EVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF IKOT ANTIA OBIO UYAI IN IBIONO IBOM LOCALGOVERNMENT AREA AKWA IBOM STATE BY UMOH, ODUDU-ABASI AKAN
INTRODUCTION
The name of my village is Ikot Antia Obio Uyai in Utit Obio of Ibiono Ibom Local government Area, Akwa Ibom State. The ancestral home of Ibiono Ibom people is Obio Ibiono.The origin of ibiono ibom and the institution of okuku in the kingdom are tied to the origin and development of Ibibio land. At obio ibiono, ibiono the first son of ibom is said to have married two wives from whom he got eight children. These children or their descendants later fanned out to found new villages and the original eight clans Afaha, Ibiaku, Mbiabong, Ntan, Use, Utit obio, Ididep and Ikpanya
The name of my village is Ikot Antia Obio Uyai in Utit Obio of Ibiono Ibom Local government Area, Akwa Ibom State. The ancestral home of Ibiono Ibom people is Obio Ibiono.The origin of ibiono ibom and the institution of okuku in the kingdom are tied to the origin and development of Ibibio land. At obio ibiono, ibiono the first son of ibom is said to have married two wives from whom he got eight children. These children or their descendants later fanned out to found new villages and the original eight clans Afaha, Ibiaku, Mbiabong, Ntan, Use, Utit obio, Ididep and Ikpanya
Due to unceasing threat of aggression and invasion by the surrounding communities of the farthest part of Ibiono Ibom land, the Chiefs of Ibiono Ibom land at Obio Ibiono sent the strong men of the community to protect its boundaries. The area the strong men were assigned to protect is known as Utit Obio (the end of the community) till date. The leader of the team was called Eto. He was to protect the end of the community from being invaded by the people of Nkwot community in the present day Ikono Local Government Area.
Another team was sent to protect the area bordering with Arochukwu in the present Abia State.
Eto who defended the area sharing boundaries with Nkwot had five sons namely: Udom, Antia, Uba, Ifukho and Edem-Urua. These children were given land for Settlement which metamorphosed in the following villages
:- Ikot Udom, Ikot Antia Obio Uyai, Ikot Uba, Ifukho and Edem Urua. It is interesting to state to here that these defenders of the ends of the communities were renowned hunters, who used both hunting skills and charms for their enterprise.
Having gained the security of the area, the different children of Eto settled down with their followers.
EVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF IKOT ANTIA OBIO UYAI IN IBIONO IBOM L.G.A., AKWA IBOM STATE
Antia Eto the founding father of my village had many wives so as to produce offsprings to assist him in the cultivation of the land allocated to him. He also shared out portions of his land to the leaders of the families who followed him. These family heads included okuku udo ekpo and umo ike. They lived their simple and private lives. The local folks lived in thatched houses and their main occupations were farming and hunting. The are four main streams that help in growing of plants and for domestic uses which are Nteya, Iso idim, Iyang inua and Nsi isit streams. The people used such socio cultural plays as ekpo ekong, obon and ekpe to maintain law and order. Their religion was traditional witnessed by the worship of dieties which were owned by the different societies. The early settlers of my village were involved in certain anti social and inhuman practices such as the killing of twins and their mothers and selling of others as slaves.
With the advent of Christianity through the noble and dedicated of a white woman missionary called Mary Slessor, the church of Scotland mission (now known as Presbyterian church of Nigeria) was established around 1928. The church evangelist went round the villages to set up churches. To help the people to write and read, the church of Scotland mission helped built a primary school for the people of the village and its environs around 1931. The school did not only increase membership in church but greatly brought civilization to the local people as some would read and speak the white mans language
Antia Eto the founding father of my village had many wives so as to produce offsprings to assist him in the cultivation of the land allocated to him. He also shared out portions of his land to the leaders of the families who followed him. These family heads included okuku udo ekpo and umo ike. They lived their simple and private lives. The local folks lived in thatched houses and their main occupations were farming and hunting. The are four main streams that help in growing of plants and for domestic uses which are Nteya, Iso idim, Iyang inua and Nsi isit streams. The people used such socio cultural plays as ekpo ekong, obon and ekpe to maintain law and order. Their religion was traditional witnessed by the worship of dieties which were owned by the different societies. The early settlers of my village were involved in certain anti social and inhuman practices such as the killing of twins and their mothers and selling of others as slaves.
