Secret societies Archives ~ Ozi Ikòrò

26

Dec 2025

Nsibidi: Africa’s Lost Script — The History of the Ancient Efik-Ibibio Writing System and Its Use in the Ekpe Society

Nsibidi (sometimes spelled “Nsibiri”) is one of Africa’s oldest indigenous writing systems. Originating among the Ejagham people of southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon, it was later adopted and expanded by…

22

Dec 2025

Ethnohistory Folklores

The Ekpe Society: How a Secret Leopard Society Became the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive Branch of the Efik State

King Duke of Calabar, 1895. Photo credit; Wikipedia. In pre-colonial West Africa, traditional political systems varied widely from centralized monarchies to segmentary societies. Among the Efik people of southeastern Nigeria, perhaps…

22

Nov 2025

Ethnohistory Folklores Historical Studies Uncategorized

Nsibidi: The Ancient Ideographic Script of the Eastern Igboid and Cross River Peoples

Photo credit: okwuid.com When people talk about African writing systems, they often jump straight to “hieroglyphics” or the Ethiopian “Ge’ez” script. But long before Western contact and long before many African…

11

Feb 2025

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

Ukara Cloth: The Nsibidi-Adorned Fabric of the Ekpe Society

Ukara cloth is a distinctive indigo-dyed textile adorned with nsibidi symbols, traditionally associated with the Ekpe society, a secretive socio-political and judicial institution found among the Cross River, Northeastern and…