CULTURE:THE EFIK TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE

The Efik people of the South-Eastern Nigeria are a group of people found in the southern part of Cross River State and also occupy the south western part of Cameroon. They speak the Efik language. Though their economy is basically based on fishing, there has been a development of the area into a trading centre and has remained so ever since. A very interesting aspect of the Efik culture is the traditional wedding and this is going to be our focus for this write-up.

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The attire to be worn on the wedding day is such that catches the eye. Its difference from other tribes’ attires gives it a sort of uniqueness, that when an Efik couple is sighted, there’s no doubt as to what tribe they are. For the bride, there are two outfits which she could choose from to wear on that day. One of these outfits is the Ofong Ukod Anwang which includes a fancy attire of a knee-length skirt and a blouse (usually covering the bust only), and a fancy beaded adornment. The second of the outfits is the Onyonyo, which is a long flowing gown. In addition to either of these attires the bride wears hand gears and leg gears known as Ekpa ku kwa and adorns her neck with coral beads. This isn’t all, as the bride also decorates her hair with hair pins and carries with her a decorated staff. All these adornments make the bride regal, stunning and breath-taking.

The groom is not to be left out as he also looks distinct and unique in his attire. He is dressed in a white shirt worn with colourful wrappers known as Usobo. Also, the groom wears a beaded jacket, beaded shoes and a top hat. He also hangs a long piece of cloth called the Okpomkpomon around his neck.
However, before this great day, the bride is taken to the fattening room in preparation for the wedding. The fattening room is an age-old tradition of the Efik. It is the training given to a bride-to-be to prepare her for marriage and womanhood. A modification of this process is the beauty room, where the bride spends months being pampered with massages, using oils from natural plants, eating scrumptious meals, and engaging in discussions pertaining to being the partner of a man who can afford such expenses of a beauty room. This places the bride in an envious position indeed.

During this period, the bride is taken care of by older women other than her mother, and is not allowed to have contact with other people. All these ensure that the bride gets a healthy and robust waistline, as the Efik people believe that a woman with a full figure and robust, healthy waistline is beautiful. This process is regarded as necessary as there are instances where the groom’s family refuse to take in the bride because she does not have the expected stature.

The Efik traditional marriage is indeed an interesting and love-filled one, coupled with the traditional dances that are performed on the day.

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