
that?
1
Answer:
nso
nso
1 3
itle
nte
eka
owo
Who
is
like
mother
of person?
111
(2 ) Query:
enuk
etlhe
etet
Bend
okra
pluck.
111
inyenoke
Answer:
ama
1
(3) Query:
afak
)k)k
ketak
ut)>(
Putting
chewstiok
under
ear.
esin
enyln
Putting
eyes
1
Answer:
1 1
(a) lover
1
owo
in thing
of person.
Q
An example of a Chinese poetic pun utilizing
tonal ohanges is cited by Pike, K.# 1948, p. 35.
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158
1 1
( 4 ) Q u ery*
Answer:
(5) Query:
ntaha
akpan
Broken
basket
Answer *
on road
of farm.
111
1 1
imaha
owo
World
12
lk)>{
ub )y{
Loaf
of gourd and
1
ye
1
keslt
l k)t,
gourd inside
1
ye
Testicles
and penis
12 8
ub)y{
nsen ekp)r)
1
(6 ) Query*
1 3
irfwayf
ererlmbot
1
Answer*
11
kuauyi
e kp)r)
bush.
keslt
ltlt
inside
vagina.
m i l
1 3
ISlE
11
jrfkana
13 3
okure
Moon
builds
round
oompound.
akpara
1
3
edaha
1 1 3
udia )b)rf
(7) Query:
12 2 2
af la
>lk)rik)
)kpla)]rf
ik)t
White
snail
of strong
bush.
1
Answer:
1 2
2 2
In)
okut
owo
)t)iO
rfkejf inua
Thief
sees
person
begins
talking aloud
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169
( 8 ) Q u ery:
14 5
nnyat)
)kp)dlki
1
Jku
Prult
Jsim
does he pluck
4
ata
(and) eat?
Answer:
en)
5
)yo ufel
)n)
4
asal
Gift
of orphan
giver takes
ere
does he curse?
(9) Query*
I
lkp)
Big
Answer:
I
okpon
Big
l
nsuy{ lkcmf
ships.
l
l
ekpoi( itlt
clitoris.
(10) Query:
1
trl
3
nalntln
1
5
twenti
tri
Three
nineteen
twenty
three.
I l l
)b)
Answer: itlt
Vagina receives
1
nauyf
errand
5
eklkol
of hips.
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160
The uflet serves as a oulturally reoognized means
of expressing resentment.
It is a stereotyped form of
The
In this
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161
The following examples illustrate the u f l e t :
(1 )
adlade
esete
okure
keml
It Isfinished
with this.
f1
ml ami y(kut
do I
see you?
(3)
afo okot ml
)n)
item
kpa
afo ada
mi
okobuk
go tell story.
(4)
eblet lma
)dude
etop
)nyurf
shouting also
odu
kpa
do
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162
(5)
eyen
ldlhe
Child
ia not
ama
rnkp)
thing
owo
naahi
abaai
of laughter, God
lal
he gives.
(6 )
)fi )k
owo
ndibaHa
lbayfake
He knows
person
to tattle
idem esle
himself.
An uflet said to gossips.
(?)
) k b m k p )
ndlnam
He leaves thing to do
aflak
ese
owo
kiso
turns
(8 )
yak okudara
utlt
mkp)
mf)n
etlre
kldl)k
thing
good
ends
in badness .
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16 3
Only men of the same age grade employ nicknames
(Ef ndltik enylyQ for each other.
If a
Henoe
Crooodile
lkayf
M M M H M i
fire
edlk
lkpake
abasl
eyen ubuene
lnylmeke
Qod
of poor child
M M M W M M M
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164
(2 )
l y l r ) ekpat
eto
otop
ekere
idem
Pieoe of stem
self.
(3)
ibak
ebe
Iso
odurf
atuak
ekperedem
knooks last
(person).
(4)
eyet
ub)k otuk
Wash
hands
aslan
touoh, pride
imaha
ndek
(5)
nsen
lkut
)b)k
Egg
of turtle
nurses
idem
self
lkp)>(
alone.
(6 ) ika
Ika
ub)k
hand
rfkara
of jfkara bush (a very thorny bush).
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165
The only known examples of tongue twisters are:
(1 )
kpukpru nyln
All
of us eat
udla urua
food of market
udla
urua
eaien
ekpe
food
of market
of Esien
Ekpe*
okpetere
Kind of plant
utebe
food of market
uslne
utebe
rat
smells
smells
ekpetere
plant
lkwe
uslne
kuaujrf
rat
iblo
lblo
lbuo
ye
ibuo
lblo
Short
short nose
with
nose
short.
mmrnmmmmmm
(3)
lk)k etap
m m m h h
m m tm m m m m
saliva,
1 1
on the morphemes mm)jrf where' and ram)j( w a t e r .
11
The
11
1
owo person of person', whioh is thought to be funny.
11
12
The phrase etim etlm etlm Efim pounds a milliped is a
play on the tones of the morphemes.
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166
ia often answered ntak ke ramln efik residue in palm
wine', the pun being on the first two words of the
phrase.
In the morning
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167
*0h our dear mother you have left a big loneliness
for us.
Today we have lost one who gives advice from our
midst.
Today we have lost our right hand.
What is life good for?
Oh death, what a loss you have given us.
Why do you have a strong heart against us in this
way?
Today you have taken our mother to ghost town.
Mother goodbye, greet relatives in that region
for us.
Please our mother do not forget us.
Remember us as you used to.
Our beloved mother safe journey.
The good woman whose gait is admired, safe Journey,
Our mother with sweet speech, safe journey,f
Songs,
The
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168
Sometimes they are proverbs.
An akwa
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169
or secret sooleties mentioned In the analysis will be
dlsoussed elsewhere*
Number of songs
I*
Totals
20
Childrens songs
(a) Plays
1 . ekoyf
8 * mkp)kp)r)
3* ekoyi It )k
4. lkut
(b) Games
222
II* M e n s songs
(a) Plays
1* ltembe
25
2 * lbom
3* ukua
20
4* okpoKkroK
5* mb)k
6 . lb)k
7. songs against
women
10
54
2 * ekprl akatB
35
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170
III*
3 * )b )n
28
4* nslma
10
5* unana eka
6 * jrfkj.
7* eka>{
M e n 1s and W o m e n s songs
43
Plays
1 * ndem
25
2 * oyo
12
3* ek)mbl
4* esesat
IV*
5
owo
W o m e n fs songs
33
Plays
1 * ekpa
2 * lban ls]^
3* ntiml
4* aba
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171
The following are examples of Efik songs:
(1)
(2 )
Eboyfko is
tM
M M
(4)
If she throws
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172
(5)
Give me a cigar*
ing*
Europeans
water.
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173
Several b o y s 1 plays take place at Christmas,
New and Easter.
These serve
The m k p )k p )r ) may
A boy
gets inside and then runs, spins and dances while his
companions sing and beat a drum.
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174
The eko^ lt)k ekojif of running* play wears a
carved crocodile head as a headdress and has his body
completely covered with cloth.
stems from the fact that the figure never walks slowly
but always trots or runs.
gifts of money.
In ntiml the women players wear long-John white
underwear with feathered headdresses.
Each oarries a
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175
During full moon young and grown-up Efik play
esesat owo,
opposite them.
crowd disperses,
Ekpe ) f l 'leopard of the moon' is a children's
danoe which they play for amusement on moonlit nights,
Boy 3 chase the girls away, sing songs, danco, and then
allow the girls to return*
A group of five to ten young men use the special
ltembe drums and rattles to provide music and amusement
at social festivities, funeral observances or holidays.
The leader of the group is called the akwa lkw)
'chief
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176
Carry fire from the kitchen end welk up behind
a person; when the individual turns to see who is there
he will see nothing and think a ghost took the fire#
No one removes on axe left stuck in firewood
save the person who put it there for fear of suffering
obuwuh) or lnteroostal muscular pains#
Whoever wants to
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177
Tho Efik shako hands in formal greetings#
Persons of tho some age shake hands using the right
hand.
None leave a
These include 2, 4, 6 , 7, 8 ,
Thus, in giving
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178
money the Efik prefer to give ton shillings and six
penoo rather than ten shillings.
ficed goat.
The Efik say ekpo ekom ml enyln *ghost blindfolds
my eye* when they find an object right in front of them
after a long search.
Temporary numbness of an
ghost folds
m y leg*.
If someone sneezes his companions immediately say
'not youl may you live long and break palm kernels on
your k n e e s , or may you live healthy and grow white
h a i r s 1
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179
If a coconut falls, a gourd called lkpan is tied
to the stem of the oooonut tree by a close relative of
the owner.
Musical instruments.
Musical instruments
An
A n akwa ek)m)
*big e k ) m )* is 12
(Ef. lkpafak)
The
by their parents.
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18 0
with the flat of tho hand, and Is carried tucked under
the loft arm.
A small
The drum is
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181
with a hole either at the side or top*
Only a few
The
It is
The lwomi
and consists of a
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182
string made from tho oil palm tree.
to the string.
made from the stem of a wine palm tree frond and the
performer opens end closes his mouth to give resonance
to the sound.
The clapper
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185
announcements*
The
The
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184
merits and was formerly used to keep time for paddlers
of large war canoes.
The high-toned
The
A double gong
The
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185
eldest son beats an instrument oalled yflcene when publicly
shouting the exploits and praises of his reoently deceased
father.
hunter who has killed a leopard may beat the jfkene while
publioly proclaiming his e x p l o i t . ^
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186
legs are stamped.
into the small end, although most ohildren now use glass
bottles whioh have had the bottom knocked out, to produce
the same sound.
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187
Communication signals,
of the wood signal-drum,
and the trumpet,
Every
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188
or low notes depending on the tonal environment In
whioh they occur; a high note designates a mid tone
when the latter is preceded and followed by low tones,
or preceded by a low tone and followed by a high tone*
However, a low note may represent mid tone when the
latter is preceded and followed by high tones*
Low
Since
Consequently,
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189
It would be difficult to distinguieh any one
morpheme of a class on the basis of tone
alone.
(2)
segmentation
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190
61 LF, 32 HF, 12 HM, and 7 LR toned nouns*
Trlsyllabio
13
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191
It is gratuitous to assume that the hearer would
necessarily segment the signal notes into the correct
pattern shown in line A.
The interpretations
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192
TABLE IV
POSSIBLE SEGMENTATIONS OP ONE SIGNAL MESSAGE
1
)S))T
L H
11
UB)K
H H
1
)S))J
1
INUA
L H
H L
173
168
173
204
173
26
70
168
26
70
168
173
173#
173
168
178
204
173#
168
178
152#
26
26
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193
phrases eaoh of which possess the same tone pattern
as the signal message*
1
1
The tone pattern of the Bignal message esuk urua
1 1 1 1
1
2
etlbi mblet urua lnyamke beaoh of market grows grass
market doesn't sell may be interpreted, assuming
oorreot segmentation, into 168 x 158 x 152 x 204 x 158 x
152 or over 19.7 trillion ways; adding variant segmentations, over 113*2 trillion phrases can be constructed
whioh possess the same tone pattern as the signal
message*
Sixty-one signal phrases are composed of fiftyfive proverbs, four nioknames, and two alert signals.
Analysis of the sixty-one phrases reveals that only two
possess the same tone pattern*
Investigation of these
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194
signals,
"Strong a m
14
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195
(1)
1 1 1 1 1
idemede idap
n m
sT
1
imen
mr
1 1
lkune
1
]
ifir mr
loin cloth.
)f)j{
A message sent
(2)
inem esit
rrrr
Pleasure
1 1 1
edip mkp)
1
iyaterit
1 3 3
ayarade
irr r i
orrt"
ir r f -g
hides thing
annoyanoe
reveals.
i
(3)
l i i
p owo
l h l l ith
fit
i
i i
ererimbot ikwe
m r r
ri
Red earth hides a person and the world does not see
him again.
has died.
