Weekly Reflections #19: Historical Knowledge of my City | (Ibesikpo Asutan In Akwa Ibom, Nigeria)

Every town has its origin, culture, and language which make it unique. My hometown, Ibesikpo Asutan is not exempted. In this post, I will tell you about my hometown, Ibesikpo Asutan.

Ibesikpo Asutan is a town or Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. A place with special people who are profound in knowledge.

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HISTORY OF IBESIKPO ASUTAN

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The name Ibesikpo Asutan was not in existence right from time, but the people of Ibesikpo Asutan were in existence from time. During the reign of the colonial Masters, precisely in 1959, when the Uyo province was created, the villages in Ibesikpo Asutan were in this province. In 1987, Akwa Ibom became a state in Nigeria, and Uyo became the capital city. Still, some of the villages in Ibesikpo Asutan were in the Uyo Local Government Area, and the remaining in the then Ekpe Atai Local Government Area.

During the reign of General Sani Abacha, precisely on the 1st of October 1996, the name Ibesikpo Asutan came into existence as a Local Government Area was formed from Ibesikpo excise in Uyo Local Government Area and Asutan excise from the then Ekpe Atai Local Government Area to be called the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area. There, my hometown came into existence in 1996.

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THE LANGUAGE SPEAKING BY THE IBESIKPO ASUTAN CITIZENS

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The citizens of my hometown, Ibesikpo Asutan, primarily speak the Ibibio Language, which is part of the Congo family languages.

The Ibesikpo Asutan people also understand the Efik language which is said to be a sister Language. Ibibio Language is believed to have been in existence in Nigeria since 7000 B.C.E when those speaking the language migrated into the country.

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THE CULTURE OF MY HOME TOWN

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• Occupation: The people of Ibesikpo Asutan have a primary occupation of Agriculture. They indulge in subsistence farming to care for themselves and their families, while some are involved in commercial Agriculture in the following areas; planting cassava, maize, and palm trees. History has proven that my people have been practicing agriculture from time, and even during the colonial reign. My Father told me about how they planted a variety of crops, should they lack anything, they would take what they had to the market and collect what they didn't have( Trade by barter), you see, the people of my town survived primarily before colonial Masters and during colonial Masters from Agriculture.

• Dress and Grooming: The primary dressing of my people is a wrapper and blouse.
  My father told me how my grandfather used to wear a wrapper and a chieftaincy shirt on occasion. Before the reign of colonial Masters who introduced English wear like shirts, ties, trousers, suits, skirts, blouses, etc, the people of Ibesikpo Asutan only wore wrappers.

• Traditions: Before the reign of colonial Masters, my people worshiped the Gods of the sky, known as Ibom Enyon in Ibibio. Many were traditionalists who performed many traditional incantations to appease the Gods, they worshiped the Ekpo Masquerade and believed these brought peace and prosperity to the land.

• Marriage: The Ibibio people perform traditional marriage. Before the reign of colonial Masters, a man who wanted to get married in Ibibio land would go to a pregnant woman and paint calabash chalk on her navel, and if she gave birth to a baby girl, the baby would automatically become the wife of a man who painted calabash chalk on her navel during pregnancy. Then during the reign of colonial Masters and after, the act of painting calabash chalk on the navel of a pregnant woman was abolished as many parents went against that culture. Therefore my people venture into the act of a mature man indicating his interest in getting married to a mature woman, then he would go to her family and perform traditional rights if she accepts to marry him.

Traditional Marriage	Dress and Grooming

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IBIBIO PEOPLE DURING CIVILIZATION

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As the world became civilized and modernized, the people of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, or Ibibio people also became civilized and modernized. My people are now educated and only adhere to cultures that are harmless such as wearing a wrapper. We also speak the Central language of Nigeria, English.

We are loving and caring people who accept and welcome visitors and make them feel at home. We are blessed with a variety of delicious delicacies, such as Ekpangukwo, Afang soup, Jollof rice, etc.

Thank you for reading; I believe you enjoyed getting to know a brief history of the people of Ibesikpo Asutan in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria.

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I invite;
@blessedbee
@beevicsam
@usherray

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Best regards
@iddy