#efik

[leroibobo]

mami wata is a water spirit revered in parts of west, central, and southern africa, as well as within parts of the african diaspora in the americas. because she's so widespread, her appearance and purpose tend not to have one consistent form, with the variations on her name (such as dona fish) and her status as a water spirit being the most common unifying elements. she's usually shown to be half-woman and half-fish and is sometimes associated with snakes (who are considered water creatures in many western and central african cultures).

although water spirits, along with other elements which make up mami wata, have been present throughout the cultures which later adopted her for centuries, what evidence there is indicates that the concept of mami wata emerged with the first encounters of west africans with europeans in the 15th century, when said elements were merged with the image of the european mermaid (a common motif on european ship helms). the form and purpose she took went on to be molded by local traditions. she traveled with africans who were trafficked to the americas and appears in some african diasporic religions, including her continuation as a vodún in the different american variations of the practice. she also sometimes takes on christian and (from the arrival of indians in west/central africa in the 19th-20th centuries) hindu imagery.

the images shows ovimbundu, yaure, efik, baule/guro, sierra leonean, and haitian figures of mami wata respectively. click on the alt text to learn more about them.

[kemetic-dreams]

The 1815 Igbo conspiracy in Jamaica’s Saint Elizabeth Parish, which involved around 250 Igbo slaves, described as one of the revolts that contributed to a climate for abolition. A letter by the Governor of Manchester to Bathurst on April 13, 1816, quoted the leaders of the rebellion on trial as saying “that ‘he had all the Eboes in his hand’, meaning to insinuate that all the Negroes from that Country were under his controul”. The plot was thwarted and several slaves were executed.

The 1816 Black River rebellion plot, was according to Lewis (1834:227—28), carried out by only people of “Eboe” origin. This plot was uncovered on March 22, 1816, by a novelist and absentee planter named Matthew Gregory “Monk” Lewis. Lewis recorded what Hayward (1985) called a proto-Calypso revolutionary hymn, sung by a group of Igbo slaves, led by the “King of the Eboes”. They sang: Oh me Good friend, Mr. Wilberforce, make we free! God Almighty thank ye! God Almighty thank ye! God Almighty, make we free! Buckra in this country no make we free: What Negro for to do? What Negro for to do? Take force by force! Take force by force!

“Mr. Wilberforce” was in reference to William Wilberforce a British politician, who was a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. “Buckra” was a term introduced by Igbo and Efik slaves in Jamaica to refer to white slave masters.

[nickysfacts]

The Fattening Room is a example of how are femininity and beauty is defined differently around the world!💜

🚺🇳🇬🚺

[news4dzhozhar]

[okwuid]

The Igbo Influence on The Lion King: Mufasa

The beloved Disney movie The Lion King features many characters and names that hold deeper meanings and connections to various cultures. One such influence is the Igbo language, which plays a subtle yet significant role in shaping the characters, adding layers of depth to the story. Obasi: The Strong Leader In The Lion King, Obasi is a powerful and wise character, the leader of the last…

[elowyntheyapper]

It warms my heart so much when I see my people being recognized. Even if it's only one side. Even if it's in something as insignificant as a fictional book, a song or even in the media.

I don't see that often. I don't see the Efik people, I don't see the Ibibio people. You'd expect to see a lot of the three major tribes but no.. I don't see Hausa people either.

There are these fan pages on IG and TikTok for Igbo women and Yoruba women. While I understand that none of that says anything about the value of each tribe, it brings a sense of togetherness. Knowing your people, seeing them represented. And to be honest, it is quite lonesome, not having that.

I have seen more Edo girls than Hausa in the media, yet we're supposed to be a major tribe? Even when I do see them on TV and others, they are limited to being the uneducated. It's always Ekaette the housemaid, Musa the gateman, Ubong the driver. All with exaggerated accents to purposely make mockery.