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196
(4)
1
1
)>{ enyin akpa
LH
L L
F h
Insult
dies
ub
1
1
eslt adat
H L
heart pleases
FIT
11
mb)hidu>{
L H H L
neighbors*
(5)
1 1
ofim ofim
1
1 1 1
enyejfe etlrfe okon eyop
FIT FT*
S'Tt O
Wind alone
bends
top
FT" E l
of tall palm*
(6)
1
31
3 1 1
nuene nuene
)d)k
1 1 1
31
3 1
eto
nuene nuene )suh)de
FTnfTT"F
HH
Ant
climbs tree
alone
FTi F T h~ T T F T T T
ant
alone
comes down*
(7)
11
eslneslt
L H H L
Being in
1
11
lk)t an am
HL
HH
bush does
3 1
aBayfa usuyt
L L H H L
walker of road
1 1
mkp#
H i
thing.
to beware of ambush*
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197
(8)
nnan enyin
11
edi
1
1 1 5
ns)rf idem eren owo
Trouble
is
strength
A message sent
(9)
1 3
abiabon
rmr
Needle
etok
etok
1
atuak
1
anyan
1
)f)
or
o r tte
n r
or
small
small sews
long
doth.
(10)
4 1 1
ebe iso
rzwz
Leader
1
ikwe
os
does not see
1
ekperedem
11
eka ekpat
last
footprint.
rrfr sHBorr
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198
(11)
1
1
ofim
inr
n il nr
enyatfe
mbora
1 1 1
ibujrfke
Wind
shakes
tree
does not
n i
break.
(12)
4
aka
ikp)j(
FT
Lonely-person
1 1
If la
1
idlm
FT"
1 4
etre
F lI
(13)
1
1
ik)j(
iso
ofim
1 3
iyehe
does not
rr
ft
nr
Leaf
before
wind
nr-H
11
idem
nr
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19 9
Gasturos.
'oome h e r e 1*
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200
Simultaneous wiping of eaoh lower arm with the
opposite hand and then throwing the arms toward the
ground expresses emphatic denial.
This gesture is
not concerned1.
To signify he is glad something unfortunate has
happened to the recipient, a gesturer will place the
index finger of the right hand just beneath the lower
eyelid of the right eye and pull the skin downwards to
expose the eyeball.
uuummmmm.
The gesturer ma y
The
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201
were cursing the Kru negroes as being unoiroumolsed.
The ima love* gesture, signifying a desire for
sexual intercourse, is made by tickling the right palm
of a person of the opposite sex with the middle finger
of the right hand.
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202
If the eyes are closed and the head moved in a
ninety degree arc, the gesture is insulting and con
temptuous,
A woman to whom
This
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203
if you do not may you suffer testicular elephantiasis1.
The verbal equivalent of the sound is the expression
uaia fo 'your hernia*, and is used similarly.
The
'come quickly*.
Protrud
Frown
'do not
signifies
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201*.
Greetings.
time they meet.
plural
English equivalent
mmesiere
erneslere
?ood
lealea
leelca
tiedo
etiedo
dado
edado
nado
enado
"jftj-py M
meny)y{
mm)lc)m
morning
you have seen the
d a w n )
greetings
'not
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205
b a d 1, mm)ml
The latter
plural
nam su^su/f
enam auyfaujf
do gently
aayta suyf
esajrfa sujA
walk softly
tie auy{
etle suit
sit gently
esiere
esiere
good night
English equivalent
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CHAPTER VIIr
FAMILY AND KINSHIP QROUPS
Kinship terminology.
The
The
eldest son, seoond son, third son, and fourth son are
respectively akpan, u d ) . ud) u d ) . and ud)
filling three1.
seoond
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207
refer to siblings desoended from the same father but
different mothers.
The adjectival nouns irfwan *female1 or eren
m a l e when appended to a kinship term which refers
to either sex, designates the sex of the person to
whom referenoe is made.
Thus, eyen ml
my child*, eyen fo
nim) their o h i l d .
'your
The
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208
The following Is a list of the more common Efik
kinship terms*
Pa
ete
Mo
eka
Ch
ElSo
akpan
2nd ElSo
Mi
3rd ElSo
ud) ud)
4th ElSo
Mi iy),h).ita
ElDa
adi aha
2nd ElDa
uruan
3rd ElDa
uruan uruan
4th ElDa
Br, Si (A)
eyen eka
ElBr (A)
akpan eka
E1S1 (A)
Br, Si (B)
eyen ete
ElBr (B)
akpan etc
ElSi
(B)
ete
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209
FaBr, FaSI (A)
Mo Si Hu. (A)
or ukot
MoSiHu (B)
or ukot
WiSiCh (A)
WiSiCh (B)
FaFa
ete ete
FaMo
eka ete
MoMo
eka eka
MoFa
ete eka
SoOh, DaCh
DaDaCh, DaSoCh
eyen eyeyen
SoDaCh, SoSoCh
eyen eyeyen
Hu
ebe
Wi
rfwan
WiFa
ete rfwan
or ukot
DaHu
ebe eyen
or ukot
WiMo
eka y{wan
or ukot
ukot
(A)
(B)
(B)
(B)
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210
FaBrWi
(A)
FaBrWi
(B)
M
M
M
M
M
W
tM
M
M W
M
M
M
*I
H
M
M
i
FaSiHu (A)
ebe eyen
eka ete
or ukot
FaSlHu (B)
ebe eyen
ete ete
or ukot
MoBrWi (A)
M M M M
IMMHMI
(MMHMI
MMMM
MMM
MoBrWi
(B)
M M H W M
N M M M N I
M B M B
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211
Kinship groups.
Since polygamy
and marriage.
In
turn, when the parents become old the siblings see they
receive proper oare and decide those issues which affeot
the parents and themselves.
With regard to the funotion of the nuclear family,
an elderly man states:
If one is very poor and has no money he will tell his
ekpuk all about his position.
Those people will
arrange to give him some money.
This man will trust
that even though the ekpuk will know he is poor they
won't tell others about it. If the money is given
you and later you do not refund it to the ekpuk there
might bo no trouble, but if you had borrowed it from
the uf)k there would be much trouble if you did not
return it.
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212
If you have a bad disease like gonorrhea, you
will go to your elcpuk and tell them about it
because they wilY' nfcte you and will not make this
known to other people.
They will arrange how you
should be healed.
If you feel that someone hates you very much
and plan some evil for him, you should tell your
okoulc about it so they will knot* hot; to defend you
if trouble results.
If an ekpuk has a brilliant
boy or girl they can make arrangements how to make
that person progress in school.
If you want to marry you must tell your ekpuk
about it.
They will go about gathering information
about the woman, and ina meeting they will me n
tion the good and bad points of the woman accord
ing to the information they have gathered.
It is
the ekpuk who decides whether yon should marry the
girl.
The ubon, a noun derived from the verb root bon
meaning beget, consists of a man, his wife or wives,
and the first
mal adult
generation of
their offspring.
1very nor
The head of
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213
Problems of lend use concern the u b o n .
If
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214
Creek Town consists of four major wards or
sections.
Formerly, widows
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215
remained in their deceased husband's compound and
raised their children, if young.
If someone desired
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CHAPTER IX
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
The ohlef and hia council.
In his role
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217
famous father Eyo Nsa.^
Eyo Nsa was either an Itinerant Ibo blacksmith
or an Efik slave of Ibo origin.
As his
Eyo
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218
Waddell
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219
hundreds of boxes of brass and coppor rods*#*
worth eaoh about &5 sterling* On these he
walked, without putting foot to ground, and
told the messengers what his march hod proved,
that he had money enough to bo king, and
needed no leave from Eyamba*
Sorely annoyed, Eyamba forbade European ship captains
to salute Eyo Honesty, and fined those who did so*
However, Eyo Honesty retaliated by refusing to trade
with any oaptain who would not salute him, and, as
his trade was the more important, he obtained obeisance
from them all*
Eyo replied he
6 I M d *. pp* 312-3*
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220
Coronation of the ohlef.
ceremony Involves both Indigenous customs and acculturatlve elements Introduced within the last century.
The
Most Efik,
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221
and believe he died aooording to his prenatal vow to
Jod that he would never become chief#
At the end of
;he coronation#
Seven days before the aotual ceremony, the
jeopard Society figure Idem Iku) parades around the
:own#
He Is preceded in the
Two men
All
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222
wooden platform and a new Leopard Society shed hove
been constructed.
He
Then
7
' Originally the Leopard Society shed was located
in the village square. However, the shed was allowed to
fall into disrepair and was never rebuilt.
Consequently,
on the important occasion of the coronation a temporary
shed is built.
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223
today you must not join bad company. You must,
not betray your people. You must not accept any
invitation for dinner or lunch. You must not
cause trouble between husband and wife, or father
and child. From today you must be a peacemaker
and one that will make your people unite.
As the old man speaks the chief nods his head
to signify his agreement with all portions of the ad
vice, and at its conclusion he stands just beneath the
eaves of the platform roof.
The
These two
The
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224
A cloth is spread from tho door of the chief*s
house to tho door of the Presbyterian Church#
One man
In
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225
Soolal stratlftoatlon,
Individu
ered with beads, large blue beads around the nook, and
a neoklaoe of three or more nd) beads; these were
tubular in shape and made of glass,
Freeborn oitizens
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226
Efik obtained slaves by capture or purchase*
One of tho largest and most frequented slave markets
was located at 1 tu on the Cross River*
Slaves from
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227
The master transported a newly-purchased slave
to his house where other slaves shaved his head, took
away his clothes, and set him the tiresome task of
oracking palm kernels for several weeks, during which
time he learned the important laws and customs never
to be transgressed.
Slaves
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228
another man to cohabit with the woman and refuse to
accept any brideprloe on her behalf, thus insuring
his right to consider all her children as members of
his extended family.
James Morley
10
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229
Warfare.
about war v/ith the first, although the Efik fought any
Cross River group who blockaded the lower Cross River
thereby threatening their monopoly on trade.
Weapons
Sixteen days
The
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230
feathers of the gray plantain eater.
11
allow oanoes to pass their island,
Waddell
described
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231
and danger out of the way. On eaoh side sat fifteen
men with paddles, and between them down the oentre
stood a row of men armed with outlasses and guns.
The k i n g s body-guard were immediately around him.
A train of inferior canoes, ornamented and arranged
in the same style, belonging to the lesser gentry,
were In hie woke.
Eyambas expedition was forced to turn back beoause the Omon were waiting to ambush them on both sides
of a narrow strait in the Cross River.
Waddell
12
wrote:
12 Iid*i P. 372.
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232
dancing naked while tho younger women, whose husbands
were soldiers, dressed as warriors.
As tho elderly
*powerful man*.
As soon as Efik
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233
At the cessation of warfare the ohiefs of both
groups met at the boundary and arbitrated the oase which
had started the war*
They brought
the woman mashed yam, stow, lamb meat, and palm oil*
She was also given enough intoxioating liquor to become
slightly inebriated whereupon she was plaoed in a round
pit four to five feet deep.
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234
At the prayers conclusion the warriors refilled the pit
until only the w o m a n s head protruded*
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235
oooaslon so warrant*
Age grades.
Some
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236
Although the original naturo of the age grade has
ohanged, men still rotain the uso of the term d a , while
age-grade' now applies to any group of persons
possessing approximately the some wealth and uniting to
form a savings society.
The Enyong, closest related group to the Efik,
still retain their ago grades and reveal the manner in
which those of the Efik functioned.
they may change their grade name and select a new one
not already appropriated by another group.
Members of
the same age grade call each other d a , but never use this
term of address to a person older than themselves.
If a
man marries a wife younger than himself, she may enter his
age group.
