Abassi (spirit)

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Abassi (also known as Abasi or Awasi) is the supreme creator god of the Efik, Ibibio, and Annang people of Nigeria. [1] [2] The depiction of Abassi in Efik and Annang traditions is influenced by Ibibio mythology since the two groups used to be part of the Ibibio before they migrated to different parts of southeast Nigeria and formed their own societies. [3] [4]

Contents

Following the arrival of Christian missionaries in Nigeria, Abassi was syncretized with the Christian concept of God and was referred to Abassi Ibom (in Ibibio and Efik myths) or Awasi Ibom (in Annang myths), although this interpretation is debated in present times. [3] [5] [6] In certain versions of the myths, most notably ones originating from Annang folklore, the name Abassi is used in reference to other deities involved in the creation myth, which included Abassi Ibom. [1]

Representation

Abassi is depicted as an omnipresent and all-knowing deity, who is responsible for creating humans. [2] However, Abassi does not directly interact with humans but communicates through a pantheon of spirits called ndem (in Efik and Ibibio myths) or nnem (in Annang myth). [1] [7] Abassi is also not directly worshipped, and thus shrines are not built in honor of Abassi, but the god's intermediaries instead, the ndem and the ancestor spirits, mbukpo (known as mme ete ete in Annang myths), with the latter helping its descendants to receive Abassi's favors. [3] [4] [6]

In versions of the myth where Abassi refers to a group of deities, Abassi Isong, who dwells on earth, plays the role of the messenger by sending messages from humans to Abassi Anyong (also known as Abassi Onyong or Abassi Enyong), who dwell on the skies. Abassi Anyong is responsible for conveying the message to Abassi Ibom. [1] According to certain interpretations, Abassi Anyong is depicted as male while Abassi Isong is depicted as female. [8]

Legends

Origin of death

According to Efik mythology, after Abassi created the first humans, a woman and a man, his wife, Atai, told him to allow them to live on earth. Abassi was wary of this and originally rejected the idea since he was afraid of the humans’ potential to surpass him. Nevertheless, despite his reservation, he acquiesced to his wife's request, although he gave two rules before he sent the first humans to earth. The first rule was that they were not allowed to grow their own food, and the second one was that they were not allowed to procreate. The humans agreed with these rules, and for a while, everything was alright. Then, the woman started to plant seeds and grow food for them, which her husband agreed was more delicious than the food that Abassi gave them. Not long after that, they also broke the second rule. Abassi was incensed at his wife since his fear has become reality: The humans had forsaken him and were now posing a threat to his rule. To appease her husband, Atai decided to send death into the world, ensuring that humans would not be able to threaten Abaasi's supremacy. [1] [9]

Creation of the universe

In Annang mythology, Abassi Ibom created the skies (Anyong), the earth (Isong), and the ocean (Inyang Ibom). Originally, the skies and the earth were joined together in heaven and the ocean was below them. One day, Abassi Ibom told one of his creations, a shapeshifting giant, to separate the skies from the earth. The giant succeeded and Abasi Ibom told the skies to stay above while the earth was told to go down. As it fell down, the earth sunk to the ocean. The surviving parts of the earth that remained visible became the coast. The giant, satisfied with his success, took a bath in the ocean water. He drowned and died and his body parts became the impetus of living things on earth. As part of the myth, it is said that when the skies covered the earth, daytime had arisen, and when the earth covered the skies, night had fallen. [7]

The distant god

In Ibibio mythology, Abassi was described to have lived in the skies, nearby humans, and can be communicated directly to. However, he was disturbed by the noise of an old woman making fufu with her pestle. After days of this, he became deeply annoyed and chose to move as far away from humans to avoid the noise. Thus, humans could no longer communicate with Abassi directly and had to go through the spirits and the ancestors. [4] [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

Efik mythology consists of a collection of myths narrated, sung or written down by the Efik people and passed down from generation to generation. Sources of Efik mythology include Bardic poetry, Songs, oral tradition and Proverbs. Stories concerning Efik myths include creation myths, supernatural beings, mythical creatures and warriors. Efik myths were initially told by Efik people and narrated under the moonlight. Moonlight plays in Efik are known as Mbre Ọffiọñ.

Akwa Ibom State State in Nigeria

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Ibibio people

The Ibibio people are a coastal people in southern Nigeria. They are mostly found in Akwa Ibom and Cross River. They are related to the Annang Igbo and Efik peoples. During the colonial period in Nigeria, the Ibibio Union asked for recognition by the British as a sovereign nation. The Annang, Efik, Ekid, Oron and Ibeno share personal names, culture, and traditions with the Ibibio, and speak closely related varieties (dialects) of Ibibio which are more or less mutually intelligible. The Ekpo/Ekpe society is a significant part of the Ibibio political system. They use a variety of masks to execute social control. Body art plays a major role in Ibibio art.

