Lower Cross · Nigeria’s peoples

Efik

The Efik built the trading kingdom of Old Calabar (Akwa Akpa).

At a glance

Where do the Efik people live?: Their homeland is in Calabar Municipal and Calabar South in Cross River State, across 2 local government areas. They are also a large share of Akpabuyo, Bakassi and Odukpani in Cross River State.
What language do the Efik speak?: Efik, a language of the Lower Cross family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Delta Cross › Lower Cross).
Who is the traditional ruler of the Efik?: Obong of Calabar, seated at Calabar Municipal.
Which kingdoms are part of Efik history?: Old Calabar

Overview

The Efik built the trading kingdom of Old Calabar (Akwa Akpa). They are centred in Calabar under the Obong of Calabar, and Efik became the written language of much of the region.^[2],[3]High confidence

Where the Efik live

Local government areas by state. Homeland: the group is the majority. Shared area: a large share of a mixed area. Smaller presence: present, but a small share.

Cross River
- Calabar Municipal(Homeland)
- Calabar South(Homeland)
- Akpabuyo(Shared area)
- Bakassi(Shared area)
- Odukpani(Shared area)
- Biase(Smaller presence)
Akwa Ibom
- Itu(Smaller presence)
- Oron(Smaller presence)
- Uruan(Smaller presence)

Areas are approximate and show where people live. They are not claims of land ownership.

Communities beyond the homeland

Calabar (Akwa Akpa)

Calabar Municipal, Cross River State; Calabar South, Cross River State: Duke Town (Atakpa), Old Town (Obutong).^[3],[7],[6]High confidence

Akwa Akpa, the Efik city-state on the Calabar river, founded about 1650 by families from Creek Town. Seat of the Obong of Calabar, crowned first at the sacred Efe Asabo lodge and then in Duke Town Presbyterian church; the Ekpe society is the stool on which the Obong sits. The Qua (Ejagham) and Efut kingdoms share the city.^[3],[6],[7]

Creek Town (Ikot Itunko)

Odukpani, Cross River State: Akpap Okoyong, Eki, Eniong Abatim, Ito, Idere, Ukwa Ibom, Inuakpa Okoyong, Okurikang.^[8],[7]High confidence

The older Efik town up the Calabar river, from which Duke Town's founders came. Odukpani, around it, is largely Efik.^[7],[8]

Language

Efik, a language of the Lower Cross family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Delta Cross › Lower Cross). ISO 639-3: efi.^[1]High confidence

Traditional ruler

Obong of Calabar, seated at Calabar Municipal.^[2]High confidence

In history

Old CalabarOld Calabar at its height, 1780

Sources

Every claim carries a confidence level: high (well attested), medium (one source or approximate) or disputed (sources disagree).