Okobo, Akwa Ibom

Okobo is located in the south south of Nigeria and is a Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The local government area was created in 1989 by the government of President Ibrahim Babangida. The local government area is bounded by Uruan, Oron, Urue-Offong/Oruko and Nsit Atai local government areas.

Okobo
LGA
Okobo
Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 4°50′0″N 8°08′0″E
Country Nigeria
StateAkwa Ibom State
Government
 • ChairmanUbuo E. Uduo
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)

The Council is located south of Uruan LGA, east of Nsit Atai LGA, west of Oron and north of Urue Ofong Oruko and Esit Eket. Okopedi is the capital of the local government area. Okopedi is the capital of the Local Government Area (LGA).

The area has seven districts: Eta, Odu, Atabong, Ukwong, Ebughu, Okiuso and Ibighi. Okobo people are in the first three districts - Odu, Eta and Atabong while the Atak Oro people (a defunct LGA) reside in the remaining four districts. To the North is Esuk Inwang (4° 56' 0" North, 8° 6' 0" East) and to the South is Nda(4° 47' 55” North, 8° 7' 34”East). The Coordinates of Nung Atai Eta are 4°51'0" N and 8°7'60" E and those of Odobo are 4° 49' 32 North and 8° 6' 38” East.

  • In Odu, there are several villages- Akiba Obo, Anua Ekeya, Ebighi Edu, Ebighi Okobo, Ekpene Ekim, Esuk Inwang, Idibenin, Nda, Nung Ukana, Obot Inwang, Ube, Ufok Esuk.
  • In Eta district are Afaha Nsung, Akananwana, Amamong, Anua Okopedi, Ape Amamong, Atai Amamong, Ata Atai Otope, Atipa Odobo, Ebighi Eta, Ekpene Ekim Eta, Ibawa, Mbieduo, Nsating, Nung Atai Eta, Nung Atai Odobo, Nung Udom Odobo and Obufi.

The two districts (Odu and Eta) have several secondary schools including Comprehensive Secondary School, Okobo, Comprehensive Secondary School Okopedi Okobo, Community Comprehensive Secondary School Ekeya Okobo, Community Secondary School Odobo Okobo, National High School Odobo Okobo and Eastern Okobo High School Obufi.

There is also a private post-primary educational institution called Odu College. It is located in Ebighi odu, Okobo.

There are different schools of thought on the historical origin of the Okobo people- From Usakedit (the present day isangele) and Arochukwu. Clearly more research is required to validate any of these suggestions. What seems to be in agreement is that Okobo was a warrior who had sons- Ebighi, Odu and Eta. The first place where Okobo people settled is said to be Ebighi.

Okobo is endowed with a tropical forest with mahogany for supply of wood for boat and canoe construction. There are significant deposits of clay and fine sand. Fishing and farming are common in this local government area.

Let me also add that Okobo people are friendly and peaceful people. They are very protective of their people. In the olden days if any strangers try to come into the village with sophisticated charms or weapon with the intention to harm or cause riots and threatened the peace of their people will be disbanded entry into the community automatically because of the charm of protection hag across every corner of the community

Culture

The cultural heritage is demonstrated in several traditional dances and masquerades such as Ekpe.

The traditional marriage ceremonies in Okobo are similar to those of the Efiks. The list include:

  • Knocking drinks (Mmin ukong usung)
  • Prayer drinks (Mmin akam)
  • Drinks for expressing intention (mmin ukop iko)
  • Introduction Drinks (Mmin mbup)
  • Appreciation drinks (Mmin ekom)

This list is just for the Mbub (introductory) ceremony. The traditional marriage list (Nkpo Ndo) comes with its own set of rites and “gifts.” However, the “bride-price” used to be a standard £12 (bon duopeba).

Traditional marriage ceremony (Ndo)

On the day of the proper ceremony which takes place at the bride's family house, the groom and his family will be seated with the bride's father and his kinsmen in a sitting room while other guests seat outside, the announcer or moderator known as Mma Ofiori Ndo [ female] Ette Ofiori Ndo [male] will announce each item to be presented to the hearing of the guests seated outside. One of the major items to be presented is a box ‘Ekebe’ which contains different kinds of clothing, accessories, shoes to show how the groom will take care of the wife he is to be given.

The bride price Okuk Ndo is paid, Ufop Iso Eka Eyen is paid to the bride's mother, Ufop Iso Ete Eyen is paid to the bride's father, the groom also pays Okpono Ndidito loosen the ties on his bride's feet and arms to officially claim her.

When the ofiori ndo calls for drinks to be presented to the bride's family, two well adorned maidens emerge with a brass tray containing the drinks [known as akpankpang] balanced on their heads for presentation. The akpangkpang an expensive commodity is very rare these days because not every family can afford it. Royal families who own it put it up for hire to those in need.

After meeting all the formalities, the groom who is usually dressed in a white singlet, a wrapper {nsobo], beaded shoes and a cap is ready to make his entrance to the arena where guests are seated, his friends troop in with him holding a beautiful ceremonial umbrella over his head while dancing to beautiful traditional drums and songs.

When he takes his seat, the bride, dressed in a ball like Elizabethan gown {onyoyo}, a beautiful staff and hair plaited up {ETINGHE} and designed with bronze combs{edisat] down to her neck or waist, makes her entrance with the ekombi dance and her friends follow closely behind dancing and cheering. She dances round curtseying in appreciation to the guests before she takes a seat beside her groom.

The final rite is the presentation of mostly kitchen wares by the bride's mother and her family to the bride, these gifts are usually all an Okobo bride needs to keep her home running as nothing is seldom lacking. The ceremony ends as the couple take the dance floor while well wishers join them ad mist eating, drinking and much jubilation.

Sources
  • Essesien Ntekim (21 May 2013). OKOBO: Story of a Nigerian People. Xlibris. ISBN 978-1-4797-9114-9.
  • Okobo LGA | Helloakwaibom
  • Efik Marriage “Knocking” Ceremony - Mbub Ndo K’ido Efik | Rosemary Aqua
  • List Of Traditional Marriage Requirements In Calabar/Efik
  • Okon Uya A history of Oron people of the lower Cross River basin - 1984
  • Efik and Calabar Traditional Marriage List and requirements
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