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237
ling mntohes with each other and, at Christmas time,
form their own native plays#
Secret societies and sodalities#
The Ekpe
Each
jfaanda, Oku
Akama, Nyomkpo. Okpoho, and Eboyfko, each having a ohieftain or )b)yl; thus, the title )b)j{ eboyfko designates the
ohief who supervises the activities of the oboy(ko grade.
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238
Under the aegis of the chiefs the Leopard Society
promulgated and enforced laws, judged important cases,
recovered debts, protected the members property, main
tained the power of the f r e e b o m over the more numerous
slaves, and constituted the actual executive government
of the Efik#
14
has written:
15
As regards recovery of
Tfi
- states:
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239
party applies to the Duke for the Egbo drums;
acquainting him at the some time with the nature
of his complaint; if the Duke acoedes to the
demand, the Egbo assembly immediately met, and
the drums are beat about the town; at the first
sound of which every woman is obliged to retreat
within her own dwelling, upon pain of losing hor
head for disobedienoe: nor until the drum goes
round the second time, to shew that council Is
ended, and the Egbo returned, are they released
from their seclusion. If the complaint be just,
the Egbo is sent to the offending party to warn
him of his delinquency, and to demand reparation,
after which announcement no one dares move out
of the house, inhabited by the culprit, until
the affair is settled, and if it be not soon
arranged, the house is pulled down about their
ears, in whloh oase the loss of a few heads
frequently follows. This extremity, however,
rarely occurs, for if the offender be not able
to settle the matter himself, it Is generally
made up by his relations and friends.
On reoeipt of a small payment, the Leopard Society
allows an individual to mark his property to show that It
is under the Society*s proteo.tion.
with thin raffia streamers.
18
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240
Society hired n,,.an Egbo gentleman to bring their
cause before an Egbo court, with a great fee proport
ioned to M s
suooess,
19
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241
Tho chief of the tfkanda grade paints special
chalk linos on tho body of a new initiate.
Six lines
One
and
This money is
If
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2U2
the initiate does not make the required gift the member
may seize the peacock feather from his head and, if ho
is not to forfeit his initiation fees and membership
rights, the initiate must obtain its return before dawn
the next day.
PO
HolmanfcW stated the payment
In 1950, a
The reoip-
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21+3
lent kept the money*
In the meantime,
the would-be
Such member
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244
a member sees all the "seorets on her behalf and
receives the peacock feather from the chief*
The man
She
Waddell
22
Ibid,, p, 609*
Holman (1840, pp* 392-3) remarks
**&t Nyamkpe is the only grade allowed to sit In the
uncil, and only Nyamkpe members divide initiation fees*
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2I|5
Wealthy men from neighboring tribes may purchase
the right to possess Leopard Society grades from Creek
Town or other Efik towns*
In 19S>3,
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246
A n Efut woman named Ata Iroko observed several super
natural spirits playing in the forest.
When they
They
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214-7
first make a sound which represents the name of Ata
Iroko.
Formerly, whenever tho Leopard Society wanted
to send out an Idem Ekpe or costumed Leopard man, they
decapitated a slave and the Leopard man held the head
in his hand as he ran about townj a Leopard man norm
ally runs or danceB, and rarely walks.
Originally, every Efik town possessed an efe
elope or Leopard Society shod, known in nineteenth
century accounts as a "palaver shed".
Waddell^
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21+8
and up the back an alligator....It was not very
highly valued, however; for when, in the course
of time, the wood rotted in tho ground, and a
cow broke it down, it was never set up again.
The Creek Town shed no longer exists.
Grass
At Ifalco, a
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249
Although Leopard Sooiety oostumes differ in
material and color, they are similarly designed, the
main body of the costume resembling a union-suit of
underwear save for a slit in the back which serves as
the means of ingress*
Several
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250
Qloth dyed by a secret process to produce a pattern
f blue and white triangles with occasional speolal
Markings known as nslbldl. which possess secret mean
ings intelligible only to Leopard society members*
Nowadays an English-made imitation is frequently
Substituted for true ukara cloth since it is cheaper,
kilt only the true ukara cloth is used for the curtain
Ver the door of tho room or shed where the leopard
aund is produced*
The Idem
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251
ment by Crow
25
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252
the house of tho offender, followed by half a
dozen subordinate personages fantastically
droseod, oach carrying either a sword or stick*
Ttl jfeanda grade of the Leopard Sooiety includes
tho Jfftcnnda* mb)k). and mbakara oostumes previously m e n
tioned, and also tho mb )k) and iflm m b)k)
Mb)k) Is
They then
invert the box so that the leaf protrudes, and the side
which formerly constituted the lid now f o m s
the base*
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253
In order to prevent the entrance of an unauthor
ized member special Ibo-made ukara cloth curtains off
the room where the leopard noise is produced.
Some
When
Covered by netted-
These may be
27
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254
marks painted on a oloth belonging to the Leopard
Sooiety of Ifako, a small village near Creek Town*
Aooording to the informant the oloth is at least
thirty years old.
On the
Figure
On the
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255
Figure 9 designates the Mbakara Leopard figure,
which hold 3 a staff with a spear on top*
The small
Figure
Figure 12 represents
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FIGURE 5
256
m
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257
FIGURE 6
P io to g ra p h o f th e Oku Akama L e o p ard Grade
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258
FIGURE 7
P ic to g r a p h o f th e Okpoho L e o p ard Grade
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
FIGURE 8
P ic to g r a p h o f th e jfkanda L e o p ard Grade
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission
FIGURE 9
P ic to g r a p h o f th e M bakara L e o p a rd F ig u r e
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
FIGURE 10
Pictograph of the Ebojrfko Leopard Figure
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
UUitK XX
X'j .
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26 3
FIGURE 12
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264
FIGURE 13
Signs for various Leopard Society figures
'III11
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265
worn around the waist with a one-and-a-half foot project
ion mado entirely of feathers tied to a vine fram.
Clad
Members
Any
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266
of the messago,
Formerly
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267
and mblam. a powerful liquid believed to be capable of
killing anyone who swears a false oath*
The fvolce of
)b)n* is a square-shaped rattle made from the outercovering of bamboo and filled with stones or oil palm
kernels; the rattle is regarded as a great seoret whioh
only members are allowed to see.
The
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268
held a red oook and Dracaena leaves.
When members
This con
When
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269
The members used the Initiation fees for enter
tainment and divided any remainder among themselves*
The fees were three to five pounds sterling plus six
bottles of gin; the initiate also prepared the speoial
ukay( food dish for the members*
Ekprl Akata is a men*8 sooiety which meets at
night to report i n f o m a t i o n and gossip to the villagers*
If a woman commits adultery the members inform the
entire village by singing of her deed In a ballad*
The
In form
with the open end in his mouth the voioe beoomes vibrant.
Members also produce noises which simulate the
sounds of a dog, cow, toad, bee and crying baby*
When
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270
ironwood, oight inches in length and oblong in shape.
To produoe a rosonant baas sound similar to a toads
croak a man dips his hands in water and strokes raffia
strands tied to a peg whioh is inserted into a rec
tangular holo at the bottom of a gourd in suoh a manner
that the ends of the peg rest on the gourd's side*
The
Members
Ekporoko is always
The costumed
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last generation.
The following colloquy typifies the usual con
versation between Ekporoko and Abasi Ud) E k o l :
Ekporoko:
What
"Yes, Sir,
Ekporoko:
The identities
Theoretically, the
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272
A special sodality oalled ukua, Involving a numbor of men, usually stages mode battles at the funeral
obsoquios of an important man#
Members do not
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In hi a hand.
The
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274
Tho figure
If It hits
Com
Members
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275
non-member but only the Leopard Society deals with
cases of debt and murder.
If the allegation is
Nowadays a
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276
In the event tho guilty party refuses to pay the
fine the townswomen perform tho mbuba ceremony.
They
Nowadays when
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277
Tho head of an extended family adjudicated dis
putes between the family slaves, who possessed no right
of appeal.
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27Q
his hat, presents o bible, and asks kpukpuru se oyome
ndltljf n) eaop ke ukpe eml edl olcpanile), osu nsu bible
abasi amia fl ufen all what you want to toll the oourt
in this oase is the truth, if you lie tho Bible of God
gives you punishment*
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279
Efik are reluctant to bring matters before the
Native Court which concern the seoret societies in
ternal affairs, and prefer to settle suoh oases by
discussion among the members of the particular society
involved.
Natives find it ex
Property.
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280
tacitly recognized as being communal, suoh as streets
and the village market plaoe, with property rights
invested in no one person*
There is no
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281
its own soaca, but non-members may sing all songs
except tho 30 of tho Leopard Society,
Loans
(Ef, |foet
As seourity for
A pledged
In the
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282
interest
The vendor
If it is paid in
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283
If twelve persons join a savings society the
group has a secretary and a leader called etubom
osusu or etubom jrfka.
killings
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284
shillings per month.
Originally,
At
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285
gods"*
A person who makes a gift of land can never re
claim ownership If the recipient possesses children
since they will Inherit the land.
However, if the
If another person is
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286
to bloat*
I M M M M
I M M W I M
Rented lands
muoh per annum for the exclusive right to the. palm fruits
but may not tap wine palm trees.
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237
A groat deni of litigation over land ownership
ooeurs In tho Native Court#
The latter
In
The
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CHAPTER X
LIFT CYCLE
Sexuality, reproduction and prenatal care,
Efik consider a pretty faoe, fine breasts which are
neither too large nor too small, and an attractive
waist
'dog style'}
vcpina with their fingers, but most do not for many Efik
believe that anything so odoriferous cannot be good.
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209
Women usually rub the glans penis of non with thoir
left hand.
An Efik woman usually achieves orgasm prior to
hor partnor.
Men attempt
The
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290
Efik realize people differ In their sexual in
clinations and in this oonneotion usually refer to the
fact that one wife may aoouse her husband of marital
hegleot after only a month's abstinence while another
may not object if her husband refrains from ooition
with her for more than three months.
Proportional to abstinence.
Impotence (Ef, i t ) ) is rare although it does
occur as a result of various diseases rather than from
any psychosomatic disability.
*>y )d)yQ it)
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201
ceremonies, but is unknown as a regular mode of life.
Masturbation occurs but has no special name, being
simply designated ndisime
foolishness1.
Girls mas
Sodomy is also
In 15>1 a European
man living
Hence, the
remained
usual word
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292
food for her husband nor had coition with him*
Now
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293
mixing of sperm*
bad*
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295
A native herbalist attends the woman during her
pregnancy and gives her various enemas, drinking potions
and lotions*
If a child is born
Birth
The herbalist
This fluid
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296
is called mm)irf ebeyfe *begging w a t e r 1 or usarl ibuot
eyen kingfisher of the child*s head*
(the kingfisher
to eigjit hours for the first birth and two hours for
subsequent births*
If it does not
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297
Three-quarters of the umbilical cord Is out
off*
Nowadays
Efik
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from the communal plate on akwa ederl day and they are
forbidden to go near places sacred to the Ndem super
natural powers or to participate in any sacrifices to
these powers.
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299
If the parents were Ignorant of their daughter's
Intention to ooramit abortion they confiscated her
personal property and disowned her as their child.
Women who desired to oommit abortion frequently
Induced a miscarriage through the use of a pepper
enema.
Before she
and a special
During the
If
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300
Informing the preacher, but in this case there is no
mention of the woman or a congregational blessing*
On the return home after the church service
the urua uman market birth* ceremony is held*
The
On
Nowadays
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301
grandparents oare for the baby, v/ho takes the surname
of the maternal grandfather.
At two
If the child
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302
cries at night it rocoivos palm oil chop, yam, rice or
biscuits which have been kept in readiness to assuage
its hunger.
throe weeks.
Teeth appear between six and nine months.^
Children begin to speak at ten to fourteen months when
they say names, but rarely talk fluently until they ore
two-and-a-half.