The Anaang are a Southern Nigerian ethnic group whose land is primarily within 8 of the present 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State: Abak, Essien Udim, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara, Oruk Anam, Ukanafun in Akwa Ibom State,and 3 of the 17 Local government areas in Abia State: Ugwunagbo, Obi Ngwa,and Ukwa East of Abia State. They were formerly located in the former Abak and Ikot Ekpene Divisions of the Anaang Province, as well as part of the former Opobo Division of Uyo Province, in the former Eastern Region of Nigeria. The proper name for the Ika of Akwa Ibom is Ika-Annang. Based on 2018 estimates, there are about 4 million Annang speakers in Akwa Ibom,Abia state and over a million speakers living outside these states.

Culture of Nigeria

The culture of Nigeria is shaped by Nigeria's multiple ethnic groups. The country has 527 languages, seven of them are extinct. Nigeria also has over 1150 dialects and ethnic groups. The three largest ethnic groups are the Hausas predominantly in the north, the Yorubas predominate in the southwest, and the Igbos in the southeast. There many other ethnic groups with sizeable population across the different parts of the country. The Kanuri people are located in the northeast part of Nigeria, the Tiv people of north central and the Efik - Ibibio. The Edo people are most frequent in the region between Yorubaland and Igboland. Many of the Edo tend to be Christian. This group is followed by the Ibibio/Annang/Efik people of the coastal south southern Nigeria and the Ijaw of the Niger Delta.

Niger Delta

The Niger Delta is the delta of the Niger River sitting directly on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean in Nigeria. It is typically considered to be located within nine coastal southern Nigerian states, which include: all six states from the South South geopolitical zone, one state (Ondo) from South West geopolitical zone and two states from South East geopolitical zone. Of all the states that the region covers, only Cross River is not an oil-producing state.

Onna LGA in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Onna is a Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Its name comes from an acronym of the names of the four predominant clans in the area: Oniong, Nnung Ndem, Awa Afaha and Awa.

Ikot Ekpene Town in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria

Ikot Ekpene, also known as The Raffia City, is a historic town in south-southern state of Akwa Ibom. It is the political and cultural capital of the Annang ethnic group in Nigeria. The town is located on the A342 highway that parallels the coast, between Calabar to the south east and Aba to the west, with the state capital, Uyo, on this road just to the east. Umuahia is the next major town to the north.

Opobo City state in Rivers State, Nigeria

Opobo, otherwise known as Opubo, is a city-state in the southern region of Nigeria. The Kingdom was founded in 1870 by King Jaja. A greater part of the city state is still referred to as Opobo in Rivers State. Opobo is made up of several islands and communities, mainly Opobo Town (Opuboama), Queenstown, Kalasunju, Oloma, Ayaminimah, Iloma, Minimah, Okpukpo, Iwoma, Ekereborokiri, Kalaibiama, and Epellema. A part of the city state is now in Akwa Ibom State, made up of Ikot Abasi, Kampa.

Efik people

The Efik are an ethnic group located primarily in southern Nigeria, in the southern part of Cross River State. The Efik speak the Efik language which is a Benue–Congo language of the Cross River family. Efik oral histories tell of migration down the Cross River from Arochukwuto found numerous settlements in the Calabar and Creek Town area. Creek Town and its environs are often commonly referred to as Calabar, and its people as Calabar people, after the European name Calabar Kingdom given to the state [in present-day Cross River State. Calabar is not to be confused with the Kalabari Kingdom in Rivers State which is an Ijaw state to its west. Cross River State with Akwa Ibom State was formerly one of the original twelve states of Nigeria known as the Southeastern State.

Eket LGA and town in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Eket is the second largest city in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The name also refers to the indigenous ethnic group of the region and to their language. The city itself, an industrial city that in recent years has become a conurbation engulfing separate villages, has a population of over 200,000, while the urban area, which covers Okon, Nsit Ubium, Idua, Afaha Eket, Afaha Atai and Esit Eket, has a combined population of over 364,489, the second largest urban population in Akwa Ibom state.

