Eket Heritage

Anthropology of the Eket People...

Eket Ethnology part 1

The EKET District, which this book is chiefly concerned lies on the coast and is roughly bounded on the west by the kwa ibo River.
The worship of Obuma, the Thunder god, who all looked upon as the chief deity of the tribes of this district.
Eka Abassi (Mother of God,), who according to esoteric teaching is the true head of the Ibibio PANTHEON.
Obumo the Thunder, is not only regarded by most present- day Ibibio as the principal deity but as the great first cause - the all Father from whom everything which exists has sprung.
His home is the sky as he is too far off to trouble; much about the smaller concerns of men, he leaves these in the hands of lesser power; reserving to himself the ordering of the great events of the year, such as the division of the seasons.
Eka Abassi (mother of God ) was the Divine Creatrix from whom Obumo, the thunderer sprang, a virgin birth (page 6).
From Obumo son and spouse of the Great Mother, sprang according to Ibibio belief, the parents of all Earth - folk. ( Page 9).
By:
P. Amaury Talbot (1969) Th People of Southern Nigeria (life in southern Nigeria)

Let us return to the days when marriage was a covenant, not a commodity, let the bride be valued for her character, not her price tag.”

FUNERAL EXCESSES: WHEN MOURNING BECOMES A SPECTACLE,
Turning to funeral practices, Hon. Essien condemned the commercialization of death, the trend of opening mourning houses with disco nights and “friends’ nights” featuring loud music and alcohol, incurring exorbitant costs that often run into millions of naira, and delaying burial due to logistical chaos and financial wrangling.

“These practices do not honor the dead, they impoverish the living. Families are forced to sell assets, take loans, or endure years of debt just to bury their loved ones. It is unsustainable and disrespectful.”

To restore dignity and affordability, the EPU decreed the following,

Funeral Reform Protocol effective January 1, 2026.

Mourning House Opening Ceremony Abolished. Only the church shall pray to declare the mourning house open. No music, no disco, no “night of entertainment.”

One General Entertainment Only . During the burial day, there shall be one communal meal for all mourners, where food is shared by village, church, and family groups, is no more permitted.

“Death is not a platform for competition or showmanship, It is a moment for reverence, unity, and closure. Let us mourn with dignity, not with decibels.”

OFFICIAL DISSOLUTION & NEW ORDER JANUARY 1, 2026.
In a historic move, the Eket people's Union (EPU), formally dissolved, all existing village‑level marriage and funeral customs, effective January 1, 2026. From that date forward.
All village heads, chiefs, and traditional councils are mandated to adopt and enforce the new EPU Marriage & Funeral Protocols.
Any community or family found operating under the old system including excessive marriage demands or unauthorized funeral rites, shall be subject to disciplinary action.
Village heads shall be held personally accountable for violations within their jurisdiction.

This is not a sugges

*EKID PEOPLE’S UNION (EPU) NATIONAL CONGRESS — OFFICIAL DECLARATION ON MARRIAGE & FUNERAL REFORMS*

Kingsley Bassey
Write From Edida Edo.

At the 2025 Annual National Congress of the Ekid People’s Union (EPU), held at Eket City Hall, Rt. Hon. Nduese Essien, former Federal Minister and distinguished statesman, delivered a landmark address that reshaped the cultural landscape, and the tradition of Ekid society. Speaking under the banner “Celebrating our Heritage , Restoring Our Future, Marriage, and opening of Mourning house", Hon. Essien introduced sweeping reforms to combat two deeply entrenched social ills, the escalating cost of marriage and the extravagant, debt‑driving rituals surrounding funerals. His message was clear , the old ways have failed the people, and a new covenant is required.

THE MARRIAGE CRISIS: WHEN PRIDE COSTS MORE THAN LOVE,
Hon. Essien opened with a blunt assessment:
“The way families and parents give out their daughters in marriage has become too costly. The high list of marriage prerequisites from cash payments to endless gifts, even ‘appearance fees’, has priced ordinary young men out of the marriage market. People cannot marry as they are supposed to marry because some families list for pride price is too much.”

He highlighted how this financial inflation has birthed a dangerous trend , like marriage on credit, where couples proceed with weddings without settling the traditional bride price, often under pressure from families unwilling to scale down expectations.

“This is not marriage, it is a financial trap. It creates hidden liabilities, fuels domestic strife, and leaves young families drowning in debt before they even begin.”

In response, the EPU resolved to:

Suspend all existing marriage price lists across Eket and Esit Eket LGAs, Akwa Ibom state, effective January 1, 2026.
Unified Marriage Prerequisite List shall be distributed by the EPU to all village heads, traditional rulers, and religious institutions.

“Let us return to

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