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303
Husbands refrain from intercourse with a nursing
mother as Efik believe sperm weakens the child's bones
and, consequently, the baby will be unable to ait, crawl
or walk properly#
baby is weaned*
In this
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304
Parents give the ohild small presents at birth,
when it first sits, orawls, eats, stands, walks, outs
its first tooth and speaks its first word*
These are
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305
may be ealled Okon, If male, or either Akon or jftco
if female.
child Ny
male
female
Akwa and
Ekprl Ikw)
Asuku)
Ik u )
Akwa and
Efi )>{
Afl )|{
Akwa and
Ekprl Ederl
Edet
Arlt
Akwa and
Ekprl Iblblo
Etlm
Atim
A single asterisk
Abbreviation
Ek&enyjjfr
Oduso
Ey)
Etinyln
Ey) Nsa
Akanub Jjrf
Eslentt
Eflom
Efi
Nsa
Inyail
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306
Inyajf
Baal or Abasi
la
Otu*
Ebak
Ekpo#
Oku#
mm
Ima#
mm
AntiRha#
mm
Ntlha#
mm
mm
Akabom
Ika
Ako#
n)j(
Efi)
Ey)
Eyu or Ewal
Aaukw)
eak)
W M M M M
Ikw)
Iklo
Afi )j(
Afl
Arlt##
Adi
Ati m##
Okon
Oke
(English *Oscar')
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307
Childhood and adolescence.
In former days,
Although it is still
The
shares the food among the children and they eat at any
convenient place.
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308
to oome and eat the food with him.
When the
slok child puts his hand In the food the other children
follow suite, and eaoh attempts to obtain as much as
possible.
Indeed,
made suoh a vow, the parents prepare this dish for all
children to make them happy and show them that they are
welcome.
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If the child replies he is ill-treated the spiritchildren rub their hands on his body and tell him to
follow them.
From
A girl
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310
oalled owo )s)if *strong person*
Girls marketed
with the mother while boys fished and hunted with the
father*
chased a wife for him and told him to build his own
house*
This
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311
their friendship through the establishment of a magical
blood relationship.
wrist and then sucks the blood from the wound on the
wrist of his friend.
Efik
with friend*,
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312
Since that; oath we used to go and trade together#
As time went on my friend s mother died.
The first
person that he informed was me# I followed him to
his house, and we put his mother in bed# He sent
me to Reverend Ware to tell him of the death.
No
other person knew exoept the three of us#
But later
I told m y wifo and my sister#
So I told my sister
to go and sleep there.
Two of us arranged the
burial..those that will dig the grave, what they
should be given, how muoh should be spent, and things
like that. I did not leave him. I was all the time
with him. Until we finished everything concerning
his mother*s death only then I left him and went
home, but used to visit him from time to time#
When my mother died about fifteen years ago he
walked with me in a nice way#
He did what I did for
him. We went on together as friends until he was
very ill.
We tried all possible means of making h im
regain his health.
He suffered from edlslt lklm
(a type of syphilis or gonorrhea, or, possibly in
this instance, prostate trouble)#
They called the
herbalist to try to oure him.
None oould oure him.
We took him to the hospital.
It was no good# At
last they sent him to Lagos.
He was there in the
hospital for six months. It was no good; he returned#
Here he died. I was with him when he died. He was
a very brave man; at the point of death he struggled
hard as if he were fighting somebody.
He gave blows
to the wall and made holes in the walls.
But at
last he died, and was buried in the usual way.
So
as from that day I lost my friend and till today
I have none of that type. I do not want any other
friends again since I will not have a friend like
that. Friends nowdays have raalioious feelings; they
like gossip; they are greedy.
Always they are in
enmity with eaoh other#
They feel every good thing
should go to them.
They do not like to see their
friends prosper.
And so one does not like to make
friends nowdays.
Nowdays your ohildren will be your
friends beoause however bad your ohild will be, he
will have sympathy for you whenever things go bad
with you.
If you die he will see about your burial
for people will laugh at him if he leaves your oorp3e
until it smells.
That is the reason I do not have
friends today.
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313
A twenty-year old youth, in regard to his 1first
friend*, states:
We went to school together when young and lived
in the same village.
When I had work to do in my
house ray friend came and helped me, and I went to
his house to help him.
We u sed to pass our exam
inations together; always wo went up the different
grades together, and when we passed the examinations
we were very happy.
After school I went to his
house to eat and from there we went to mine.
If
they sell some sheets in class and I am absent he
will pay for his oopy and for mine too. If I do
anything wrong in school and am given punishment,
such as grass outtlng, he will come and help me out
it. We planned our future together, and aimed at
doing the same kind of job.
So we went together
until we reaohed class IV, and we always oompeted
in the class to see who will be first.
Sometimes
if he was first I tried to be first next time, but
in most cases he beat me. In 1949 his father died;
his mother died when he was very young.
So he had
no one to see about his education,
I then appealed to my parents to help him but
they said the burden is already too muc h on them.
So this boy raised a loan from someone, and we
wanted to go further in education. After one term
he noticed that the amount would be too much for
one year, and he still needed a year more to com
plete his oourse so he said he would go seek
employment.
But he asked me what I would do as he
is going to leave.
This was a big problem to me,
a diffloult question.
So I said alright I must
follow you and write an application to the same
firm. I told my people about this and they said
no, that I oannot be a master of myself.
So my
friend had to write the application alone.
He
was taken as a clerk in the United Afrioan Company.
At the time he goes to work I find time to go to
his house, prepare food and keep it for him.
Then
I go baok home.
Sometimes when there is nothing
for him to eat I will preserve my share of food
until he returns, and we will eat together.
So the
first salary he received he bought two watches and
gave me one and said take this as a token of our
friendship.
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3ib
While we were in school he conceived a girl.
This was one of the reasons that forced him to
leave school and seek employment in order to
maintain the woman and child. He was transfer
red before the baby was born but used to send
chop money to that woman, and each time I go to
that w o m a n s house I reported to him on hovj that
woman and baby are getting on. When he was about
six months in his new station he conceived another
girl.
Then the parents forced him to marry the
girl. Now he is having the girl as his wifej he
paid dowry and everything.
That means he has two
children now, all female, but I have neither
married nor have children. When he was at Fleet
I wrote him this week and next week he will write
me. Now we write fortnightly.
Originally women specialists circumcised boys
ten days after birth, and excised the hymen and the
Upper, external cuticle of the g i r l s clitoris when they
entered the uf)k yfwan yftruh) fattening h ou se .
Nowadays
The
However,
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315
with an unclitoridectomized girl*
Although several
'bone of clitoridectomy'.
The
An eldest
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316
was the prestige which accrued to the father since only
a wealthy man could afford to maintain his daughter in
active for as long os seven years.
Although a chiefs
At present, seclu
Since the
tarry a specific girl whose parents spurned his opporttmerncnt, seized the girl, had her clitoridectomizod and put in
seclusion simultaneously threatening to charge the parents
for her support unless they acceded to his request,
huch
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317
During the period of her seclusion the girl
dwells in a separate room where she refrains from do
ing ordinary domestic tasks.
ashes on her
whereupon the girl must eat even if she has Just fin
ished a meal.
Her family
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31 8
exoludes all outsiders so that the villagers will be
amazed at the g i r l 1a beauty and change of appearanoe
when she leaves seclusion and resumes her daily life*
As the girl remains in seclusion her physioal
appearanoe soon begins to change*
If her
She is
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319
Efik apply the niokname ebua 'dog* to a girl who has
either coition while in seolusion or married before
going into seclusion*
When the parents desire the girl to leave seolusion they invite their relatives, friends and
neighbors to oelebrate the occasion*
A small platform
A group of
A man sits at
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320
The girl's parents are the first to give gifts*
then the siblings followed by the husband and his
parents* and then the husband's siblings*
Finally*
After the
On Monday
the girl reoeives one pound from each of her parents and
from her husband; this money she uses to purchase whatever
she desires in the market*
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321
knives, mortars, and pestles, and deoide the day on
which she is to go to her husbands house, if she has
married in the Efik manner called nd) efik fEfik mar
riage
Marriage*
Intercourse
If a man observed
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322
aat on tho stool possessed by each wife, he would be
fined for adultery.
No wife bathed
If he only
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323
while a man with two wives performed )fl)yf mbri ebe
'monthly mat of the husband'
If he had several
The
'acquaintanceship',
Md) efik
Although there
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324
price the greater the w i f e s sooial prestige*
In ad
Before the
Two or
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325
the reception of his wife, a ceremony that was never
delayed for more than a month otherwise people gossiped
that he woo unprepared to marry.
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326
family.
and if she agrees to marry tho man, they write and ask
him to oome.
When he
'wine of hear
If they
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327
shillings and, If the gi r l s parents are generous, they
do likewise,
Tho money given to the girls family amounts to
twelve pounds and is oailed ekebe nd)
box of marriage*,
ooltion with another man after tho suitor gives the okuk
Pkpan ayfwa she commits adultery.
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328
The girl's parents expect the man to provide her
with food during her seclusion in the 'fattening r o o m 1.
Accordingly, the man gives the mother a gift of two
pounds ten shillings which is called okuk ufop iso eka
eyen 'money of burning the face of the child's mother'
since the mother cooks the girl's food during her seclu
sion.
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329
not to that of the man
'big mar
This
'European marriage*
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330
g i rls parents he desires to marry their daughter in
church according to English custom.
After he obtains
Onoe
The m a
At the court
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331
band playB danoe musio.
Although ohuroh marriages are Usually confined
to the educated it is not unusual for a oouple to be
married according to Efik custom and then a few years
later to have a ohuroh marriage.
Most Efik do not like a church marriage since
it changes the aboriginal inheritance rules.
In Chris
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332
according to Nigerian law, she was entitled to inherit
it in tho absenoo of a will.
Another reason Efik disliko church marriage is
that they fool it la impossible to obtain a divoroe.
They cite a case which ooourred in 1943 at Duke Town
where a wealthy woman married a toaoher in ohuroh.
She remained with her husband for several weeks after
the marriage and then informed him she was going to
Lagos to pack her belongings.
She is
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333
A husband may divorce his wife for thievery,
slovenliness, quarrelsomeness, indebtedness, and
adultery
In former times
'money of adultery'.
The woman's
If the husband
If the
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334
If a man informs his wife he wants her to leave
and puts any of her property outside the house, the
woman may legally pack and remove all her belongings
after having her husband's action witnessed.
In this
When a high-
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335
their daily activities as if nothing had happened, and
replied to all Inquiries as to the deceaseds where
abouts that he was absent on a trading expedition.
Six months to a year after the aotual burial,
relatives announced the death to the townspeople by
plaoing a signal drum on top of the roof and drumming
messages.
Then
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336
on mats, while inside the house lamps burned throughout
the nights*
Sexual inter
On the
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337
In former days the widows of an important man
underwent a 3peoial form of mourning called mbukplsi in
which they remained until the mourning period ended*
They ato with a wooden spoon, used a piece of oalabash
as a plate, never combed or set their hair, and at the
beginning of eaoh day rubbed cow dung on their faoe and
body to show how sorrowful they felt.
Finally,
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357b
of the grave to the beat of drums#
At intervals dirt
must be held for the parent who dies first before it may
be held for a subsequently deceased parent, otherwise the
ghost of the offended parent will oause misfortune to
surviving members of the family#
Efik always buried the )b)>( or chief of Creek
Town and Duke Town in secret plaoes in the forest#
On
They dug a
At least four
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338
Daniell
John Adams,
Holman
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339
The )(k) sooiety assemblea at midnight to bury the
oorpse of anyone who dies from a disease whioh oauses
the body to swell* suoh as tuberculosis, testicular
hernia or dropsy, and of a woman dying during pregnanoy
with the foetus still Inside the uterus.
