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Ekpe, also known as Mgbe/Egbo (Ekoi language: leopard; derived from the Efik term for the same), is a West African secret society in Nigeria and Cameroon flourishing chiefly among the Efiks. It is also found among a number of other ethnic groups, including the Bahumono of the Cross River State, the Ibibio, the Uruan and the Oron of Akwa Ibom State, Arochukwu and some other parts of Abia State, as well as in the diaspora, such as in Cuba and Brazil. The society is still active at the beginning of the 21st century, now playing more of a ceremonial role.

There are two distinct but related societies. The primary society is located in the Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Arochukwu areas of Nigeria, and the secondary society consists of members from the Southern and Eastern Igbo groups of the same country.

Ekpe

Ekpe is a mysterious spirit who is supposed to live in the jungle and to preside at the ceremonies of the society. Members of the Ekpe society are said to act as messengers of the ancestors (ikan). The economics of the society is based on paying tribute to the village ancestors. Only males can join, boys being initiated about the age of puberty. Members are bound by oath of secrecy, and fees on entrance are payable. The Ekpe-men are ranked in seven or nine grades, for promotion to each of which fresh initiation ceremonies, fees and oaths are necessary.^[1]

The society combines a kind of freemasonry with political and law enforcing aims. For instance any member wronged in an Ekpe district, that is one dominated by the society, has only to address an Ekpe-man or beat the Ekpe drum in the Ekpe-house, or blow Ekpe as it is called, i.e., sound the Ekpe horn, before the hut of the wrong-doer, and the whole machinery of the society is put in force to see justice done.^[1] Ekpe members always wear masks when performing their police duties, and although individuals may nonetheless be recognized, fear of retribution from the ikan stops people from accusing those members who may overstep their limits. Formerly the society earned a bad reputation due to what the British viewed as the barbarous customs that were intermingled with its rites.

The Amama

Social importance is attached to the highest ranks of Ekpe-men, called the Amama. At least in the past, very large sums were paid to attain these upper levels.^[1] The trade-off is that the Amama often control the majority of the community wealth. The Amama often appropriate hundreds of acres of palm trees for their own use and, with the profits they earn, ensure that their sons achieve comparable rank, which has the effect of limiting access to economic gain for other members of the community. The Ekpe society requires that its initiates sponsor feasts for the town, which foster the appearance of the redistribution of wealth by providing the poor with food and drink.

Ekpe in the diaspora

Abakuá

Abakuá is an Afro-Cuban men's initiatory fraternity, or secret society, which originated from the Ekpe society in the Cross River region of southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Egbo". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 9 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 11–12.

"Art and Life in Africa: Eket Information" University of Iowa

[EB1911-1] One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Egbo". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 9 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 11–12.

