Ekpeye is an ethnic group predominantly found in Ahoada East and parts of Ahoada West Local Government Areas of Rivers State, in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The Ahoada metropolis serves as the administrative headquarters of the Ekpeye nation. As regards the origin of the Ekpeye, some align with the narrative of migration from Benin.[1] In contrast, others believe they are originally Igbo, as major aspects of the language and culture indicate.[2][3]
Emene Ekpeye | |
|---|---|
 Ekpeye Eta (Wrestling) Festival | |
| Total population | |
| approx. 226,000 [citation needed] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Rivers State Nigeria | |
| Languages | |
| Ekpeye language . Pidgin . English | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity . African Traditional Religion Omenela | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Ikwerre . Ika people . Igbo Ukwuani . Ogba Esan |
Politics
editTraditional leadership
editThe Ekpeye ethnic nation is ruled by a king called the Eze Ekpeye Logbo. The traditional stool that would unite the whole of Ekpeye people was created in 1977, with Eze Edmund Unoshi Ashirim of Ihuaba in Upata kingdom serving as the Eze Ekpeye Logbo I.[4] After his demise, Eze Robinson O. Robinson of the Ubie kingdom ascended the throne in 1979 as Eze Ekpeye Logbo II. As of November 2024, the serving Eze Ekpeye Logbo is Eze Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo, who got enthroned on May 4, 2022.
The ethnic nation is divided into clans known as Igbu. As of 2024, there are five major Igbus including:
- Igbu Ehuda
- Igbu Upata
- Igbu Ubie
- Igbu Akoh
- Igbu Igbuduya
Democratic leadership
editLanguage
editThe Ekpeye people speak Ekpeye, classified as an Igboid language.
Festivals
editThe Ekpeye people celebrate several festivals such as the Eta, Ogwu Ekpeye, Owu, and Ugbokolo.[5]
Notes
editFurther readings
edit- Amini-Philips, Isaac C. (1994) King Nworisa of Ekpeyeland (1830–1899): his life and times Riverside Communications, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, ISBN 978-31226-6-5 ;
- Amini-Philips, Isaac C. (1998) Establishing a chronology for Ekpeye history Emhai Print. & Pub., Port Harcourt, Nigeria, OCLC 53842667 ;
- Ekine,Gift V. (2014)- A Concise History of Ekpeyeland and People, Osia Digital Press, Port Harcourt,Nigeria (ISBN 978-978-52044-4-5)
- Ekine, Gift V. (2013)- A Dictionary of Ekpeyewords and Pronunciations, Osia Digital Press, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. (ISBN 978-978-52044-2-1)
- Picton, John (February 1988) "Ekpeye masks and masking" African arts 21(2): pp. 46–53, 94 OCLC 40558650;
- Clark, David J. (1971) Reading and Writing Ekpeye Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, OCLC 2464074;
- "Ekpeye: a language of Nigeria" Ethnologue;
- Ajugo, U. B (2005) "The True History of Ekpeyeland :3000 BC ~ 2005 AD". A BGR Project, Port Harcourt Nigeria.
References
edit- ^ Enogholase, Gabriel (22 December 2011). "Bini Heritage: Ekpeye in the fold". Vanguard Nigeria. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ "Jones Archive" [Ekpeye (Ekpafia Igbo)]. SIU. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ Ibe, Kenneth (20 September 2024). "Oba Of Bini Confirms Ikwerre and Etche as 100% Igbo"". Igbo History TV. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ Edozie, Victor (12 August 2018). "The story of Rivers' two revered traditional stools". Port Harcourt: Daily Trust. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ "PROCLAMATION OF OGWU EKPEYE (EPKEYE NEW YAM FESTIVAL 2020)". Boch News. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2023.