Efik "Ekombi" Dance by Masi Cultural Dance, Part 1

Genre: Ekombi

Group Name: Masi Cultural Dance

Performers: Livinus Onwe Ekwok (Maracas/Nsak), Ebu Kyrien Abuo(woodblock/Itakro), Inyang Jude Bassey (Metal gong/Nkong otu), Ekpo Elizabeth Effa (Dancer), Inyang Esther Edem (Dancer), Patrick Elizabeth Eyo (Dancer), Yvonne Eteng (Dancer), Louis Prisallia Okon (Dancer), Okon Anthony Bassey (Eyen ekomo), Otu Koko (Small drums/Uboroekomo), Otu Edet Otu (Long drums/Esang Ibid).

Director: Mary Asu Samuel Ita

Location: Calabar, Cross-River State, Nigeria.

Year: 16th March, 2020.

Contact: 08105723090

Description: Ekombi is a traditional dance amongst the Efik people in Calabar, Cross-River State, Nigeria. The movements are derived from the motion of the oceans. It is a graceful dance with incredible footwork. It is a dance of peace and happiness. Ekombi shows a woman’s beauty and feminity, it is also a good platform to choose a partner for marriage. The costumes of this dance are historically said to have origin from the river goddess; who is said to be very beautiful and glaring when she appears. The Ekombi dance has since become an important part of the graduation ceremony which marks the coming of age and transition from girl child to woman, mother and wife. The dance is secluded to ladies that have gone to the fattening room called Nkuho. The Nkuho is a ceremony for un-married maidens who have come of age or betrothed maidens prior to the marriage ceremony. The activities of the fattening room ceremony are design to make her an awesome beauty endowed with the skills, emotional, intellectual and physical capacity to deliver from society’s expectation of her. The old tradition of ladies performing this dance and attributing it to the river goddess has been abolished. It is today performed by both male and female.
This particular dance was recorded on the 16th of March, 2020 by the Faculty and Students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.