One member
buried separately.
After its
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340
maglo-medtoines power#
ends#
The father of a newborn or very young baby may
put the corpse inside a plantain stem and bury it along
side a path or junction so that the child*s spirit will
follow someone else and not return to the same family
for rebirth.
Efik remove the eyes from the sookets of a sus
pected witch or wizard, tie black cloth around the head
to cover the eyeless sockets, place over the hoad a
kind of pot oailed eso ntibe, whioh has several small
holes in it and is usually used in drying shrimp, and
then throw the oorpse into the bush#
Sometimes corpses
This is done
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3U1
witch during hia lifetime, and his corpse is then
burned.
Nowadays, when an adult dies, relatives first
announce the news to a close family friend who informs
others.
Widows no longer
Uyet
iao sheds and yfwemo memorial houses have not been con8true ted since 105,
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342
The last )b)y{ or chief of Creek Town died in 1931
and was buried secretly in the bush by members of the
Leopard Society.
Just
cloth of death*
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343
symbolizes the last dress which the relatives give the
deceased; it probably is derived from the European
shroud.
When a church member dies the ohuroh bell rings
at intervals to inform people a member is dead.
Rel
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344
After the burial servioe the mourning period
usually lasts four weeks.
Printed
On the Friday
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345
FIGURE 14
Invitation cards for memorial services
IN
M F . M _O T U-AM
a
Bassey &Family
S o r r o w ) a l l y re</ue\/ / / i f C o m p a n y
oi
cm , -c<rr\,
a t / / i f A f r m o r t a l S o r r i e r <>t t / i f
tubom
on
latr
Su n t / a vi(>th X ov e n . be r ,
ti /S-
i n Ihe
S. C. (' M i s s i o n C / i n r e h , Creek l i ne n . at m a . m.
R .t .P .
( iit I.
I<iwn,
l\ S- \ I t''
i .iI.!> i
l!
11
th
<*'.
____________c t t r
MFMORUI. SERVICE.
MURI F.KIOM A. I.I-IOM
k
FAMILY
S orrow fully
at
V l . r.
->
M K M O R 1 A L St KVK'H
V_ w .
o f then
of
.
la te
m other
July
R. I. P.
iW.
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CHAPTER XI
SUPERNATIJRALISM
Religious oonoepts,
and soul-affinity of
our father
They consider
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347
No washing of olothes, marketing, fishing, hunt
ing, or drumming was permitted on akwa ederi, the day of
the eight day week sacred to God,
People remained
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348
to bo an aotual relative of Abasl but is thus called
because she possesses the power of giving children to
ohlldless women who sacrifice to her.
If a mother
neglects to sacrifice to Eka Abasl. the latter may recall the child in whioh case it dies.
Thus, when a
These
or Junction.
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3l;c
and the upper port white,
new leaves of the oil palm tree hanp over the solo
entrance to the house which serves as a storape place
for the paraphernalia of the cult,
Every ndem possesses servants, usually female
and lo r, own as olm ndem, who carry messapes to people,
and are the priests and priestesses of that particular
power.
the kind
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350
play while the dancing continues.
Contents of these
The priest
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351
If tho supernatural power rejects the sacrifice
the worshippers request it to Inform for what reason.
Then, through tho medium of tho priest, the ndem may
tell the worshippers that a certain individual should
absent himself from tho ceremony because he recently
violated one of the powers rules and is thus "unclean".
After tho worshippors learn the saorifioe is
accepted, or correct the reason for its rejeotanoe, the
priest sacrifices a goat or cow by cutting the jugular
vein.
Thomas Hutchinson, a
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352
A curlouo superstition Is connected with Parrot
Island, and Is observed with religious punctuality
by the natives of Old Kalabar, on the occasion of
neod arising for its perfo m u n o e . Whenever a
scarcity of European trading ships exists, or is
apprehended, the Duketown authorities are accustomed
to take an Albino child of their own race, and offer
it up as a saorifice at Parrot island, to tho God of
the white man. This they do beoause the island is in
view of the sea,..over whioh the God of the nations
that sent them articles of European manufacture is
supposed to preside, Tho last sacrifice of this kind
was mode within the past year; and every one must
rogret that the increasing trade of the oountry,
together with the teachings of the missionaries and
supercargoes, has not put an end to this brutality.
In aboriginal times every person possessed an
u k p )fi or animal-soul1 whioh dwelled in a particular
animal.
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353
called )f )t
affinity of a chimpanzee*
Efik believe that although an enemy cannot steal
or trap an animal-affinity, a hunter could aooidently do
so*
An injury to the
Akpan am)y{ owot m i * Etok Akpan kuwot iyak oro 'Etok Akpan
is going to kill me, Etok Akpan don't kill that fishj'*
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354
Her relatives Harried to tho creole designated by the
woman whore they found an Ibibio fishorman named Etok
Akpan and persuaded him to bring tho fish to Creek Town
where they had money to buy it.
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355
times, and then hit him on the sore shoulder*
He told
If a
'my child*.
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356
When an Individual has passed through the entire seven
worlds in seven generations he travels on a path whioh
connects world seven with world one.
Before he com
his promise,
to G o d 1,
When a deciduous troo sheds leaves in the autumn
kfik say the troo goes for uko/ judgment1, and God will
aak the tree what evils it did.
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357
are believed to be Innocent of wrongdoing*
Christian Influence has definitely been respon
sible for the addition of two roads oonneotlng world
one and world seven; a wide road which later beoomes
narrow, and a narrow road which later widens*
The
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358
cannon on the beach thundered; thousands of voices
were shrieking and howling; the k ings great bell
was all the while tolling; and every yard resounded
with the horrid din of great stioks belabouring the
doors, like the clash of weapons in battle.
All this wild uproar was designed to frighten the
"devil" out of town, and was enought to frighten
everything but the devil,,,,At dawn the houses were
all thoroughly brushed down, from roof to floor, and
the sweepings, old fires and nabikim, carried av/ay
to the river. After that all ghosts and devils were
supposed to have taken themselves off to the shades,
Hutchinson, in writing on the nabikim and nd)k
ceremonies, stntes:^
Those figures are made of sticks and bamboo m at
ting; being moulded into different shapes. Some of
them have an attempt at body, with legs and arms,
to resemble the human form. Imaginative artists
sometimes furnish these specimens with an old straw
hat, a pipe in the mouth, and a stick fastened to
the end of the a m , as If they were prepared to
undertake a journey. Many of the figures are
supposed to resemble four-footed animals; some
crocodiles, and others birds,,,,When the night
arrives for their general expulsion one would
Imagine the whole town had gone mad. The population
feast, and drink, and sally out in parties, beating
at empty c o m e r s as if they oontained tangible
objeots to hunt, and hallooing with all their might
and main. Shots are fled; the "Nablkems" are t o m up
with violence, set in flames and thrown into the
river. The orgies continue until daylight dawns; and
the town is considered clear of evil influence for
two years more.
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359
Talbot mentions the use of nabikim effigies in
the nd)k oeromony of Henshaw Town, and, in reference to
At midnight
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360
leaf decorations from their doors, and run with them to
the town beach; some shout isua kao year g o , others
yell ekpo kao *ghosts g o 1, and still others beat gongs,
sing songs, and blow horns.
they throw the deooratlons into the water, and then some
bathe, while others only wash their feet, in order to
wash off the dirt of the old year.
When the writer witnessed this celebration in
Creek Town in 1952-63 the middle-aged women paraded about
town with a large rectangular basket oovered with cloth,
lit on the Inside by oandles,
Young
On this par
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361
celebration of nd)k*
Soareorow-liko figures
Prayers*
An
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362
individual may pray either by himself or as a speaker
in a group.
Frequently the
(1)
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363
Anoestors, I beg you, please let things do well
in this farm* Drive all bad animals away* Do not
let Insects eat the yams.
Please, 1 do take your
things (i.e., the sacrifice) and beg you*
(3) On the oocasion a child first visits an ndem shrine
the parent prays:
Please ndem look at your ohild* Do not allow
any bad things to happen to her* Make her have
good fortune, and have things to remember you from
time to time* Make her see a good husband for
marriage and have good children*
(4)
(5)
the
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364
Etok Udo come together and do not be angry anymore*
Do you hear? Thank you.
(6) To prevent witchcraft or sorcery from attacking a
member of the family the following prayer must be shouted
at the top of the voice so that those concerned may hear
and cease their evil plans.
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365
order that she might get well* I do not do In my
power but in your power*
If it were not in your
power I would not have been able to use it in
curing many people*
All your power should go into
this medicine as it often has done, please Father*
Sooner or later let this woman recover when she
treats herself with this medicine, Father*
Thank
you for hearing m y prayer*
(9)
Curses.
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366
A prayer or ourae invoked by parents must be revoked
immediately for suoh curses always take effect*
If a child beats or insults his mother, the
mother may curse the child, usually with one of the
following:
She revokes
'your life
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367
should be good seven times, good things should come to
you',
'your
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368
from dying.
If a wife curses
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A person may
In
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370
Curses involving reference to punishment by Cod
or supernatural powers are:
Efik
Engllsh
(1)
(2)
abasi owot fl
(3)
atabrinyaii ada fi
(4)
ekpo etibi fi
onyln
(5)
(6)
mbiam owot fl
Mouth as red as a
mllliped.
Dying diaphragm.
(3)
akwai^a ek2} v
Twisted penis.
(4)
akwayfa ukot
Twisted leg.
Plenty of saliva in
mouth.
(7)
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371
(9)
etebe etak
Smelling vagina*
(10)
etebe Idem
Smelling body.
(11)
etebe Inua
Smelling mouth.
(12)
(13)
Child without-hairon-privates
mother wlthout-hairon-privates.
(14)
(15)
(17)
(18)
(19)
(20)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)
(25)
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ava
(26)
odobi ibuot
(27)
Thick lips*
(28)
okpon ikpat
Big feet*
(29)
Everything in your
body is big (i.e..
you are unnatural).
(30)
(31)
lkJl k.]t
Bending occiput.
(32)
(33)
)ni)K ebek
Long chin.
(34)
)ni)rf ekp)r)
Long penis.
(35)
(36)
(D
(2)
w m n m
mmmmmmttm
mmmmmmm
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373
Curaes which oite some antisocial activity or
reprehensible character defeot are:
(1)
akpara >(kp)
Harlot thing,
(2)
(3)
it)y{ ]rfkp)
Greedy thing,
eyon )fa)A
Lazy ohild,
(5)
(6)
afo
C*)
afo
)f )t m k p )
Witch thing.
(1)
efik eylre fl
ek)j{ ebek fi edet
Let testioular*hernla
hang on you#
Let war breaL
tooth,
(3)
ekpe ata
fi
(4)
inan anm
fl
(5)
in) eylp
fl
(6)
inua akwayfa fl
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374
(7)
itut otop fi
(8)
mb)m fo
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
)ku>( efri fi
(14)
)di)k )n)
fi
(^)
u j (w
)iO
are:
(1)
ma abasi
By QodJ
(2)
akpanik) ete
The
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375
(4)
ma enyltf
(5)
mblaifake fl
(6)
(7)
ma ytkp) ke Idem fo
By everything on your
body (i.e., by all the
magio-medicine In outs
on your body)]
(8)
(9)
By today]
emanl ml Ikatlaba
rfkunyene even
(11)
(12)
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376
on the suspect's eyes.
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377
from palm fruit husk, which the suspect then holds
against his neok.
the
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378
leaf are put Inside tho plate.
The sus
with the handle stioking outside the oover, and the Bible
is then bound tightly with string.