Oron was one of the major states in the Akwa Akpa Kingdom of present-day Nigeria. Oron people share a close ancestral lineage to the Efik people in Cross River State; Ibono, Uruan, Eastern Obolo in Akwa Ibom State and the Andoni (Obolo) people in Rivers State. The Oron people (Örö) are a major ethnic group in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Oron people Place in Akwa Ibom

The Oron people are comprised in five Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Akwa Ibom State, and Bakassi LGA in Cross River State. Oron is the third largest ethnic group in the state. They are related to the Efik, Ibibio, Eket, Annang, Ibeno, Andoni and Obolo people. The five local Councils in Akwa Ibom are Oron, Udung-Uko, Mbo, Urue-Offong/Oruko, and Okobo. The Oron people, popularly called 'Oron Ukpabang' or 'Akpakip Oron' or`Oron Ukpabang Okpo` by its indigenes, are made up of several clans. There are nine clans called Afaha. They are namely: Afaha Okpo, Afaha Ukwong, Ebughu, Afaha Ibighi, Effiat, Afaha Ubodung, Etta, Afaha Oki-uso, and Afaha Idua (Iluhe). However, the geopolitical restructuring of the state and local government creation has seen the Oron nation being fragmented politically into two states of Nigeria, namely Cross River and Akwa Ibom state. There are five Oron Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State and one Local Government in Cross River State.

Mbakara is a word in the Annang, Efik and Ibibio language used for those in the western world. Rather than be seen as a normative category, it is rather the description of a relationship between Africans in the west African coast of Calabar and their caucasian counterparts from the west that they traded with. The name, Mbakara, has been interpreted by various writers as a shortened form of the phrase Mbaka nkara in Annang and Ibibio meaning "divide and rule". Among these groups as elsewhere, westerners came to be identified with colonialism.

Ibeno LGA in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Ibeno is located in the south south of Nigeria and is a Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Ibeno town lies on the eastern side of the Kwa Ibo River about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the river mouth, and is one of the largest fishing settlements on the Nigerian coast. Ibeno lies in the Mangrove Forest Belt of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, bounded to the west by Eastern Obolo Local Government Area, to the north by Onna, Esit Eket and Eket, and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean.

Uruan LGA in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Uruan is located in the south of Nigeria and is a Local Government Area of the Akwa Ibom State.

Duke Town City state in southern Nigeria

Duke Town, originally known as Atakpa is an Efik city-state that flourished in the 19th century in what is now southern Nigeria. The City State extended from now Calabar to Bakassi in the east and Oron to the west. Although it is now absorbed into Nigeria, traditional rulers of the state are still recognized. The state occupied what is now the modern city of Calabar.

Ikot Ukpong is a village in Okon development ward II of Eket local government area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Ikot Ukpong means "Family of Ukpong" or "People of Ukpong". Ikot Ukpong is made up of different settler-families and descendants of the founder of the village. The deity of Ikot Ukpong was called "Ukpong Idem", meaning "spirit body". Other deities traditionally recognised by the village were Ekpo (ancestors) and Ndem Ikpa Isong. Their primary language is Ibibio despite their affinity with Ekid people of Eket. Ikot Ukpong is occupied by the Ibibio people.

Adadia is a town with five villages in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Adadia is inhabited by the Ibibio12people.

Ekpo Masquerades

Ekpo (Ghost) is a cultural society art form that originates from the Efik, Ibibio and Annang People in the Cross River/Akwa Ibom in Southern Nigeria. The practice was also adopted by neighbouring regions, namely Arochukwu and Ohafia during the expansion of the Aro-Kingdom.

References

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  2. 1 2 Scheub, Harold (2000). A Dictionary of African Mythology. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195124569.001.0001. ISBN   978-0-19-512456-9.
  3. 1 2 3 Oguejiofor, Josephat Obi; Wendl, Tobias (2012). Exploring the Occult and Paranormal in West Africa. LIT Verlag Münster. ISBN   978-3-643-90183-5.
  4. 1 2 3 Asante, Molefi Kete; Nwadiora, Emeka (2007). Spear Masters: An Introduction to African Religion. University Press of America. ISBN   978-0-7618-3574-5.
  5. ↑ Messenger, Jr., John C. (1960-04-01). "Reinterpretations of Christian and Indigenous Belief in a Nigerian Nativist Church". American Anthropologist. 62 (2): 268–278. doi: 10.1525/aa.1960.62.2.02a00060 . ISSN   0002-7294.
  6. 1 2 Offiong, Daniel (1983). "Social Relations and Witch Beliefs among the Ibibio". Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. 53 (3): 73–82. doi:10.2307/1159977. ISSN   0001-9720. JSTOR   1159977.
  7. 1 2 Umotong, I. D.; Essien, E. S. (2013). "Annang Philosophy: Foundations and Outline" (PDF). British Journal of Arts and Social Sciences. 13: 166–187.
  8. 1 2 Jaja, J. M. (2013). "Myths in African Concept of Historical Reality". AFRREV IJAH: An International Journal of Arts and Humanities. 2 (1): 228–242. ISSN   2227-5452.
  9. ↑ "Encyclopedia of African Religion". SAGE Publications Inc. 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
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