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The Revised Ejagham Language Orthography (RELO), a product of the Ejagham Language Codification (ELC) project, has spanned a considerable period, 5 years to be precise, and whether due to its longevity or the collective excitement surrounding Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council’s (NERDC’s) official authorization to proceed with curriculum development,...

As I reflect on our mission and the meaningful progress we strive to achieve, I am reminded of a thought-provoking question from a recent article I read that deeply resonated with me. Its insights are not only relevant but also worth sharing as we continue to drive impactful change to...

Monenkim Costume – Elegance and Heritage: The Magnificent Costumes of Ejagham Monenkim By Ruth Tabe My Motivation Driven by a deep concern over the misrepresentation of Monenkim costumes in the media, particularly on social platforms, I was compelled to undertake a comprehensive study to accurately define and document their true...

NAMING CONVENTIONS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN EJAGHAM – By Nta Ekem Festus Egbe One of the distinct linguistic techniques employed in naming within the Ejagham cultural context is known as Ejôn, a form of intentional spoonerism. Ejôn involves the deliberate distortion of word pronunciation, often to obscure meaning from outsiders...

TRADITION OF THE EJAGHAM QUA IN CALABAR – By Prince Dr. Kadimo Oqua The Qua people were and still are very good traditional musicians and dancers and they communicate through music and dances among themselves. This made some Abo Ekan (Age Grades) specialise in traditional song and dances. These traditional...

The Ejagham Tradition Centre (EjT) is pleased to state the successful submission of the finalised Revised Ejagham Language Orthography (RELO) to the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) in Abuja on Monday 26th May, 2025. This significant milestone follows the meticulous revision process undertaken by the EjT Technical Committee...

Ocham is synonymous with Ejagham – it embodies the heart of the Ejagham governance system. It serves as the home of Mgbe, the supreme Ejagham governance institution, ensuring stability, order, and the seamless functioning of civil society. Wherever an Ejagham community is established, an Ocham is founded to uphold these...

During our inaugural public event, the Ejagham Tradition Talk Show 2019 held in Calabar, a newspaper covered the event and below is how they erroneously captured the essence of the discussions: “Ejagham People Need an Identity, Group Urges.” In subsequent discussions with our members, there was considerable resistance to the...

Ejagham Obang Cluster Map. Ejagham Obang – Ejagham Tradition Ejagham Obang Obang is one of the three Ejagham clusters in Cameroon that make up part of the Ejagham nation in the world. The other two are Ngunaya and Njemaya. Out of the 66 officially documented villages in this part of...

It is evident that several aspects of Ejagham tradition have suffered Erosion, Dilution, Adulteration, Misinterpretation, and in some cases, Extinction (EDAME). This reality is widely acknowledged across Ejagham nation, though opinions may vary on the reasons behind it. Our stance is that insufficient efforts have been made to protect and...

MY EJAGHAM EXPERIENCE: By Jenechinghi-Obasi Ogar The Ejagham people are settlers who find themselves in Nigeria and Cameroon. In their migration history, they have settled in various locations, referred to as clusters, which are occupied to this day. These clusters have their diversity, uniqueness, and outstanding peculiarities, yet they remain...

EJAGHAM NATION: The Ejagham Qua Cluster Ejagham Qua Ejagham Qua, was founded by Prince Ikang Eta and his father Ndidem Eta Nyak Ntison. The Quas were the first to settle in Calabar as early as 1000 BCE and they brought to Calabar, the Ejagham Traditional Practices and Cultural Expressions which...

THE OBASI-NJOM – (God of Cult Agency) INTRODUCTION It is a well-known fact that Africans believe in a multiplicity of gods. This statement is true of the Ejagham people who are found partly in Manyu Division, South West Region of Cameroon and in the Cross River State of Nigeria. These...

Introduction Mbing Ekan is a coming-of-age naming ceremony. “Mbing” means “Name” and “Ekan” means “Age Grade.” In this context, Mbing Ekan refers to the coming-of-age naming ceremony of an age grade, a significant and consequential Ejagham traditional practice. This ceremony marks an age grade’s transition into adulthood within the community,...

Celebrating Ejagham Author Brief Background and Career Born on the 1-Dec-1984 in Babong, by Ashu Bernard Ekem and Ndep Philomina Tabot; Ekem Festus Egbe is the fourth child out of eight and the only boy child. In October 1996 after passing my First School Leaving Certificate and common Entrance Exams,...

The Amgbu Institution in Ejagham Amgbu also known as ‘Ator-tor-tor’ (one with unrestricted authority to say anything he sees or hears) is one of Ejagham traditional practices and cultural expressions. It is one of the minor branches of the Mgbe institution. Like Mgbe, Amgbu is occasionally manifested in a masquerading...

OFU OBAN Cultural Festival: A Celebration of Ejagham Cultural Heritage The Ofu Oban cultural festival is an annual celebration of the rich cultural heritage of the Oban and Ejagham people, held in the heart of Calabar, the Ejagham Metropolitan City in Nigeria. Organized by the Ejik Oban Development Association, the...