Efik people

Efik

Total population
786,700[1]
Regions with significant populations
Nigeria, Cameroon
Nigeria	760,000[2]
Cameroon	20,000[3]
United States	4,600[4]
Languages
Efik, English, French
Religion
Christianity, Efik religion
Related ethnic groups
Ibibio, Annang, Akamkpa, Eket, Ejagham (or Ekoi), Bahumono, Oron, Biase, Uruan, Igbo, Bamileke.

The Efik are an ethnic group located primarily in southern Nigeria, and western Cameroon. Within Nigeria, the Efik can be found in the present-day Cross River State and Akwa Ibom state. The Efik speak the Efik language which is a member of the Benue–Congo subfamily of the Niger-Congo language group.^[5] The Efik refer to themselves as Efik Eburutu, Ifa Ibom, Eburutu and Iboku.^[6][7]

The bulk of the Efiks can be found in Calabar and the southern part of Cross River State . Prior to 1905, Old Calabar was a term used to describe the Efik settlements of Duke Town, Creek Town, Old town, Cobham town, Henshaw town, Adiabo and Mbiabo (consisting of Mbiabo edere, Mbiabo Ikot Offiong and Mbiabo Ikoneto).^[8] The Efik have also been referred to as "Calabar people" in historical literature. The term "Calabar people" was particularly popular prior to the nineteenth century and was synonymous to the Efik.^[6]

Efik society consists of various clans which were originally known as "Esien Efik itiaba" (English: Seven clans of Efik) and later known in the 21st century as "Esien Efik Duopeba" (English: Twelve clans of Efik).^[9] The original seven clans are scattered between Cross River state and Akwa Ibom state and consist of Iboku (Duke town, Henshaw town, Creek town and Cobham town), Obutong, Adiabo, Mbiabo (Mbiabo Edere, Mbiabo Ikot Offiong, Mbiabo Ikoneto), Enwang, Usukakpa and Abayen.^[10] The last three clans had greatly dwindled in number and many of their members are believed to have been miscegenated into other Efik clans.^[10] Ibonda (an Efut clan) has sometimes been appended to Adiabo as one of the seven Efik clans.^[10] The bulk of the Enwang and Usukakpa are located in the present-day Akwa Ibom state.

Modern Efik society is a melting pot of people of diverse origin. Due to the rise of Calabar as a commercial centre since the 18th century, Efik settlements experienced a high rate of inward migration consisting of Sierra Leoneans, Lebanese, Cameroonians, Jamaicans and several other communities. Children of Efik maternal descent are still regarded as Efik and have contributed to the development of the Efik society. Due to the volume of cultural exchange, many other ethnic groups have often been regarded as being one with the Efik such as Kiong and Efut.^[11]

The Efik were noted for their involvement in the slave trade where they acted as slave traders and middlemen between the inland slave traders and the Europeans. After the decline of the slave trade, the Efik transitioned into the business of exporting palm oil from the Cross river. Other trading items sold by the Efik included rubber, ivory, barwood and redwood.^[12] Throughout the centuries, Efik traders traded with the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French.^[13]

Etymology The name "Efik" translates to "Oppressors" and is derived from the Efik-Ibibio verb root "Fik" (English: Oppress). The first letter of the word is correctly written as "Ẹ" and denotes plurality. Several theories have been propounded on the origin of the word. One theory propounded by Okon and Nkpanam Ekereke asserts that the term "Efuk" was a word of defiance and an expression used by the Ibibio man when in a fit of rage.^[14] Ekereke and Ekereke further assert that the word was later changed to "Efik".^[14] This theory appears to be isolated as other Ibibio writers do not narrate that such terms were used by the Ibibio. Another theory which is narrated by Forde and Jones states that the name "Efik" translates to "Tyrants" or "He who oppresses" and was the name of which the Efik called themselves after they had settled at Creek town.^[11]