The Efiks are an ethnic group situated in Cross River State of South Eastern Nigeria, With Calabar being the Capital as well as the ancestral seat of the Efik Homeland.
We are renowned for our cuisine, beautiful women and handsome men! Our distinct attire, and our general welcoming attitude! Our women are excellent homekeepers, and business women, who pay particular attention to our looks, even in old age, as they say "Efik women never grow old!"
During slavery, our people though small in number compared to other ethnicities, were taken to the Carribbean, namely Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Brazil, where evidences and traces of Efik Culture has stood the test of time. Cuba in particular housed the greatest number of Efiks, and the Efik language is still spoken, among the members of Abakua secret society, which is known as Ekpe in Calabar/ Nigeria, the exclusive use of Nsibidi, which was created by our Ejagham kin, who alongside the Efiks, formed the secret society Ekpe/Mgbe/Abakua.The Rumba and Abakua dance, is heavily influenced by the Efik dance Ekombi, as well as the Salsa, and in Brazil the Samba, from the Afro Brazilians who also have their roots from the Efiks.
The Abakua Secret society was also responsible for the uprising in 1895, which led to the independence of Cuba from Spain....Africans liberated Cuba! There is a very close relationship between Cuba and Calabar till date, as Abakua members have visited Calabar on numerous occasions and vice~versa, and during the Efik conventions in America noteably Miami and Brooklyn chapters our brothers and sisters are always well attended. Many Cubans of Efik descent are carrying on our traditions and practices in Miami where an Abakua Lodge is situated, the first of its kind, outside of Nigeria and Cuba!
To all the Efiks worldwide......
"NDITO ETE YE EKA EKOMDO! IDEM OSOÑO FI!"
Source: Halima D Olerum
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