We are not reminded day in, day out of the way igbos switch their "l" and "r" or the annoying "H" factor Yorubas have. When it's picked on in a movie, the whole internet picks a fight with the scriptwriters.

But when a certain Efik girl picked a fight for the same reason, she was clowned and told "it's not that deep"

When I meet new people and they ask where I'm from, I often make them guess but in doing so, I break my own heart. You'd once again expect that they'd guess the three major tribes but literally all the time they have no idea after guessing Yoruba and Igbo.

Are those the options? Igbo, Yoruba or unidentified? Are those the only tribes?

One day I will have the time to properly talk about the superiority complex of Igbos and the Yorubas' need to shun everyone in sight (most times, poorly executed). Of course these qualities do not apply to every single Igbo and Yoruba person.

I, Elowyn , am not impressed with the overlooking of such industrious tribes by the rest of Nigerians at large.

Bless 🤍

[larryhappiday]

PRENUPTIAL: The Fattening Room Experience

The fattening room is a unique and ancient tradition practiced by some Nigerian cultures, particularly the Efik and the Anang, to prepare young women for marriage and motherhood. It is a form of seclusion and pampering that can last for months or even years, depending on the wealth and preferences of the family. Young ladies are taught how to cook During this period, the women are fed rich and…

[skivampire]

gods of the day

Efik- Ewa Okon~ one of the many minor marine deity

Somali- Qori-ismaris~ was a man who could transform into a "Hyena-man" by rubbing himself with a magic stick at nightfall then does it again to return to human at dawn.

[arofili]

@tolkienofcolourweek day five | hobbits | esmeralda took

Esmeralda Brandybuck, née Took, was the daughter of Adalgrim Took. She married into the Brandybuck line, and when her husband Saradoc, became the Master of Brandy Hall, she became its Mistress. Her only child was Meriadoc, who accompanied Frodo Baggins on his great quest, and earned great renown around the world.

[eyetviseveryonestv]

This is a drawing I did at Sage Studios called, “The Water God’s god-dom enters the house of the Sun God and Moon Goddess.” It’s inspired by an old Nigerian myth about how the sun and moon gave up their home for the water to live in the sky, and recalling from a retelling illustrated by Blair Lent, I was greatly inspired by how these deities had their own people or living things they governed over. I also took influence from Renaissance, Baroque, and early 19th century paintings that depicted Greco-Roman mythological events and gave it a more inclusive flair in my own style. I used colored pencils, pen, regular pencils, and permanent maker on paper. It took me from late Spring to August 11th, 2023 to finish this.

[blueiight]

I love the brunt of zora neale hurston’s work but she so wrong for lying about the dahomey & lying on cudjoe lewis like dat .

and idk how much of it is hurston& moreso the presumption ppl have made about barracoon being some sort of history… bc it was published at the time in new ebony mag as fictional. and theres this remark on her work (which definitely maps onto barracoon’s prose.. passages about heathens and all)

[amillionstyles]

Look book: 8 Bridal Photoshoot Inspiration Vol 3

Hi there, welcome to another edition of Nigerian bridal photoshoot where we compile the best and most extravagant looks for your inspirational purposes. Today’s editions comes from 4 amazing tribes in Nigeria when it comes to traditional bridal weddings, we love the elegance and rich colour contrast they all exhibit and trust us when we say they are elegant. If you haven’t decided on a look for…

[kemetic-dreams]

Most of the enslaved Africans brought to Barbados were from the Bight of Biafra (62,000 Africans), the Gold Coast (59,000 Africans), and the Bight of Benin (45,000 Africans).[2] Other African slaves came from Central Africa (29,000 slaves), Senegambia (14,000 Africans), the Windward Coast (13,000 slaves) and from Sierra Leone (9,000 slaves).

