Akwa Ibom Isong-ooo!

Amongst the better known traditional arts of Africa are those of Akwa Ibom State. This is evident in the archeological findings of anthropologists. Raffia and cane craft have developed in the State to the extent that Ikot Ekpene, the main cluster of raffia craft in the Town is known as the ‘Raffia City’. While in Ikot Andem Itam in Itu, cane craft is more of a passion than an art.

To this end, arts and crafts occupy a vintage place in the culture of the people. It remains a pride as one of the cultural endowments of the State. Akwa Ibom is one of the best known traditional arts and craft making parts of the African continent. This is expressed in its indigenous works of art and its rich amalgam of artists like Ekpo Eyo (1977) of the Ibibio Mask and Oron Ekpu fame, Akpan the sculptor of world acclaim among others. It is a thing of interest that majority of the art carvings and masks were designed and produced by the people of Annang sub-linguistic group found around Ikot Ekpene area of the State.

WORKS OF ART
Akwa Ibom State, ranks as one of the States in Nigeria with a very high concentration of artist whose works have received global accolade. The sculptural edifice at the entrance of the State capital city Uyo known as the “ Itam Peace Column” ( which means a symbol of the new beginning) and the “ Ibom Connection” (symbolizing the unity of Akwa Ibom People) designed and built by indigenous sculptors speaks volumes about its position in the history of contemporary arts in Nigeria.

The State boast of numerous art galleries such as the National Gallery of Art (NGA), and world acclaimed sculptors such as Sunday Jackson Akpan whose works are listed in Guinness Book of World Records for contemporary artists.

MASK CARVING
Traditionally, Akwa Ibom Masks are grouped into two major classes; the Beautiful and Grotesque.

The Beautiful Mask is worn on variety of occasions and functions. It could be won by masquerades like Udo Obot Eyen. Such benevolent spirit masquerades are usually staged by young pre-teenage boys who dance around the village from compound to compound asking for the gods’ blessings and bestowment of fertility on the village women folk who in turn offer gifts to the masquerade. Beautiful masks are also worn by play masquerades or clowns for entertainment.

To distinguish these masquerades from the Grotesque type, they are designed and painted with white clay and other earthly colours. Their hair styles are coloured black to give off natural hair outlook. The facial features retain what could be presumed to be human faces, it bears a distant spiritual and pious countenance. The mask neither wears a smiling nor grimacing outlook.

GROTESQUE MASKS
The Grotesque masks on their parts were sacred symbols reserved for dangerous ancestral spirit masquerades. Among such masks is the Ekpo and Nyoho.

The masks show a distinctive feature compared to the Beautiful masks, as they are designed to instill fear in the minds of spectators. They are usually, made from finished mat and in Lamp-black colour. Their macabre nature is often intensified by the use of attachments of animal and human skulls, horns, miniature coffins and spirit dolls. On the mask, one finds traces of sacrificial matter such as caked blood from previous sacrifices. Ekpo is such a mask and bears an ominous and mysterious Idiong ring on the head. A double Idiong ring on the head of the Ekpo indicates membership of the highest rank of the highly revered Idiong divination cult. In addition to the physical features, the forms employed by the grotesque mask, portray various animal and human imagery, with flapping jaws, the diseased gangosa, bulging eyes, grimacing facial features and general aggressive countenance. The grotesque mask presents an insight into the dangerous abode of the ancestral spirit world among the people and this explains the reverence given to it. Another popular grotesque mask among Akwa Ibom people is the Ekpu Oron.

The Ekpu Oron mask is popular among the Oron and to some extent Eket peoples of the state. The Ekpu is a revered ancestral worship expressed in the carving of spectacular wooden statues to honour the dead. A long braided beard indicates age; Ekere, a traditional war gong in the hand meant that the ancestor was a hero-ama obio Ekong; if he was seated on top of other people, it showed that he had slaves; a top hat showed he had wealth and a strong phallus told of his many wives and children. Looking at the Ekpu statues, one is given an insight into a biographical profile of the dead ancestor.