I am the person who did this thing let the key turn, but
if I am not let the key be steady,"
Most informants
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379
eyelids with a solution of pepper and water*
If the
Afia idet
If the aooused
Afia u
'ear divination*
suspeot is innocent*
Saliva dropping from the mouth signifies the
individual will soon have plenty of fish or meat to eat*
If someone sneezes, or bites the tongue while eating, it
is because people are talking about him and have just
mentioned his name*
If the
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380
a firefly, oomes into the house it portends the arrival
of a stranger, while if there are many wasps living
under your roof you will have good fortune*
It is also
If a pied
for several times after having seen the birds} for moat
people the right side is the luoky side*
Vultures ore regarded as good omens if they come
at the end of a ceremony, but as a bad one if they
descend into a market before the market is finished*
If
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381
night.
If
If a
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382
turn and faoe the onlooker he will die soon#
People
Those who
The Efik
The Efik do
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383
Certain dreams are believed to portend future
events.
If one dreams of
Should
The
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384
possessor of the former never attempts to kill or injure
anyone, but defends people by exposing the possessors of
blaok witohoraft*
Galled owo
Under ordinary
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385
stomach is believed to be able to attract money due to
a power inside his stomach, and such people are called
owo afak u n a m .
If someone
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386
has joined Money Medicine Society which in future
he will due to shed blood of one member in the
family. Dated at Calabar this 15th day of May, 1952#
The notice referred to a man who was believed to
have Joined a witch society in order to gain wealth.
Every three months when the man returned from a trading
expedition he gave a feast to which he invited his rela
tives.
After the
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387
Members of the man's family realized they had
been losing money from time to time so they oonsulted a
diviner who told them this man was drawing money from
them.
the fact.
The towns
men then asked him to swear an mblam oath, but the man
refused.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
388
doing they would prevent the death of any of his
genealogical relatives since they could now deny any
kinship with the man and thus be unacceptable as a
saorifice to the unam okuk society*
The Efik believe the esere or Calabar bean
(Physostigma venemosum) possesses the power of destroy
ing witchcraft, and a person so aooused usually
demanded his right to undergo the Calabar bean ordeal
in order to establish his innocence*
If he
After his
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
38o
According to the Encyclopaedia Brltannioa
(19^7, vol. I4.1 p. 51|2) one percent of the Calabar bean
is composed of two alkaloids known as Calabarine and
physostigmino or oserine.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
390
of siokness
my peculiar emetic,
Christison suggested
Further
Ib)lc are
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
391
classifiable into two types:
If something is
The specialist
pours the magic liquid in the area where the theft took
place instructing it to kill the oulprits.
Frequently
when the thieves learn that this has been done they
confess to tho theft and arrange restitution in order
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
392
that the owner of the stolen artiole will nullify the
liquid's power.
In 1952 at Creek Town several young men stole
yams from a trader's canoe.
obuma,
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
393
victim is absent it will retire, while obuma is)]rf will
destroy the house and all its occupants*
When
the ram reaches the house of the victim the latter hears
thunder and dies without seeing the ram.
If, however,
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
394
thunder stone* from going deep into the ground.
On
thunderstone
The cuts
shoulders,
the
and
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
395
f athers brother, or a olose friend.
The following formulae were those of two de
ceased Efik who were renowned during their lifetime for
their interest and competence in magic-medicines, and
were obtained from their male descendants.
(1)
The
/fter he
Then
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
the medioine will make her mention the name of all men
with whom she has had coition, but the husband must
stay awake and not sleep before his wife in order to
prevent the medioine from affeoting him.
(3)
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397
a wife from thinking it was for hor if she aooidently
saw the formula.
the stem
Fold the
cine into a now pot, and place the pot on the ring.
Grind the ingredients, add a hair from the Individual's
groin area and cover the pot with a mirror.
Spit the
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
398
festivity to ooour, or to make the rein fall*
The latter
Then
black, red, and white cloth abound the handle and tie the
feather of a fish eagle and of a parrot to the d o t h *
Sprinkle yellow ohalk on the broom, expeotorate whiskey on
the handle, and then tie a root from the ekpaifekpaK tree
to the broom*
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
399
witohoraft.
(7)
Place a
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
400
seven Amomum seeds and a oloth previously used by a
woman to cleanse her genitalia after coition*
Go to a
Rub
)d)yf
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
401
ifkwoyio plant#
Animal ingredients include seven bees, a parrot
head, the head of a pied crow, a bat's head,
a cook's
The animals and the slave are deoapitated and the heads
placed with the other ingredients#
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
402
know he is insane."
If the
this is buried in a
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
403
tho kind colled odom )lc)k lylp and seven ata ants*
These are put in a new pot and boiled until the mix
ture becomes brown.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
PART III
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
CHAPTER X I I
RFFLF.CTI0T1 OF CULTURE IN EFIK FOLKTALES
All references In Part III to the ethnographic
data Incorporated in the folktales ore coded.
Infer
References to
numbers
. . .
................
B
G
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1+06
Material Culture and Industries
Animals,
Mammals mentioned
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
U07
Althouph fish in penerol ore mentioned
only species named are the catfish
fish fftlOU).
(Pit0 ), the
(DI 36 ; 68l|.)
(l.|231 ), poats (2l 6o, 1117), cows (2160, 3196), pips (612),
chickens (2169, D76), cats (D6, 1137), ond dops (D8l,
(29)
In form prepar
ation,
(III4O,
BI43I4).
A woman clears the pround for planting yams (Dl]6 ), and one
women planted her farm near on animal path (6 2 ), while an
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
lj.08
old woman farmed a large plot even though she was child
less (532)*
daytime (622 ).
Planted crops include maize, pumpkin, nny a , sugar
cane, and yams (D7, DI4.6 , 17 38I, BI4.25 ), the latter
being planted near sticks (Blj.26) approximately two months
before the rainy season (Dlj.6 ).
(621).
Servants and slaves farm.
An old
(^89)
Skill with the bow requires
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1+09
is dried in sunlight and then covered with wood ash (DIO).
Pit traps are dug for animals (D113) and crocodiles
(696 )
Fishermen catch and sell fish (D119, l+2l|.6), and
bait fish traps, constructed from bamboo, with oil-palm
nuts (D119).
Food.
(681|).
Other
(1117), wateryams
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1*.10
Recipes, made in pots which are washed after
using (628 ), include food dishes made from yams, soups,
groundnuts, palm oil, fruit, peppers, ocra, pumpkin, and
bread (D86 , 318 , lll).
Yams are peeled before being cooked (JUJU-0), and
are always pounded when used in usuyt (Ult-6 , Df?3)> which is
also called foo-foo"
(21l|.2).
(62).
is
withdraw yams from the fire (689), and part of the yam is
discarded in food preparation (21U-2 )
Soup is concocted by boiling water and adding the
ingredients
White
Mention ocours of
the )t)
food
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1+11
daughter may cook food
(280).
(D2f>).
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1+12
her house In order that he might steal her food (1+1+6 ),
Bat tricks lamb out of food by having him return for b a t s
drinking horn (Dl), while tortoise similarly tricks bat
by sending him on fictitious errands (1+229).
By means of
by tortoise (689 ).
(321 ).
The
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1+13
Occupations.
include kaplnta
carpenter'
fruits'
anam us)
'craftsman'
(281 ),
men (lj.256 ).
Markets.
(6111 ).
Houses.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
uiu
goes out (D112), and contain several rooms (DI23 ), some
having doors capable of being locked (3128 , lf33 )
Th
The walls of
(2166).
goat s h e d 1 is located
(!|.1.|.0 , 6?R),
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1*15
The gate to the chi e f s compound is guarded by a
sentury (123 ) and the chief also possessed a houseboy
and a housekeeperj the latter is responsible for all food
under his control and is subject to dismissal if any is
lost (D68).
(230 ).
(3130 )*
shoes
(380 ).
(61).
Oblique mention of a special hairdo for women
occurs in a song (1153 ).
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
14.16
spider (U-15 ) and reference to a mode of dressing the
hair In three tufts oocurs In a song (14-21 )*
Tortoise disguises himself by wearing a goat skin
([414.3 , 626),
skins (187 )t and one man has a costume made to make him
look like a leopard (388 ).
Medicine and Disease*
(32 ).
(2137)*
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
14-17
( 3h) f
for which their fee is one cock, one bottle of wine and
one guinea (22, 31).
Reproduced with permission o f the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
I|.l8
1.
abayf
2.
abranken ekpe
3*
ada
l(.*
afia
5.
akpakaha
6.
akpan
7.
bea in
8.
bet
9*
b)klt
10#
b)n
11.
brut)n
12.
ebuk
fireplace (650)
13
efe
lij..
efit
15
ekebe okpo
16.
ekete
17.
ekiml
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
18.
ek)m)
19.
ekuri
20.
ekpat
21.
ekpeme
bottle (I4.63); p. 7.
22.
enena
eny))rf
2L|..
eaa
25.
eso
26.
eto ld)k
27.
eyen urujrf
28.
f oto
photo (I13I4.).
29.
lbit
30.
Ida/
31.
lduot
32.
lflm
33.
If loin
3U.
lka
35>.
ikaji
36.
iko
37.
ikwa
38.
lkpa
39.
lkpa ukot
Reproduced with permission o f the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
14-20
14-0
It am
Ij-1 .
lt)kr )k
U-2
m b )b ) ek)/
J+3 *
mb)k)
Iplp.
mbrl
b5*
mfa/
lp6 .
mf i)k
1|7 .
mlcpana urult
I48.
mkporo
1|9 .
mkpoto
50 .
mmurua
51 .
moto
motor (I4.25D .
52 .
ndlsa
53 .
ndom
5b
nnuk
55.
nslbldl
56 .
nauyf ika/
57 .
nto
50 .
/kanika
59.
/wed
book
( BI 43O ) ;
p. 18.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
60.
obom
61.
obodom
62.
obube
63.
okuk
6lw
okpojf
65.
otu
66.
)f)rf
67.
66.
)f)jrf idem
69.
sasa
70.
71.
ubom
72.
ubrukebe
73.
ud)k
71+.
uf )k
75.
uf)k abaai
76.
uf)k ifu)
77.
ukwa
70.
ukw)h)re inua
79.
ukpak
80.
ukpe
81.
ukp)h)re
ro
.
CD
uruk
83.
uru/f
p. 112.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
u\
CO
usin au)p
86
usufi
-'J
utajrf
88.
utiha
89.
utuen ikajrf
lantern (2137 ); p. 23 .
90.
wac
watch (373).
CD
usan
81*.
SOCIAL LIFE
Kinship terminology.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
W3
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
14-2U-
Th actual amount of
A husband sends a
(DIO?)
Adolescent girls undergo yftcuh) 'seclusion'.
An
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
A girl
wife draws water from her pot (lj.ll); however, a wife some
times draws water for her co-wife (639).
Wives may
Wives also
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k26
A headwife
One
A man
A chief sends a
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
14-27
gifts, and they, sorely annoyed at the economic loss,
refused her admittance, compelling her to walk the
streets until she died (Dlj.5),
The
Wives
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14.28
to divorce her old husband for fear of trouble and,
instead, plots to murder him (l|.55 )*
A wife surrepti
To announce
One c h i e f s
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
i+29
daughter is born with a deformed left hand (2l|6 ).
Some children attend school (3130).
A boy sees an old woman carrying firewood and
carries it for her; she prophecies that he will marry a
chiefs daurhter, then she builds a box and smuggles him
into the chiefs daughters room (i+36 )
A child who
(362 ),
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1+30
disobedient, (320)*
the face with pieces of a broken saucer and send him out
of the house because he broke the saucer in spite of
repeated warnings (1+267 )
A good child makes a happy home (1)107), and the
parents of an only-child aro very proud of his good build
and fino appearance (D29),
A daughter
nursemaid
are absent from the house, but her parents learn of her
strange behavior from a neighbor (266),
Reproduced with permission o f the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
feet (Dl|l).
The
loads (D2).
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
k32
a pit (I83 , lfl9).
