Akwa Ibom Isong-ooo!

Festivals of Akwa Ibom people can be classified into four, namely the Agrarian/food-related festivals, vocational/occupational festivals, ancestral/deistic/ceremonial festivals and others.

AGRARIAN/FOOD-RELATED FESTIVALS
Among these festivals are the new yam festival of harvest of the Ibiono and Ikono people. It is a clan communion and group solidarity a re-affirmation of traditional authority and social order, sanctioned by the awesome appearance of masked ancestral spirits.

Usoro Usuuk Udia, a new yam festival celebrated in the month of June and September;

Usoro Iyak, a fishing festival usually celebrated by the riverine communities of the state. This feast takes place in the months of November and December;

Usoro Ikong is the melon festival celebrated in the month of September; Usoro Ebre festival to mark the harvest of water yam is celebrated in the months of September and October.

Usoro Idio is a festival for clearing and burning farmlands, usually done between the months of January, February and March. It is celebrated to mark the beginning of the planting season.

And the Ekoon Ndara Akpakpa, the corn festival celebrated in the months of November and December.

VOCATIONAL/OCCUPATIONAL FESTIVALS
These festivals are to mark and celebrate achievements in various traditional occupations of the people. Among the festivals is;

Usoro Ita, a hunting festival that takes place in the month of August.

Usoro Idiong, a festival of traditional medicine men and diviners usually celebrated in the month of August.

The Usoro Isong Inyang, the water regatta festival is associated with fishermen, to celebrate the dexterity of canoe men in their occupation. It is a festival to display mastery of the art of sea faring and warfare as a result of the nature of the terrain. This festival is mostly experienced along the Itu river estuary in the state.

ANCESTRAL/DEITIC/CEREMONIAL FESTIVALS
Among these festivals include the Usoro Ekong, a festival of traditional heroes and heroines and war generals. It is usually held in September and October.

The Ndap Ekpo/Ukappa Ison Ekpo festival is a feast for the celebration of ancestral masquerades and spirits for their guidance and protection of their communities. It is celebrated in the months of September and October.

There is also the Atara Ukwa festival to celebrate the traditional deities between the second and third week of September every year.

The Usoro Eduwad/Obodom Enyong is the festival of spears featuring the playing of specially designed wooden drums (Obodom) on top of trees. Usually celebrated in the second week of November, it is a festival that is connected with chieftaincy and giving of traditional honours and titles to deserving heroes.

There is also the Usoro Abasi “feast of the Gods”, a religious purification ritual and symbolic reenactment of the mysteries of the king yam which is accompanied by thanksgiving offerings performed by the Chief Priest “Okuku” of the clan. The annual mermaid worship festival of the Uruan known as Atakpo involves age-set performances, masquerade displays and cultural dances.

Ikot Eyo is an ancient annual festival of animated puppet displays. This communal festival is meant to celebrate important traditional events such as rites-of-passage, initiations and coronations that take place all through the year at village and town playgrounds. It is feast to reaffirm the people’s cultural identity and a reunion between nature, man, spirits and communal gods.

OTHER FESTIVALS
The Nsit Ubium biannual aquatic festival known as Mbre Mmong is accompanied by rituals conducted at the communal shrine, a colourful boat regatta and cultural displays recalling the migration of forebears. Besides these main festivals to celebrate the seasons, occupation and personalities, there are also festivals like Usoro Mboppo, to celebrate successful completion and outing ceremony of girls in the fattening (Mboppo) room. It is a year-round activity and celebration.

There is also the Usoro Ekoon festival of colourful masquerades or of mythological and lesser cosmological spirits. This feast is celebrated mostly in August/September; it is also an all-year-round activity. Various dancing performances are on display during these festivals, a further confirmation of the abundant rich culture of the people of Akwa Ibom State.