Ekoid · Nigeria’s peoples

Ejagham

The Ejagham (Ekoi) live across the Nigeria–Cameroon border, from the Qua of Calabar to Etung and Ikom.

At a glance

Where do the Ejagham people live?: Their homeland is in Akamkpa, Etung and Ogoja in Cross River State, across 3 local government areas. They are also a large share of Ikom and Odukpani in Cross River State.
What language do the Ejagham speak?: Ejagham, a language of the Ekoid family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Bantoid › Ekoid).

Overview

The Ejagham (Ekoi) live across the Nigeria–Cameroon border, from the Qua of Calabar to Etung and Ikom. Their Ekpe (leopard) society spread through the Cross River region.^[2]High confidence

Where the Ejagham 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
- Akamkpa(Homeland)
- Etung(Homeland)
- Ogoja(Homeland)
- Ikom(Shared area)
- Odukpani(Shared area)
- Bakassi(Smaller presence)
- Calabar Municipal(Smaller presence)

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

Communities beyond the homeland

Etung (Effraya)

Etung, Cross River State.^[5],[6]High confidence

Headquarters of Etung LGA, in the Ejagham heartland.^[5]

Ikom and the monolith country

Ikom, Cross River State: Nta-Nselle (Abininkomo).^[7],[6]High confidence

Ikom's languages include Ofutop Bakor, Yala, Mbembe and Ejagham. The Nta and Nselle call the carved Ikom monoliths akwanshi, “dead person on the ground”, and hold a festival in their groves at the end of each dry season.^[7]

Farming, trading and lumbering.^[7]

Qua (Calabar)

Calabar Municipal, Cross River State.^[8],[2]High confidence

The Qua Kingdom of Ejagham origin shares Calabar with the Efik and Efut; its Ndidem is the paramount ruler of Calabar Municipality and grand patriarch of the Ejagham nation.^[8]

Language

Ejagham, a language of the Ekoid family (Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Bantoid › Ekoid). ISO 639-3: etu.^[1]High confidence

Sources

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