A son forbids
his mother from entering his house because she gave his
valuable magic stone away (2111 ).
One chief has twelve daughters all alike in
physical appearance (391).
After the mourning period ends, a widow is en
titled to her husband's property if he lacked brothers
(Dll+6 ).
A younger
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1+33
Tortoise and leopard plan to kill and oat their mothers
(1114-0 ).
Names.
(689),
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
klk
female, and the Ekoi names: Akon Obo, Odeng, Yambl, Atuk
(D119), and Oborri (DI33 ).
Similarly,
'God':
(3S>9), Abasi
(29).
(260 ).
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
U35
Neighboring groups named in the folktales are the
Ibibio (D107, U309), Ibo (lj.309) and Efut
(U3U6, 1^18).
Women some
A chief
Participants
sing and dance in plays (653 ), while men drum when girls
dance (Dllj.6 ).
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
11-36
In the nyori marble game an opponents seed is
removed from play if struck by a player (3 &3>) unmarried
girls play nyori with the winner being betrothed to the
chiefs son
cow race to
colebration
Folklore.
new yam
(DlOb).
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
k37
Thirty-one songs occur, sung by such characters
as herring (2lj9 ), chicken (210 ), periwinkle (211 ),
tortoise (296 , I4J+6 , 3151 ), snail (2100 ), catfish (6IO 3 ),
grasshopper (I4.IO), ndem supernatural power (I4I1.), ghosts
(6lj.7 , 661, 66^), a child (685 ), a boy (523 ), and a girl
(267, 2170).
'Nothing conquers
(lj.60 ).
3.
(3130 )*
eburutu.
*Creek
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1*38
(their) neck, Efik eburutui
(I4.80 )
'War
(35).
(263 ).
6,
(368 ),
'Kingfisher
(3129 ).
'Bad thing does
(326 ).
proverb.
5*
(212 ).
twice, so be alert.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1+39
J'llcp) I f )jtike mma lnua.
(with) mouth'
*2.
(2117 ).
13.
(286).
(lj.239 ).
(G).
16 .
'Wanter of big
)buyQ
(3 61).).
(537 ).
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Mt-0
l0*
20,
(33&)
their nature.
Utu ke ek)yf ada
ibuot atak.
Instead of war
taking a child
be lost'
22*
(277)*
Ey) Nsa klk)t, Ey) Nsa kuf)k. Ey) Nsa owot eny )]rf
)n) itu, Ey) Nsa owot itu )n) enl)yf.
*Eyo Nsa in
Explana
(DI3I1-)# the
(2160), kingfisher
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
14j.1
feathers (2112), coolc stays near houses (21^3, 212), the
electric fish has a particular spot on Its body and lacks
scales (2^2, 6l0l|.), and worms live underground (D56),
Meteorological explanations include why the sun and moon
are in the sky (D65, 215), the moon waxes and wanes (D92),
the tide ebbs (215 ), and thunder always follows lightning
(D71).
Explanations involving animals comprise why
tortoise lives alone (D90), cat and rat are unfriendly
(D69 , 1139, 61+), rat steals (2110), )k)n) rat possesses
three stripes on his fur (1150, 2115 ), monkeys live in
trees (2123 ), fly follows cow (D67 , 385 ), monitor lizard
vocalizes at sunset (383 ), bat comes out at night
(D37*
(D63 K
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1+1+2
shej D 132 ), none should marry a bird or animal (Dl+5),
men no longer must select the eldest daughter when
marrying (391+), one ties fowl with string when taking
it home from market
A boy greets
(3136 ).
Monkey addresses
father of my
(2119 )*
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Mill
! 11
When an individual dies, Efilc put the corpse into
a coffin, bury the coffin in a grave, and then wear ukwa
cloth (ij.62).
pit with two live slaves, who were tied to prevent escape,
one holding, a native lamp of palm-oil and the other hold
ing a machete (D120).
(Dllj.6), while one mother mourned her son for three years
(D13).
The sons of a drowned man summon their agegrade
together and play, dance and sing for twelve days (D120).
An agegrade curses a hunter because, although he went to
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
m
many memorial feasts given by others to honor their de
ceased relatives, he never held a feast to honor his own
relatives
(186 ).
Chiefs
A son of the
A chief
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10*6
hoar hia case, a day being appointed for the hearing
(D16).
marketplace (D3 ,
It is a
(D0),
(DlH^.),
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
bh7
When the canoe of an Usak Edet chief passed the
canoe of Eyo Nsa, the latter harpooned the steersman
and killed the first and second chiefs, although
sparing the former's wife (l|86).
Certain criminals
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I4t6
Instances of murder occur.
A w i f e s lover
A chief decapitates
One father
An orphan is expected to be
argument
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101-9
(3 II4-I+) anyone named Ekpenyong (lj.f?9), keeping peta (D78 ),
killing cows (3157 )# and killing fleas (I422), while
imprisonment awaits the individual who finds only one
thing at a time
War,
(l|2lj.7, 6118),
in war, farmers
the Okoyong causing them to bring mfayf and sue for peace.
Efik, however, caught all Okoyong chiefs and killed them
(117).
Internecine strife occurs between extended
lineages as shown in the case of Archibong's slave killing
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Act
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
u?i
Oroko
1j31).G),
The ok)m)
(I4263),
0046).
bush (3157).
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
l|5 2
Tho chief told the Leopard Society to behead a
woman who used love-modicine on her husband, causing
him to kill his eldest daughter (263 ).
The Leopard
Age grades.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
U53
agemates together to play, dance, and sing in honor of
their deceased father (D120).
Terms denoting relative age are akanl
o l d 1 (110,
Arochuku Ibo
An old
(616).
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
k&r
Friendship,
(lp23l),
in the forest and with goat and cock at a farm (D6 ), while
a girl desires to make friends with spider so that he will
awaken her on time in the morning (lj.251 )
A man urinating in the bush hears a voice asking
him if he loves his friend as his friend loves him and
then warning him about a bad an i m a l which will attack
his friend; the man saves his friends life at the cost of
his own eyesight and his friend, through the use of
medicines composed of the blood of his decapitated child,
eventually restores his eyesight (2132 ),
Two friends quarrel over food because one of them
eats faster than the other (lj.220).
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Abasi
'God',
600), created tho world and man (D8l, BI4II4.), and inter
cedes whenever people need help (D8l, 2121)#
The
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
lj-56
the akayta vow' she had made (268),
A medicine man changes into an alligator (Dll].8 ),
and one woman possesses a goat as her ukp)/t 'animal soul'
Supernatural powers.
Supernatural powers
At
have ocoaslon
to obey it ( D U O ) .
thrown
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
hSl
into the water and takes him homej later, the same super
natural power
catches a boy
Sacrifice,
Onesupernatural power
and an albino
A sacri
A chilaiesa chief
In praying,
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1*50
being harmed by anyones prayer when he steals (2110).
Oaths.
Accused of
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
k$9
Ordeals are used to determine guilt or Innocence,
and one such is the afia aran oil divination which
involves boiling palm oil (113),
is termed asana
clean (113).
Witches exist.
A small
into a bird and then into an ant, and dwells in ghost town
(58).
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
14-60
of his eldest brother because he squanders the deceased
brothers estate (DU 4O).
Important chiefs joined an alligator society so
that they could protect their own trading canoes and
destroy the oanoes of nonmembers thereby obtaining their
money and killing their slaves (Dllj.6 ).
Magic medicines.
Practitioners of magio
(523),
(I4.7I),
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1*61
which enables the husband to see his missing w i f e s head;
he makes a calabash containing a magio-medlcine and, when
the calabashs cover is removed, the medicinal gas kills
the man who captured his wife in order to sacrifice her
at his fathers llcpo (2l 6 ).
A husband injects medicine into his w i f e s body
which causes hor lover to be unable to withdraw his penis
from her vagina; the woman shouts and people prevail upon
her husband to administer the antidote (3 ^ 6 ).
Medicines can give strength in wrestling (Dl),
cause a chief to have amnesia and throw his son and
daughter into the river (DI3 ), call the winds to carry
someone home (DljO), and make music compelling all hearers
to dance (197)*
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1+62
fallen tree (D20)j If the law of the drum la broken, 300
Leopard Society men appear with sticks and whipB to beat
the owner of the drum and his guests
(D20)
The law of
A magic
builds
a girl
mm)jrf okuk 'water of money* and she will always have money
as long as the
A snake
Another snake
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1+63
tells the boy the whereabouts of the stone, and bargains
to return it if the boy will initiate him into the
Leopard Society (2108),
A bird informs a g i r l s parents what a supernatural
power did to their daughter at the instigation of seven
jealous girls (Dill),
herballs t (2168 ),
A ghost takes a girl's yam at night (623 ), another
catches a fattening girl and kills her (lj.8 ), a third
scares people by telling them night is now day and
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
6113 ).
(326 , 1*32 ,
cause of her filthy body but treated her sores until she
became well (320).
(1*237 ), and a
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1+65
A law In phost town la t'uat nobody returns to the
land of the living until after seven years (33l+)
special shoe did not fit anyone except its owner since
it came from ghost town (3 IO 7 ).
(1152).
but she sicks her dog on him (279), and a girl overcomes
a ghost by use of her dog (62lj.)*
Tortoise catches a
(6 H 4- )
One
A rich father
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1*66
Dreams.
A father
A man dreams
that he goes
them to move
to Ikpa Eno.
them to move
(1*309).
Honey in the form of cloth
At a play for
(3138 , 311*1 , 68 ).
However, money
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U67
(272).
queen gives her lover 300 rods and yams, pepper, salt,
tobacco, and cloth (D30 ).
Property may be owned by individuals, and owner
ship is not alienated through loss (2161).
Trouble
Wealthy individuals
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lj-68
gives a poor man money (1|223 ), and a town council offers
a man five pounds if he will drive rats out of the town
(68).
A boy has a magic whistle which compels all
hearers to dance, and a schoolboy pays forty pounds in
order to make him stop blowing it; later, the boy obtained
I4.OO bags of money and became a wealthy chief (3II43 ).
A chief
A boy correctly
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U6o
A thief of food is trapped when the owner hides
in the house after cooking (33>2).
on his penis (3 2 ).
(220).
A woman oatches tortoise stealing food by protending to go to market but actually hiding in her house
instead (tflf-U).
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1^70
he will die (193, H 03 ), catches fish through the game
take-throw-roll-roll-splash*
tie-tie-loose game
A girl kills
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14-71
to be freed from a trap (2112).
(1?).
Gladness Is expressed when Chief Eyo Nsa trium
(383 )*
A father cries
her lost child (3llj), and both parents weep for a lost
child (22Q).
and a woman weeps when she learns that she has given birth
to a stick (288).
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U72
ahe is tied to a pillar as punishment (2l5>lp).
A b o y s
parents weep when their son tells them his real name is
Ekpenyong, since anyone so named must be killed (1|60).
A boy sheds tears when he cannot locate his magic
stone (2108).
of goat cries when she learns her father has died (G).
Because of hatred for her stepdaughter, a step
mother tells servants of the chief that there is no one
else in the compound on whom they can try the Bpecial shoe
(3109).
Chief Eyo
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U73
one chief owned something which he lacked (11 )#
Monkey becomes annoyed when cow kicks tortoise into
the bush (632 )#
his form slaves dine better than he, has a slave killed
().|2fl0).
Eldest daughter of
Annoyance
Snail
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1+71+
avenged himself on elephant because elephant maliciously
crushed him (299 ).
Evidence of aoculturatlon.
The evidence of
'police'
(311+1 ), b)klt
'headtie'
'blue stone'
'motor'
'soldier'
(3119), wac
(I4.27I+), b)n
(3IO 3 ), t r ) 'threepence'
b e d 1 (2136 ),
(I4.36 ), moto
'soldier'
(3I3.I), udl
'July'
'watch' (373).
ada
(2127 ),
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enayf mbakara
(221\2).
