• Source: Okobo, Nigeria

Okobo is located in the South South part of Nigeria and is a Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. It is made up of Odd, Eta and Atabong clans. Following the local government creation exercise of the federal government in 1989 Okobo Local Government Area was carved out of Oron, Akwa Ibom same year.




History



The local government area is bounded by Uruan in the North-West, Oyono Estuary in the North East, Oron, Akwa Ibom in the East, Urue-Offong/Oruko in the South-East, Nsit Atai in the West, Esit Eket in the south, and Nsit Ubium in the South West.
Okobo is one of the five Oron people Local Government in Akwa Ibom State. The local government is made up of Four (4) clans (where some are now known as district) out of the Nine (9) Oron Clans (Afaha) which are Afaha Okpo, Afaha Ukwong, Afaha Ibighi, Afaha Ebughu and Afaha Okiuso with three being the Okobo people clan known as Odu, Eta and Atabong said to be formed during the great migration from Usakedet (Afaha Edit) now Usangele Area in Cameroon.
Okobo people are friendly and peaceful people. They are very protective of their people. In the Ancient times if any strangers who tried to enter the boundary villages with sophisticated charms or weapon with the intention to harm or cause riots and threatened the peace of the indigenes was being disbanded automatically due to the charms of protection hung across every corner of the community.




Language


Several languages are spoken in Okobo local government area because of the complex constitution of the local government area. Okobo language in spoken in Odu and Eta clans. Oro language is spoken in Atak Oro. Efik language is widely spoken in Atabong clan. Part of Ekeya people in Okobo equally speak Efik.
Language in Okobo is more than a means of communication; it is a vehicle for cultural expression and social cohesion. The use of Okobo in songs, particularly recreational and work songs, is a testament to its central role in the community. These songs are not just about music; they are a repository of the community's history, values, and collective memory.




Clans and settlement


The area has Seven Clans (now districts) in Okobo namely Afaha Eta, Odu, Atabong, Afaha Ukwong, Ebughu, Afaha Okiuso and Ibighi. Okobo people are in the first three districts - Odu, Eta and Atabong while the Atak Oro people (a defunct LGA) reside in the remaining four districts. To the North is Esuk Inwang (4° 56' 0" North, 8° 6' 0" East) and to the South is Nda(4° 47' 55” North, 8° 7' 34”East). The Coordinates of Nung Atai Eta are 4°51'0" N and 8°7'60" E and those of Odobo are 4° 49' 32 North and 8° 6' 38” East.
Odu consist of thirteen (13) villages which are ;

Akiba Obo
Anua Ekeya
Ebighi Edu
Ebighi Okobo
Ekpene Ekim
Esuk Inwang
Idibenin
Nda
Nung Ukana
Obot Inwang
Ube
Ufok Esuk
Eta consist of Seventeen (17) town and villages which includes;

Afaha Nsung
Akananwana
Amamong
Anua Okopedi
Ape Amamong
Atai Amamong
Ata Atai Otope
Atipa Odobo
Ebighi Eta
Ekpene Ekim Eta
Ibawa
Mbieduo
Nsating
Nung Atai Eta
Nung Atai Odobo
Nung Udom Odobo
Obufi.
Atabong consist of four villages which is

Ikot Iquo
Ikot Odiong
Ikot Okokon
Ikot Osukpong.
Afaha Ukwong Clan consist of fifteen (15) town and villages which includes

Afaha Osu
Ebighi Anwa Ikpi
Ebighi Anwa Oro
Etieke Udong Eto
Eweme
Eyo Nku
Itak Uyati
Mbukpo Oduobo
Ndoung
Osu Offi
Oti Oron
Otieke
Ubak
Utine Eyekung
Utine Ndoung.
Afaha Ebughu Clan consist of five villages which includes

Eyede
Ikono Oro
Nsie
Uruting
Afaha Okiuso Clan consist of Nine (9) villages which includes

Akai Nyo
Isa Okiuso
Itak Okiuso
Udung Afiang
Udung Amkpe
Udung Ukpong
Udung Ulo
Udung Umo
Afaha Ibighi Clan consist of four (4) villages that is

Afaha Akai
Atiabang
Oyoku Assang
Urue Ita




Natural resources


Okobo is endowed with a tropical forest, resources with mahogany for supply of wood for boat, housing and canoe construction. There are significant deposits of clay, fine sand and crude oil. Fishing and farming are common in this local government area.




Culture


The cultural heritage is demonstrated in several traditional dances and masquerades such as Ekpe.
The traditional marriage ceremonies in Okobo are similar to those of the Efiks. The list include:

Knocking drinks (Mmin ukong usung)
Prayer drinks (Mmin akam)
Drinks for expressing intention (mmin ukop iko)
Introduction Drinks (Mmin mbup)
Appreciation drinks (Mmin ekom)
This list is just for the Mbub (introductory) ceremony. The traditional marriage list (Nkpo Ndo) comes with its own set of rites and “gifts.” However, the “bride-price” used to be a standard £12 (bon duopeba).




See also


Oron people
Urue-Offong/Oruko
Mbo, Akwa Ibom
Oron, Akwa Ibom
Udung Uko
Obolo, Akwa Ibom
Akwa Ibom State
Oron Nation




References






Sources


Essesien Ntekim (21 May 2013). OKOBO: Story of a Nigerian People. Xlibris. ISBN 978-1-4797-9114-9.
Okobo LGA | Helloakwaibom
Efik Marriage “Knocking” Ceremony - Mbub Ndo K’ido Efik | Rosemary Aqua
List Of Traditional Marriage Requirements In Calabar/Efik
Okon Uya A history of Oron people of the lower Cross River basin - 1984
Efik and Calabar Traditional Marriage List and requirements

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Akwa Ibom
• Keuskupan Nsukka
• Okobo, Nigeria
• Local government areas of Nigeria
• Okobo language
• Okobo people
• List of ethnic groups in Nigeria
• Ndo
• Oron people
• Cross River State
• Oron, Nigeria
• Languages of Nigeria