With the advent of Christianity through the noble and dedicated of a white woman missionary called Mary Slessor, the church of Scotland mission (now known as Presbyterian church of Nigeria) was established around 1928. The church evangelist went round the villages to set up churches. To help the people to write and read, the church of Scotland mission helped built a primary school for the people of the village and its environs around 1931. The school did not only increase membership in church but greatly brought civilization to the local people as some would read and speak the white mans language
RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PATTERN OF HUMAN SETTLEMENT
My village ikot antia obio uyai is still predominantly rural in character. Some of the settlements ranging from hamlet to expanded villages, all which lack the basic traits of an urban place/ urban centre. My village is therefore the co ordinating centres for all rural socio economic development , to which the smaller settlement are linked in the first instant. The village still lacks basic amenities such as tarred roads, inaccessible pipe borne water as people still patronize the streams.
My village ikot antia obio uyai is still predominantly rural in character. Some of the settlements ranging from hamlet to expanded villages, all which lack the basic traits of an urban place/ urban centre. My village is therefore the co ordinating centres for all rural socio economic development , to which the smaller settlement are linked in the first instant. The village still lacks basic amenities such as tarred roads, inaccessible pipe borne water as people still patronize the streams.
CULTURE AND TOURISM
Ikot antia obio uyai holds promises of profitable oppurtunities for hospitality, leisure and entertainments. With a large expanse of fresh water and tropical rain forest in my village which serves as recreational resources, the wetland of my village favours recreational activities as people even researches often resort to the area in pursuit of fun, site seeing and collection of data for research purposes. Recreational activities and tourism is quite an evolving phenomenon in the area and it is anticipated that with the sustainable development, and management of wet land in the area, recreation and tourism will come to stay.
My village is well known for our delicious and rich culinary and offers varieties of vegetable, fruits, locally prepared wine and wild life most of which are in seasoned all year round. My village posses a rich blend of songs, dances and masquerades, which do not only entertain but serves as media of expression and communication. They also promote social cohesion, friendship and kingship during festivals. With its rich traditional music forms, traditional games and dances. My village has won lunches in several state cultural and musical festivals. The culinary skills of a typical ikot antia obio uyai woman or man are legendary. Foods such as edikan ikong, afia efere ebot, ukwoho afang and ekpang nkwukwo would keep luring you back to my village, not to talk of the wickedly delicious world famous fisherman soup.
OCCUPATION
The traditional occupation of the people includes farming, fishing, raffia work, carving, poultry and craft.
SERVICES AND FACILITIES
There are presence of markets, water supply, town hall, health centre and rural electrification some completed by the community and other by the government.
Ikot antia obio uyai holds promises of profitable oppurtunities for hospitality, leisure and entertainments. With a large expanse of fresh water and tropical rain forest in my village which serves as recreational resources, the wetland of my village favours recreational activities as people even researches often resort to the area in pursuit of fun, site seeing and collection of data for research purposes. Recreational activities and tourism is quite an evolving phenomenon in the area and it is anticipated that with the sustainable development, and management of wet land in the area, recreation and tourism will come to stay.
My village is well known for our delicious and rich culinary and offers varieties of vegetable, fruits, locally prepared wine and wild life most of which are in seasoned all year round. My village posses a rich blend of songs, dances and masquerades, which do not only entertain but serves as media of expression and communication. They also promote social cohesion, friendship and kingship during festivals. With its rich traditional music forms, traditional games and dances. My village has won lunches in several state cultural and musical festivals. The culinary skills of a typical ikot antia obio uyai woman or man are legendary. Foods such as edikan ikong, afia efere ebot, ukwoho afang and ekpang nkwukwo would keep luring you back to my village, not to talk of the wickedly delicious world famous fisherman soup.
OCCUPATION
The traditional occupation of the people includes farming, fishing, raffia work, carving, poultry and craft.
SERVICES AND FACILITIES
There are presence of markets, water supply, town hall, health centre and rural electrification some completed by the community and other by the government.
REFERENCES
Wikipedia
http://www.projectlifeonline.org/ProjectLife/culturandtourism.html
From oral interviews and findings through calls
http://www.projectlifeonline.org/ProjectLife/culturandtourism.html
From oral interviews and findings through calls
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