Piper (65).
Ftirther evidence of Euroameriean acculturation is
provided by two references to time reckoning, and one to
calendricol reckoning; thus, the phrases yflcanlka ltloklet
'bells six* (lj.252 ) and yfaanlka ltlalta
'bells eight'
(3119 ) designates
July Ijth.
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PART IV
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CHAPTER XIII
C OK PAR IS or OF EFIK CULTURE REFLECTED IN FOLKTALES
WITH ETHNOGRAPHY
Efik culture reflected in the folktales will now
be compared to ethnographic data in order to ascertain
similarities, differences and omissions.
AnimalB.
Simil
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14-78
statue of a diviner, it lacks nny divinatory function in
ethnography.
Agriculture.
The
The absenoe of
The absence
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1*79
The mention of slaves as farmers refers to condi
tions extant prior to lhllj. when the status of slave
existed end the majority of slaves were employed as
farmers by their Efik masters.
Hunting and fishing.
use of the bow for small animals, the gun being reserved
for larger game, such as antelopes and monkeys.
Arrow-
Unlike the
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U8o
folktale, however, skins are not dried in sunlight since
then they would be too dessicated; possibly wood ash
might be used in the tanning process but tanners usually
use the animal's brains to insure a uniform smoothness.
Food and food processing.
The information on
The folktales
Occupations.
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lj.61
pot m a k e r .
Markets.
The goods
Moreover,
there is no reference in
Calabar S u n d a y 1.
Houses.
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14-82
No mention occurs of recent acculturative housing
developments, consisting of concrete blocks and tin
roofs, nor are shutters mentioned.
Shutters are
The patterns of
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1+83
Material culture.
1.
oba/a
chisel; p. 117.
2.
3*
afnra
sail; p. 11.
1+.
afia ebi)/
5.
afia inuen
6,
afia ndlduok
7.
afia iyok
8.
akarfkajrf
9.
nkpatfkpatf
10 .
alcpara
pennant; p. 23l+.
11 .
a tat eboxflco
12 .
13.
ayara
11+.
b)wut ndom
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1+81+
15.
ebeltpo
16.
ebia
17.
ebomo
18.
eboj(ko
1.
oduat
spear; p. 251+
20.
edu lban
21.
ekak
22.
ekanem )b)n
23.
ekajf
21+.
ekara lta
25.
ekorf
26.
okojrf ulcwa
27.
28.
ekojrf it)k
29.
ekpat )b)n
30.
ekporoko
31.
ekpulc urulc
knoblmot; p. 125 .
32.
33.
eslk obu
31+.
35.
eso ntlbe
36.
etimai
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37.
etl)r)
38 .
ewat
39.
1*0 .
if lot
1*1 .
ifim mb)k)
1*2 .
ike/
1*3.
ikim
Mi.
ikon
1*5.
llrpafak
wedge; p. 179.
1*6 .
ikut
1*7.
ikpari
1*8.
lsim
1*9.
iso ekpo
mask; p. 118 .
50.
itiat uwam
51.
itam mb)/
52.
itembe
53.
it)/
51*.
iwomi ib)k
55.
kwa irnuk
56.
mbofat
57.
mbutu
sansa; p. 180.
58.
mfine
deadfall; p. 90.
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mkpanuen nd)
ubup
60 .
mkpete
61.
mkp)k)bi
62.
mkp)h)
63.
m k p )k p )r )
6lj..
mukana
6,
nabikim
66 .
ndldo uruk
67.
nd)
68 .
nlmba
69.
nsa
70.
nsa eb)lc
71.
nsa nsadarf
72.
nsalc
rattle; p. 186 .
73.
n3an
pitfall; p. 90.
71+.
nslhede ntat
75.
nslm
conical fishtrap; p. 93 .
76.
ntarf
77.
ntlml
78.
ntinya
79.
ntiyf )b)n
80 .
nyamkpe
CD
H
jrfkene
59.
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14-67
yfklkan
63
yfkoyf
et4.
yfwemme
85.
obufim
86
oku akama
okurlso ndem
okpo
89.
okpo
90.
olcpoho
91.
okpoho ub)k
bracelets; p. 119.
92.
okpoyforoyf
93.
omum lkpat
9k*
omum It )j/i
95.
otl
96.
owulc I d a )/
97.
)f)fi lain
98.
)f)/ mkpa
shroud; p. 3l|2.
99.
)k p )r )
)t)mbe
cannon; p. 22k*
)t )nyuin
sitlm
ud)k is)yf
82
67.
88
100
101
102
103 .
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U-88
loll.
uf)k )b)n
10s.
ulcwa
sword; p. 272.
106 .
ukw)h)
107 .
108 .
umia obot
ion.
unana eka
110.
urulc ebot
111.
usam
112.
113.
utlha elcwa
orossbow; p. 92.
llij.
uto
115.
uyet iao
116.
kazoo; p. 269.
117.
uyo enaji
bullroarer; p. 269.
116.
uyo lkw)t
119.
120.
uyo ilcw)k
121.
uyo )b)n
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1*89
Kinship terminology.
husband and
From the
Creek Town
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1+90
Harrlapo.
It is unclear
a tale u n
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lj.91
Unmentloned In the tables are incest prohibitions,
detailed procedure of brldeprico prestations, coition
rights of polygynous wives, sex practices,
)di)y{)
The
Children.
Pregnancy also
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Also re
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14-93
The names Involving the morpheme abasi God*
are not actually names used by real individuals, but
simply humorous cognomens.
However, no refer
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Twelve of the
1953, 251
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i*9S
to drum-signalling solely on the basis of their occur
rence in the folktales.
Funeral> burial and mourning.
The folktales
The
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14-96
mentioned, except for* such chiefs whose existence is
oonfined solely to folktales and who hear some form of
the name A b a a i .
Laws against murder, adultery and accidental
homicide ooincide with ethnographic reality, but such
laws decreeing capital punishment for defecation within
town limits, argument, anyone named Ekpenyong, and the
like, are simply to provide plots for the tales and
completely lack any ethnographic counterpart.
Murder is very rare among the Efik, but occurs
frequently in the folktales; the explanation for this
greater frequency undoubtedly lies in the realm of
psychology, especially since the victim is usually a
member of the same nuclear family as tho murderer.
The coronation ceremony of the chief receives no
mention in the folktales.
Warfare.
It
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U-98
Ape grades,
of the same age grade does occur in the taleB, but its
usage probably would not be discerned by anypne not
previously acquainted with it; indeed, Heverend Hugh
Goldie treated the word as an interjection meaning
h e r e
Slaves,
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14-99
Friendship.
The
'blood oath*
Although there is a
ub
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500
known connection with divination among tho Efik; ono
speculative suggestion is that tho ldi)yf crown worn by
Ibibio diviners is covered with lizard skin
however,
Unfortunately tho
It Is improbable,
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$01
property, and concepts of wealth, especially as a
criterion of high or low social status.
The ethnographic
Although
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Acculturation*
The data
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CHAPTER X IV
ANALYSIS OF THE REFLECTION OF CULTURE IN EFIK FOLKTALES
Comparison of the culture reflected in Efilc
folktales with Efik ethnography reveals that the folkloristic data nay be grouped into three main categories:
(1 ) similar to ethnographic data,
(2 ) present in folktales
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Soli.
Incidents occurring in folktales but absent in
ethnography are the assignment of anthropomorphic roles
to animals, capital punishment decreed for suoh crimes
as defecation and argument, several humorous cognomens
utilizing the morpheme ahasi ,G o d f, rapid success in
wealth and status by poor orphans and good children,
homicide within the nuclear family, and work on akwa
ederi.
The anthropomorphic roles assigned to animals
require little explanation in terms of Efik ethnography;
such roles are widespread among Ibibio groups, who are
the closest relatives of the Efik, among other African
societies, and among Euroasian societies.
Efik customs
Certain
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In
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f?06
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507
The
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508
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$09
missionary and governmental opposition to clitorideotomy,
and thoir resistance signifies that the trait is evidently
of importance to them*
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10
It is frequently
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5n
use of cloth for clothing, the various Leopard Society
costumes and grades, and, probably, the eBere Calabar
bean ordeal.
3, 39,
It-3#$9, 67 ,
77, 78 ,
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>12
and 98) constitute recent introductions.
Concerning the hypothesis that traits which are
unmentioned in folktales represent behavioral norms which
are simply taken for granted, Spencer writes:^That important aspects of culture should be treated
thus in myth is a priori somewhat unconvincing and is
certainly not consistent' with the conclusions of
empirical investigations, Malinowskis analysis of
Trobriand origin myths shows that they convey and
express "the fundamental fact of local unity and of
the kinship unity of the group of people desoendent
from a common ancestress."
Actually, however, this hypothesis is not ia priori
unconvincing to the present writer, who thinks that it may
occasionally be valid for certain traits.
In every society there exist some traits which are
applicable to every member, as well as other traits which
apply only to a major or minor percentage of the group.
It Is precisely in the area of universal behavior norms
that the taking-for-granted of traits, if any traits are
ever taken for granted, would be expected.
Thus, for
example, the fact that all male and female Efik are
respectively either circumcised or clitoridectomized may
account for the absence of any referenoe to circumcision
and clitorideotomy in Efik folktales
Efik simply
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It
If
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5il*
animals, food processing and hunting), kinship terminology
and family relationships, folklore,
social stratification,
tion of folklore, these categories are similarly welldocumented for the Tsimshian, Kwakiutl, Hawaiian, Navaho
and Crow societies.^
Kinship terminology may illustrate a single trait
which consistently appears mentioned in the folktales of
societies.
This has been found true for the Efik, and for
L
the Tsimshian, Hawaiian, and Navaho societies.
The explana
tion of the apparently universal appearance of kinship
terms in societies' folktales presumably lies in the
Elbert, 1956-7.
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$1$
society*
The probable
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$16
Systematization of cultural data reflooted in
Efik follctalos does not approximate, in any sons, an
ethnography of the Efik,
Hawaiian oulture,0
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517
actual occurrence of twin infanticide, it would tie
impossible to determine whether or not the folkloristio
instance represented ethnographic fact since it might
simply be another instanoe of folkloristio murder within
the nuclear family.
Firstly, it may be
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518
a continuum of variability, from a small amount to a
rolatively large amount of cultural reflection*
Secondly, possibly societies which possess elaborate
mythological systems are predisposed to include a
greater amount of folkloristio cultural reflection than
do societies, such as the Efik, which lack elaborate
mythologies*
Tsimshian, Crow,
noted:'*'
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Adams, Richard F. G.
19lj.3a
Efik-English Vooabulary. Second Edition,
revised. Liverpool.
19i|-3b
Amaku, E, N,
19lj.8-3>3
Edikot Nwed Mbuk.
Anonymous.
I838
Books l-.
London.
Ashley, Clifford W.
19L5
The Ashley Book of Knots.
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Baikie, William B.
186
Narrative of an Exploring Voyage up the Rivers
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Balfour, John H.
1861
"Description of the Plant which produces the
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Barbot, John
1732
A Description of the Coasts of North and
South-Gulnea. London*
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21
Basoom, William R.
1951
"Yoruba Cooking," Africa, Vol. XXI, pp,
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Beckwith, Martha W,
192l|.
1929
Blaok Roadways.
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170
Burton, Richard F,
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Christison, Robert
18
l0n the Properties of the Ordeal Bean of Old
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1837
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Faulkner, 0. T., and Maokie, J. R*
1933
West African Agriculture.
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Fraser, Thomas R.
I 063
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I 932
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$2b
Hutchinson. Thomas J*
188
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1895
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I 837
A brief Account of an Ascent of the Old
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1951
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"Lokole of tam-tam blj de Nkundo-negers,"
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Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.