Africans from the Bight of Biafra were primarily Igbo, Ibibio and Efik; Africans from the Gold Coast were primarily Akan; Africans from the Bight of Benin were primarily Yoruba, Ewe and Fon; and Africans from Central Africa were primarily Kongo

I’m originally from Igbo – US singer Rihanna opens up

Forbes’ wealthiest female singer, Rihanna, has disclosed that she is originally an Igbo woman.

Igbo is one of the dominant tribes in Nigeria, and the singer and brand influencer said her mother told her so.

Forbes recently named Rihanna a billionaire and she was officially recognised one of the wealthiest female musicians in the world.

Rihanna’s net worth is estimated at $1.7 billion while still receiving almost $1.4 billion from her beauty cosmetics l

Rihanna’s other fortune comes from her lingerie company Fenti, which is worth another $270 million, among other businesses.

Her mother is an Afro-Guyanese, while her father is a Barbadian of African and Irish descent.

She said: “My mom told me that I am originally an Igbo woman. Igbo is a tribe in Africa,” the singer said in a recent interview and has trended in Nigeria’s social media space for many hours.

Many Nigerians on social media, especially those from the Igbo tribe are now asking her to return to her roots, while others hailed her for coming out with the revelation.

Rihanna also has two brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty.

[kingdrawcse]

The chemistry behind Calabar Beans

Calabar beans, also known as "poison calabash," are leguminous plants native to West Africa. The seeds of Calabar beans contain highly toxic alkaloids (mainly concentrated in the cotyledons), with "physostigmine" being the primary active ingredient.

Physostigmine can interfere with the metabolism of acetylcholine and is neurotoxic to humans; oral ingestion of 6-10 mg can cause asphyxiation and death within a short period. The Efik people, an indigenous tribe in Nigeria, used Calabar beans for "divine judgment." Those accused of crimes or witchcraft would drink a decoction made from ground Calabar beans. If they died from poisoning, they were considered guilty; if they survived due to vomiting, they were acquitted, which was seen as the will of the gods.

Calabar beans were also used in duels, where one bean was split in half, and each duelist consumed a portion. The survivor was declared the winner. However, since half a bean's toxicity is already at a lethal dose, it was not uncommon for both parties to die.

[tiredporkchop]

2/2/2025

new earrings, new photos ✨🩷 earrings from Beadwork by Kay!

instagram ♡ bluesky ♡ linktr.ee

→ products used below.

base

TULA smoothing & firming treatment primer

NARS light reflecting foundation in M1 punjab

NYX Professional Makeup Pro Fix Stick Correcting Concealer in the shade #0.2 Pink

face

ONE/SIZE Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder in Ultra Pink

ColourPop Cosmetics Heart Blush in Text Me

NARS The Multiple Cream Blush, Lip and Eye Stick in Copacabana

eyes

Ulta Beauty Matte Eye Primer

Clinique High Impact Easy Liquid Liner in Black

Maybelline Tattoo Studio Gel Pencil Liner in Deep Onyx

Morphe x Nyane Fierce Fairytale palette shades Fariki, Gorgeous Gangsta, Fairytale

Juvia's Place Culture palette shades Benin, Efik, Kobo, Ashanti

Natasha Denona Mini Love palette shade True

ColourPop Super Shoc Pressed Pigmet shade Hot Totty

Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara in Black

Maybelline Sky High Space Diamond Glitter Mascara

eyebrows

NYX Professional Makeup Lip Liner in shade Fuchsia

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in shade Woodstock

Grande BrowFill Volumizing Brow Gel

lips

Ulta Beauty Plumped Up Pout Lip Gloss in Candy Stick

finish

Kimchi Chic Beauty Stage Proof Matte Setting

[okwuid]

What is the Ekpe Society?

The Ekpe society, also known as the Leopard Society, is a traditional fraternal secret society found primarily among the Ejaham, Efik, Ibibio, and Igbo peoples of southeastern Nigeria and western Cameroon. This society plays a significant role in the cultural, social, and political life of these communities. The society is known for its elaborate rituals, symbols, and hierarchical structure. The…