The Old Town Families, collectively known as Obutong was represented at the Hart Commission of Enquiry by Chief Efiom Obo Efanga. In his testimony, Chief Efanga associated Efik history and migrations with a legendary figure, Eburutu, the forefather of various Efik groups, who resided at Uruan.
The following information relating to the early migrations of the Efiks was given by Chief Efiom Obo Efanga in evidence.
87. The Obutong people hold the view that Eburutu was an eponymous legendary hero from whom all the Efik people to whom the name Eburutu applies, descended. Eburutu begat the forefathers of the following Efik groups
(1) Obutong.
(2) Ibom.
(3) Eniong.
(4) Adiabo.
(5) Ikoneto.
(6) Ikot-Offiong.
(7) Mbiabo Edere.
(8) Enwang.
(9) Abayen.
(10) Usuk Akpa.
(11) Itu.
(12) Uqua.
All these groups lived at Uruan. But when the quarrel between the Efiks and the Ibibio Uruan arose- -the quarrel to which other accounts have referred- the Enwang, Abayen and Usuk Akpa started off in different directions, whilst the rest grouped themselves together, the better to defend themselves, and ran away from Uruan and settled at Akani Obio Efik otherwise referred to as Ikpa Ene. The Ibibios chased the Efiks to Ikpa Ene and obliged the latter to retreat to Ndodoghi from whence the Efiks next settled at Creek Town.
88. All the groups in paragraph 87 were known as “Efiks”. The name which was an uncomplimentary term coined for use by the Ibibios of Uruan and meaning “oppressor’ was intended to describe the national character of the children of Eburutu. Before the Efiks reached Uruan they were known as Ibokus, i.e. Ibo-okwu (talkative or quarrelsome Ibos).
89. When the Efiks left Uruan for Ikpa Ene, Ukpong Atai and Adim Atai took away the Ntinya of the Uruan people. It was in actual fact stolen. The Efiks also took away the Ikpaya (woven raffia robe), Akata (throne) and Ayan (broom), but left behind their Okpono or head ring. Whilst the Efiks were at Ndodoghi a hunter on duty got to Creek Town where he discovered a bigger and fairer land than swampy Ndodoghi. He did not know of the inhabitants of Creek Town then, but he heard someone in the forest calling out the word “Etonko”. And so was Creek Town discovered. Etonko was eventually enlarged to Ikot Etonko from the word used by the Efuts in the bush.
90. Efik migrants to Creek Town were Ukpong Atai, Oku Atai, Adim Atai, Eyo Ema and Efiom Ekpo. A wrestling contest between Eyo Ema’s and Ukpong Atai’s people in which an Eyo Ema scion was killed led to the stealthy exodus of the people of Ukpong and Adim Atai to Obutong where they established their Efe Ekpe (Ekpe shed) and planted the grotto of their Ndem as the Atais were always associated with the Ndem and Kingship. Ukpong and Adim Atai were brothers of the full blood. Their mother was different from that of Oku Atai and Eyo Ema Atai. When Ukpong and Adim stole the Ntinya they handed it to Oku Atai according to the custom of the Efiks because Oku was the most senior son of Atai. When Ukpong and Adim went over to Obutong they had to seek the permission of Oku Atai to use the Ntinya. Oku was the person then ruling in Creek Town and Ukpong ruled in Old Town with the concurrence of his senior brother.
91. From Old Town also emanates another account of the origins of the Efiks. This account is contained in a statement made by the Chiefs of Old Town in a case in which they appeared as plaintiffs against one Efiom Efiom Asiya alias Efiom Otu Ekon. The Old Town Chiefs claim in this statement that Calabar or Efik Eburutu immigrated from Ibo-Oku, the capital of Oku-Obio, a district of Egbosherry at the mouth of the Ibibo creek looking eastward. From this temporary settlement the Efiks moved to Isuo Ndem then known as the Old Efik, but now called Beecroft Island. Here they intermarried and got mixed up with the neighbouring tribes of south and east coast of Egbo-sherry country with whom they traded.
92. The progenitor of Efik Eburutu and others of Ibo-Oku of Egbosherry was the legendary figure Obong Atong Ama. Atong Ama had seven children who became the forefathers of the Efiks.
93. From the Old Efik, Mbiabo or Ekirikok moved to its present site of Ikot Offiong. Similarly, Ikoneto and Mbiabo Edere migrated to their present sites. From Old Efik the rest of the Efiks settled at Edik Nyoyokhi. They later on moved over to Iboku Esit Edik otherwise known as Creek Town.
94. The following were the children of Atong Ama-
(1) Mbang Atong, the father of Ibano Mbang.
(2) Ikoto Atong, the father of Efiat Ikpoto.
(3) Ebugu Atong, the father of Ebugu.
(4) Ukpabang Atong, the father of Oron Ukpabang.
(5) Eburutu Atong, the father of Efik Eburutu.
(6) Antia Ekot Atong, the father of Obutong.
(7) Ndue Atong the father of Oku Ndue Atong.
Add comment