This is a tradition embedded in the culture of Akwa Ibom people. it is meant to express the peoples belief that death is a continuation of life rather than an end. The expression ekpo akpa ayin, ikpaha utong, presupposes that the dead hears and could therefore intervene in matters of the living. This explains the belief system to provide for the dead.

The traditional funerary abode Nwommo was erected as a necessity for the dead. For men, the structure was usually erected with the use of Okono poles and a frame-work of bamboo, over which roofing mats were decked. The roof was often pitched. Decorated cloth was draped across the open front of the Nwommo.

The female version was often built with earth walls and had a steeply sloping roof. Though too tiny for any normal living being, the symbolic dwelling of the dead was often heavily decorated and decked out with house-hold utensils for the comfortable living of the dead in the after life. To avoid theft, some of these utensils had to be deliberately damaged to render them useless to normal human use. The impressive aspect of the Nwommo hut was the lavish decoration. The walls were often painted using white and coloured clay, charcoal, and green from the awa plant. Red, obtained from cam-wood and red oxide was also used. Similarly, blue from local indigo dye and later, washer man’s blue were used. The motifs included abstract geometric patterns, semi-abstract figures and symbols.

CRAFTS
Akwa Ibom is known all over the country and beyond for her captivating works of art, of which craft making is at the fore-front. These crafts are products of natural and man-made plants found in Akwa Ibom State. Among these crafts are Dolls, toys, ritual objects and puppets.

Bamboo from raffia palm is cut and marked to represent dolls for female children to play with. At the developed level, the soft wood Ukpo is delicately carved into ritual objects used by female fertility cults which are often beautifully painted with white clay, earth colours and enamels. Dolls are used in sacrificial rites for child birth and to appease ‘Eka Abasi’ to lay her hands off a sick baby.

Located at Ibesikpo Street in Uyo town, the centre was established as a poverty-alleviation effort by the Akwa Ibom State Government in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria.

It is an industrial cluster aimed at seeing what the people possess in terms of skill and encouraging them to set up their own small scale businesses in the area. Keg Consultancy falls under the Raffia Cluster.

According to the head of Keg Consultancy, Mrs. Akpan, the idea is to develop a resource for the production of specialists in the Raffia Craft production and to further improve raffia products by bringing out its best aesthetic value. In the workshop are assorted refined raffia products such as Brief cases, Lawyers wigs, Car upholsteries, Door Mats, Boxes of various makes, Slippers and Shoes, Hats, Cushion Chair covers, Souvenirs among others. Carved doors and furniture are common decorative arts for homes and buildings. There is also the bamboo furniture produced from raffia palm. Mat making is also an enduring legacy of the artistic genius of the people. There are the ceiling mats, sleeping mats and floor mats.

These are also indigenous to the state, with majority of the producers found in Ikot Andem Itam in Itu Local Government Area of the state. Among the range of cane crafted furniture produced by the people are settees, garden chairs, bar stools, room dividers, babies’ cots and beds.

Raffia craft is another work of art that has made the state a household name. Raffia belts, hats, shoes and hand bags are the products. Other raffia products include Lawyers Wigs, toys and furnishings (including car furnishing).

The fibers are extracted from raffia palm fronds which could be dyed as may be desired. The weaving is manually done by the use of a simple loom. The local weavers demonstrate a great skill in the execution of a wide variety of woven design motifs. Ikot Ekpene town is the main centre of the craft trade; this explains the pseudonym of Ikot Ekpene as “Raffia City”.

Basketry is another craft widely practiced in the State. The baskets come in different shapes and sizes depending on the intended function. There are baskets for storage, baskets for the kitchen use and baskets for packaging and transportation of goods.

Pottery is an art practiced by women in many parts of the state. The most outstanding centers are; Itak and Mbiafin villages in Ini Local Government Area, Etinam, Ikot Ebom Itam, Ekpene Ukim, Etoi and Ikot Uboh in Nsit Local Government Area of the state.

