Uruan is a Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, located in southern Nigeria. The area was created in 1988 from Uyo Local Government Area. It covers an approximate land mass of 449 km2. Its population, according to the 2016 census is 164,000.[1] Its capital city is Idu.[2]
Located in the rainforest belt, the area has extensive arable land, rich wildlife, raffia palm, and timber. The fertile coastal plains support cultivation of crops, such as cassava and maize.
Uruan people have maintained a good relationship with their neighbors. Their seven-clan structure is also maintained. This is the structure depicted during the coronation and burial of the Edidem Atakpor, the Nsomm of Uruan, by the presence of seven traditional bow-men, seven spear-men, seven sword-men, and seven royal staff-men each of which represent Essien Uruan.
The principal deity of Uruan people is Atakpor, which was brought from the Southern Cameroons and believed to be a Great Mother deity that associates with water. The Atakpor was regarded as female deity and as an intermediary through which Uruan people could communicate with Abasi (God). Today Uruan people believe that this Great Mother deity lives in that body of water now known as Akwa Akpa Uruan (The Mighty Sea of Uruan).
Other aspects of Uruan heritage include Ekpe, Ekong (War), Nka (Age-grade), Ebre, Fattening Home (Nkugho), and so on. Uruan people developed the idea of Ekpe society, used for maintaining law and order, and for entertainment. There are various grades of Ekpe, such as Nyamkpe, Nkanda, Mbökkö and Ibom. The Ekpe members of higher grades are known for their display of Nsibidi, a secret writing or signs used for communication among the members. The Ekong is a traditional warrior society used for encouraging chivalry or bravery among men in Uruan. It was developed as an instrument for checking social ills and fostering security and unity among the people. The Ebre was a traditional society used by women for social and political control, and for promotion of women rights. Nka (Age-grades) in Uruan were used for effective performance of different aspects of community work, mutual help and for discipline of their members.
Uruan people developed Uruan language which they derived from the proto-language. It is a variant of Ibibio language. Uruan language is what has for historical reasons been referred to as Efik language, and Uruan and Efik are all Iboku people.
According to Uruan historians, like Dominus Essien of University of Uyo and Edet Akpan Udo of “Who Are the Ibibios”, Uruan people are believed to have migrated in different waves from East-Central and Southern Africa to Uruan Akpe in the area now called Idomi in the Rio del Rey near the Southwest Region of Cameroon and Cross River State border where they settled for centuries. Due to the first Batanga war which caused economic and social disorder in the region, Uruan people migrated to area in the Cross River Basin called Akani Obio Uruan in about 8th century A.D. The river near the settlement was named Akwa Akpa Uruan meaning (Mighty River of Uruan).
It is believed that in the 13th century, hundreds of Uruan people, another Iboku group who also migrated through a different route joined their kindred at Akani Obio Uruan and Akpa Mfri Ukim. Due to geographical and ecological problems, such as frequent floods, Uruan people migrated again further to the mainland and occupied an area now known as Uruan Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State.
Due to social conflicts between some clans within Uruan, Akpe Iboku people of Uruan, now Eburutu tribe, later nicknamed “Efik” migrated from Uruan Country (Essien Uruan Itiaba) to such places as [[Creek Town (Uruan Esit Edik), Duke Town (Uruan Ibuot Utan), Henshaw Town (Nsidung). Until today, some Efik families still treasure their connections with some Uruan villages, such as Esuk Odu, Issiet Ekim, Mbiaya, Ibiaku Uruan, Adadia, Ndon Ebom, and Ekpene Ibia, most of which still speak Efik language.
Clans
Of the original twelve traditional clans, only seven largely unrecognized clans remain today. Those belonging to other clans are believed to have settled among the Ibibios, such as in the Ekpene Ukim village in Nsit Ubium and the Ikpa village in Eket. To date, these villages still maintain a strong bond with their Uruan kindreds.
The remaining seven clans are:
Akwa Uruan, comprising Nturukpum, Esuk Odu, Ibuno Issiet, Issiet Inua Akpa, Use Uruan, Issiet Ekim, Ekim-Enen, Afaha Ikot, Ikot Nkanga, Ama Odung, Ikot Owot, Esuk Issiet, and Obio Nkan.
