SUMMARY

The Ibibio ethnic group are farmers, settled in the southern regions of Nigeria. Ibibio is often referred to as the umbrella label Ibibio – Efik, hence including other ethnicities in the description. The reason for the umbrella label is the close kinship that Ibibio have with other ethnicities, namely Efik. They, along with several other ethnicities, share the common language of Ibibio.

The Ibibio people are of Christian faith and have inhabited the southern regions of Nigeria for a long time. When the regions of Nigeria were revised during the 1960’s the Ibibio proposed that a new region, within the southern parts of Nigeria was to be created, in order to end the domination of another ethnic group, the Ibo. This proposal was however turned down. A new Midwestern region was created, which did not affect the ethnic composition of the southern coastal region.

Concerning leadership the Ibibio culture is modelled after an ancient system of village elders who jointly make decisions for the group, or village, based on internal discussions. The participants at these gatherings are always masked, as to avoid recognition. It is however almost exclusively so that these persons are well known, and that their identity is in fact not protected by the tradition of decision making in disguise. These congregations of village elders were not involved in orchestrating the violence that the Ibibio have been involved in. They are however a political force within the Ibibio community.

Ibibio have been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.