The combined production of the cottage industry alongside traditional pottery results in a wide range of wares such as clay pots for cooking, musical drum pots, and table wares. Ornamental flower pots and planters, tea sets, drinking mugs and lamp stands are all product of the craft.

In Akwa Ibom State, there abound many tinkers and metal workers. Around Ikot Ekpene are the brass designers who turn-out ornamental swords, ceremonial staffs and candle stands. Other metal workers are engaged in the production of metal boxes, pan pots, hoes, machetes and chisels. Other metal works include beds, metal furniture, gates and designed railings.

WEAVING
Cloth weaving in traditional society is limited to the production of strips of Ekpang, a strip of thick cotton fabric woven on a simple loom. Less common is the production of crowns, Ntinya strictly produced on order as the crowns can only be worn by select chiefs. There are several weaving centers in Uyo, Abak, Eket, and Ikot Ekpene areas.

BODY DECORATION
The most common body decoration in Akwa Ibom traditional society is Okukin and Udohaya body decoration techniques. In the Okukin approach, a black indelible ink is used to draw design motifs on the desired part of the body. In the Udohaya type, a deep penetrating brown dye in paste form, made from roots and herbs is used. When eventually the paste is washed off, the dye leaves a dark stain that could last for three years before fading completely.

Tattooing, which produces a permanent effect is also in practice. However in recent times the practice is being replaced by more temporary body decoration with the use of white clay, cam wood and red oxide to mark and draw motifs on the body. This decoration is seen among traditional dancers especially maidens.

Art Centres

This is the South South Zonal Headquarters of the National Gallery of Art. It consists of a Gallery Shop where Arts and Culture Publications, such as the Nigerian Journal of Art are on sale. There are also sole Exhibitions for individuals or groups of artists.

This centre is located at the premises of University of Uyo. It contains beautiful works of art, sculptures, metals; clay works etc. their uniqueness lies in their sizes which are massive. These works were done by graduating students of the institution as part of the mandatory project work. Each work depicts the artists’ area of specialization and natural motivation. A visit to the garden will leave a tourist with understanding of the artistic ingenuity of the producers.

At this gallery, one finds wonderful ceramic and burnt clay works of art in forms of bowls, vases, cups and figurines, all done by Clement Ekong. Being a family tradition, his wife Domobongse is a specialist in paintings and graphic arts. In spite of the originality of their works, it is so affordable that a tourist with an eye of good art cannot resist.

This Gallery is located at Aka Road in the heart of Uyo the capital city of the State. The gallery is another one of the numerous art studios dotting the capital city of Uyo. The works of art in this gallery starts with the staircase itself which is a metal sculpture. This modern outfit is filled with luxurious works of art including; paintings, sculptures, mixed media, drawings, posters of all kinds. Interestingly, the prices remain affordable for an average art enthusiast.

This is a renowned sculptor and artist who has to his credit most of the art works and sculptures in the public places within Uyo as well as in the Uyo museum. Mr. Akpan has personally sculpted hundred of public statues depicting well-known political figures, religious leaders, civil society leaders, great men and women of Akwa Ibom State who have made their mark in the historical development of the State. His works are also cited in art work exhibitions in different parts of Europe such as France, Germany and Switzerland, and in several books of art.

He also has his name in the Guinness book of World Records as the artist with the largest number of Sculptures ever done. All around his compound are magnificent works of Art, Life size figures of past rulers of the Country including sculptures of Christian saints, angels, animals, the eclipse of the sun, traditional rulers living and dead, birds etc. Literally, the number of sculptures in his workshop run into thousands. His talent is a life-long thing as he recalls that he started sculpting as a child. He is a self made sculptor as he has never been to any art school, he taught himself the art. This gallery is a place to be if one is to appreciate the rich gift of sculpturing with which Akwa Ibom state is blessed.

Mr. Akaninyene happens to be the head of Department of Graphics Unit of the Department of Fine and Industrial Arts, University of Uyo. He is a painter of repute whose paintings are classified as master pieces in Nigeria. This is shown in his work in oil on canvass, on wood, brass, pencil on paper etc.