Death Squad attacks Obong Palace, Cross River State, Nigeria 8/25/08 The Obong, traditional ruler of the Efik, escapes unhurt, many are wounded.  Efik Ékpè lodges are ancestral to the Cuban Abakuá.

Before Calabar Burns, 8/8/2008 Press Release from the Etubom Traditional Council of the Efik Nation on the murder and mayhem committed by Cross River State government backed militias, with photos of some victims. 

Ekpo Ekeng, Youth leader of Cobham Town and member of Calabar Mgbe, is interviewed on the recent events in Calabar, 8/08

Ekpo Ekeng, Youth leader of Cobham Town and member of Calabar Mgbe, is interviewed on the recent events in Calabar, 8/08

Constitution of the Calabar Mgbe, 7/08 This Cross River, Nigeria, organization has as goal reunion with all Ekpe, including those in Cuba (Abakuá).

Ekpo Ekeng, youth leader of Cobham Town, Calabar, on the Paris Cuba-Ekpe Encounter, 5/08

Narrated photo-gallery of the coronation of the new Obong of Calabar, 4/6/08 Calabar is one of the homelands of the Cuban Abakuá. Interview with Bassey Ekpo Bassey, now the new Obong of Calabar, on 2/25/08.  A progressive journalist, he favors the Cuban Abakuá's defense of their culture.  His people fought off 5 attempts at a second coronation by corrupt elements, resulting in over 20 machete wounds and at least 1 dead. The crooks were successful on the 6th attempt, backed by a massive Cross River Government security presence and with the support of missionaries bent on destroying Efik culture. See The Obong in the News for continuing news on the fall out of these events.

Interview with Etubom Bassey Ekpo Bassey, now the new Obong of Calabar, 2/25/08 A progressive journalist, he favors exchanges with the Cuban Abakuá.

Cuban Abakuá fueling a resurgence of traditional Ekpe culture in Cross River Delta, Nigeria - Statement by ‘Iberedem’ Fred Eno Essien, ‘Ukai’ of Ibibioland, and prominent Ekpe leader from Uruan, 1/08  Chief Ekpenyong Eyo Honesty Eyo II, reflects upon the impact that knowledge of Cubban Abakua is having upon Ekpe leaders of the Cross River region, 1/08  Chief Ekong Imona reflects upon the impact of the Cubans in Calabar, 2/08

Angel Guerrero: Abakuá from Pogolotti, 2/08

AfroColombian author, Stella Estrada, inspired by Abakuá, writes "Írimo", 9/07

2003 Encounter in Michigan: Cuban Abakuá and the Obong of Calabar, 11/06 Angel Guerrero and Roman Diaz present Cuban Abakuá to the paramount ruler of the Efiks in the Cross River Delta, Nigeria.

Etubom Bassey Ekpe Bassey on Ekpe and Cuban Culture, English and Español, Calabar, Nigeria, 8/06

See a new Efik site: www.eburutu.org

Etubom Asuquo Etim: Maskmaker, musician, 12/05

The Investiture of Lady Elizabeth Ayo Eremie into the Ekoretonko Lodge, Calabar, Nigeria, 9/05

Nigerian Efiks and Cuban Abakuá re-unite, 8/4/01

Abakuá

Abakuá members derive their culture from the Efik and Efo of the Cross River region in Nigeria.  They are organized in a set of over 150 potencias located mainly in Havana, Matanzas, and Cardenas.

The people of Big Qua Town in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, Nigeria, are known as the Abakpa, the likely source for the name Abakuá. Big Qua Town is the home of the president of the Calabar Mgbe or Ékpè.

The Cuban Abakuá societies have a male-only membership, their equivalent in the Cross River State are called lodges in English, they are fraternities. Both the Cuban and Nigerian lodges are Ékpè lodges. 

There is also in Cuba an Efo cultural manifestation organized along family lines, the Brikamo, carried by the Calle family in Matanzas.

In 2001, the Efik National Association in the US began to have contact with Cuban Abakuá. There is evidence of prior contacts between the Abakuá and the Efik in Cuba, but the contact has not until now been sustained. Among such evidence is a plaque hanging on the walls of a potencia in Havana given by an Obong, a traditional leader of the Efiks.

The Abakuá gave us the rumba, one of Cuba's principal musical traditions. The Calle family, for example, is of Efo origin and is said to have invented the guaguanco, a type of rumba.

(c) Copyright 2002 by Pedro Perez Sarduy
Abakuá procession, 19th century Havana

We can also note that the Carabali culture in Santiago (cabildos) and  in the center of Cuba is also derived from Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.  The name Carabali is derived from the slave port of Calabar, as distinct from the Karabali people of the Niger Delta.

Efik National Association

Bibliography

Links

Esquina Habanera - Efik and Abakuá - 8/6/2001: photo gallery

International Ekpe Festival, Calabar, Nigeria: December, 2004

Efiks of Cuba Write Obong of Calabar: We're coming home, Weekend Chronicle, Nigeria, 2/05

Cuban Abakuá Participate in the Ekpe Festival, December 19-26, 2004, Cross River State, Nigeria, 4/05

Nigerian Census: Igbo group protests exclusion of religion, ethnicity, 5/29/05