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Redirect|Egbo||Egbo (surname)}}
 {{Short description|Nigerian secret society}}
+{{Redirect|Egbo|the surname|Egbo (surname)|other uses|Ekpe (disambiguation)}}
+{{more citations needed|date=June 2021}}
 [[Image:Nsibidi.png|right|thumb|Nsibidi symbols]]
-'''Ekpe''', also known as '''Mgbe''' ([[Ekoi language]]:''Leopard''), is a Nigerian [[secret society]] flourishing chiefly among the [[Efik people|Efiks]] of the [[Cross River State|Cross River]]<nowiki/>te, the [[Ibibio people|Ibibio]], the [[Uruan]] and the [[Oron people|Oron]] of [[Akwa Ibom State]], [[Arochukwu]] and some other parts of [[Abia State]], as well as in the diaspora, such as in [[Cuba]] and [[Brazil]]. The society is still active at the beginning of the 21st century, now playing more of a ceremonial role.
+'''Ekpe''', also known as '''Mgbe'''/'''Egbo''' ([[Ekoi language]]: ''leopard''; derived from the [[Efik language|Efik]] term for the same), is a West African [[secret society]] in Nigeria and Cameroon flourishing chiefly among the [[Efik people|Efiks]]. It is also found among a number of other ethnic groups, including the [[Bahumono]] of the [[Cross River State]], the [[Ibibio people|Ibibio]], the [[Uruan]] and the [[Oron people|Oron]] of [[Akwa Ibom State]], [[Arochukwu]] and some other parts of [[Abia State]], as well as in the diaspora, such as in [[Cuba]] and [[Brazil]]. The society is still active at the beginning of the 21st century, now playing more of a ceremonial role.
-There are two distinct but related societies. The primary society is located in the [[Cross River (Nigeria)|Cross River]], [[Arochukwu]] and [[Akwa Ibom]] areas of [[Nigeria]], and the secondary society consists of members from the Southern and Eastern [[Igbo people|Igbo]] groups of the same country.
+There are two distinct but related societies. The primary society is located in the [[Cross River (Nigeria)|Cross River]], [[Akwa Ibom]] and [[Arochukwu]] areas of [[Nigeria]], and the secondary society consists of members from the Southern and Eastern [[Igbo people|Igbo]] groups of the same country.
+[[Image:Egbo_Secret_Society,_Mgbe,_Etuam,_Egbo,_South_Nigeria_Wellcome_M0005360.jpg|right|thumb|Ekpe costumes from South Nigeria]]
-It is a general belief amongst the Ibibios and Efiks, although hardly ever substantiated, that the members of the Ekpe society invented the [[Nsibidi]].
 == Ekpe ==
-[[Image:Ekoi skin covered Head dress.JPG|180px|thumb|Ekpe [[Ekoi people|Ekoi]] skin covered head dress]]
+[[File:British Museum Room 25 Mask Ekoi people 17022019 5015.jpg|180px|thumb|Ekpe [[Ekoi people|Ekoi]] skin-covered headdress]]
-'''Ekpe''' is a mysterious spirit who is supposed to live in the jungle and to preside at the ceremonies of the society. Members of the Ekpe society are said to act as messengers of the ancestors (''ikan''). The economics of the society is based on paying tribute to the village ancestors. Only males can join, boys being initiated about the age of puberty. Members are bound by oath of secrecy, and fees on entrance are payable. The Ekpe-men are ranked in seven or nine grades, for promotion to each of which fresh initiation ceremonies, fees and oaths are necessary.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Egbo |volume=9 |pages=11–12}}</ref>
+''Ekpe'' is a mysterious spirit who is supposed to live in the jungle and to preside at the ceremonies of the society. Members of the Ekpe society are said to act as messengers of the ancestors (''ikan''). The economics of the society is based on paying tribute to the village ancestors. Only males can join, boys being initiated about the age of puberty. Members are bound by oath of secrecy, and fees on entrance are payable. The Ekpe-men are ranked in seven or nine grades, for promotion to each of which fresh initiation ceremonies, fees and oaths are necessary.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Egbo |volume=9 |pages=11–12}}</ref>
-The society combines a kind of freemasonry with political and law enforcing aims. For instance any member wronged in an Ekpe district, that is one dominated by the society, has only to address an Ekpe-man or beat the Ekpe drum in the Ekpe-house, or blow Ekpe as it is called, i.e., sound the Ekpe horn, before the hut of the wrong-doer, and the whole machinery of the society is put in force to see justice done.<ref name="EB1911"/> Ekpe members always wear masks when performing their police duties, and although individuals may nonetheless be recognized, fear of retribution from the ikan stops people from accusing those members who may overstep their limits. Formerly the society earned a bad reputation due to what the British viewed as the barbarous customs that were intermingled with its rites.
+The society combines a kind of freemasonry with political and law enforcing aims. For instance any member wronged in an Ekpe district, that is one dominated by the society, has only to address an Ekpe-man or beat the Ekpe drum in the Ekpe-house, or blow Ekpe as it is called, i.e., sound the Ekpe horn, before the hut of the wrong-doer, and the whole machinery of the society is put in force to see justice done.<ref name="EB1911"/> Ekpe members always wear masks when performing their police duties, and although individuals may nonetheless be recognized, fear of retribution from the ikan stops people from accusing those members who may overstep their limits. Formerly the society earned a bad reputation due to what the British viewed as the barbarous customs that were intermingled with its rites.
-==Amama==
-Social importance is attached to the highest ranks of Ekpe-men, called ''Amama''. At least in the past, very large sums were paid to attain these upper levels.<ref name="EB1911"/> The trade-off is that the Amama often control the majority of the community wealth. The Amama often appropriate hundreds of acres of palm trees for their own use and, with the profits they earn, ensure that their sons achieve comparable rank, which has the effect of limiting access to economic gain for other members of the community. The Ekpe society requires that its initiates sponsor feasts for the town, which foster the appearance of the redistribution of wealth by providing the poor with food and drink.
-==Art and ceremonies==
-The Ekpe-house,  an oblong building like the nave of a church, usually stands in the middle of the villages. The walls are of clay elaborately painted inside and ornamented with clay figures in relief. Inside are wooden images to which reverence is paid.<ref name="EB1911"/>
+==The Amama==
-At Ekpe festivals masked dancers perform.  Some of the older masks show horns and filed teeth. Non initiates and women are not allowed to come in contact with the masked dancers.
+Social importance is attached to the highest ranks of Ekpe-men, called the ''Amama''. At least in the past, very large sums were paid to attain these upper levels.<ref name="EB1911"/> The trade-off is that the Amama often control the majority of the community wealth. The Amama often appropriate hundreds of acres of palm trees for their own use and, with the profits they earn, ensure that their sons achieve comparable rank, which has the effect of limiting access to economic gain for other members of the community. The Ekpe society requires that its initiates sponsor feasts for the town, which foster the appearance of the [[redistribution of wealth]] by providing the poor with food and drink.
 ==Ekpe in the diaspora==
@@ Line 29: / Line 27: @@
 ==See also==
 *[[Abakua|Abakuá]]
+* [[Abwoi religion]]
 * [[Leopard Society]]
 ==References==
-{{More footnotes|date=August 2019}}
+{{More footnotes needed|date=August 2019}}
 {{Reflist}}
 * [https://web.archive.org/web/20101204121132/http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/people/Eket.html "Art and Life in Africa: Eket Information" University of Iowa]
@@ Line 41: / Line 40: @@
 [[Category:Igbo religion]]
 [[Category:African secret societies]]
+[[Category:African noble titles]]
+[[Category:African traditional governments]]