Ekpeye People

I've always wondered how Ekpeye people looked liked in 30s especially on those B&W image's photographed by G.I Jones 1930s. So I used an Ai tool to bring back color to those image's, and to my great surprise it all came out well.

There’s a matter we as Ekpeye people need to address, especially to our stakeholders, regarding the preservation of our culture and traditions.

When we come online, we are always the first to talk about how our cultures are fading away. We lament how the coming generations are finding it hard to speak the Ekpeye language, how most parents fail to teach it to their children, and how they also prefer foreign names over original Ekpeye names. This is one of the top reasons our language and culture are going extinct.

But there’s an even more serious issue now the *“Eta Ekpeye”*, the Ekpeye national wrestling festival. This is one of the most powerful cultural displays still standing today in Ekpeye land. Its traditions were carefully preserved by our ancestors. But sadly, today, it goes unnoticed by most people.

*Eta Ekpeye* is supposed to show Ekpeye uniqueness and our distinctiveness among other southern tribes. But today, we are bringing in foreign elements to it. *Eta Ekpeye* is not just a sport like in the western world it’s more than a game. It is tied to tradition, pride, manhood, and celebration. In the olden days, it was used to select warriors to lead in wars.

But now people even stake holders wearing polo T-shirts and face caps to an *Eta* festival. That’s already degrading the festival and everything it stands for. Even worse, imagine an *Eta* wrestling official putting on an Adidas/Nike hoodie with sweatpants to officiate an ancient traditional festival. How degrading can it get?

Then we turn around and start complaining that Ekpeye culture is fading how won’t it fade when we are the ones modernizing away every evidence of our distinctiveness.

Have you ever seen a WWE official in America tie *Ijeli* and wear *Etibo* to officiate their sport? No! Because they know it's not proper. Then why are we trying to emulate them and abandon our own?

I’m calling on all stakeholders in Ekpeye land please let’s help preserve our culture. Let us not over-modernize everything. Let *Eta Ekpeye* remain what it is an ancestral heritage meka.

A MISCONCEPTION THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED IN EKPEYE

Some individuals often express strong reaction claiming the "Chi" prefix is part of Ekpeye vocabulary, which is the reason for this post. The word "Chi" amongst modern Igbo signifies "Personal Spirit" better still translated by others as "Soul", that's why they have the Igbo Christianised version **Chineke** It's a contraction of "Chi na Eke," which translates to "God of Creation" or "the God that creates" although they believe in a bigger god whom they referred to **Chi-ukwu** (Chukwu) which translates to " Big Spirit " or "great spirit" who's earthly shrine was at Arochukwu, this is how the Igbos call their God.

Let's delve into the EKPEYE ASPECT in regards to God. when expressing 'a person who creates,' an Ekpeye man would say NYEKPU or NYEME. Similarly, for describing something or someone as big or great, they use "GBAKA", or "EKIYE". It is evident that words like "Neke" and "Ukwu" have no intrinsic connection to Ekpeye diction; This is to proof that word's like Chineke And Chukwu are never found in Ekpeye language.

Now, you might be wondering what's the Ekpeye version of "Chi" ?. In Ekpeye, the word for spirit is known as "Uwa". This is evident why we have word's like "Uwa'Bhiyo", meaning Bad Spirit ( Satan), and "Uwa'uma", meaning Good Spirit. Notably, the Ekpeye vocabulary does not use "Chi" as isn't found to refer to God or spirit; instead, "Uwa" serves this purpose... In Ekpeye language God is referred to as ;

1. Uwakpu - the creator of mankind, evident to names like Uwasanim, Uwawhe, Uwame etc which reference to Uwakpu's (God) role

2. Ebelikpabeli - supreme God

3. Idagbakam - Great God, it's seen as God the father, The fatherly aspect represent authority, wisdom and guidance, where God is seen as a source of moral direction and leadership. That's why Ekpeye people tend to name their kids with the prefix attached Idameka, Idasaleme etc. the Ekpeye proper prefix.

It is important to acknowledge the infiltration of the Ibo words into Ekpeye diction which occurred due to the influence the Ibos made on the lives of Ekpeye people, particularly in the realms of religion and education. There's a saying "You can’t live like a rat in the hole and expect people to call you a dog, we should please give our kids proper Ekpeye names it is important, it tells where the child I'd coming from its like a signature you can't name a child fumilayo and don't except people to call the child Yoruba, we should have this pride for our own. The elders say "Ekpeye bú unu'ekpo yá nẹ'ten" let's uphold it .

This post is clearly to enlighten my Ekpeye people and please share this post to all EKPEYE PLATFORMS

Ekpeye People
Ekpeye People

Dear Ekpeye youth's politics is not the only way forward