The 2022 Iboku Uruan Cultural Festival, held last Wednesday in the Akwa Ibom State community, featured majestic display by several groups, sponsorship by several brands and attendance by eminent personality within and outside the state.
The event, powered by the Akpe Iboku/Etongko Mkpe Uruan Heritage Foundation, was sponsored by Orijin, Ibom Icon Hotels and Golf Resorts, Ibom Heritage Organisation, and Gelato and Coffee University.
Dignitaries included the chief host, HH Obong Iyamba Efiong; and former Cross River State governor, Mr Donald Duke, who was the Special Guest. Others included former minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; advertising icon, Mr Udeme Ufot; Eku Nyoro Ekpe, led by Etubom Bassey Eyo Ndem.
The cultural displays included Abang, Nyok, Ekombi and various madquerades.
The Uruan people are believed to have migrated in different waves from East-Central and Southern Africa to Uruan
Akpe in the area now called Idombi in the Rio del Rey near the Southwest Region of Cameroon and Cross River State border where they settled for centuries.
According to history and tradition, the Uruan people settled in Aqua Obio Uruan in about eighth century A.D, with 12 traditional clans. Among these are Bulanki, Etongo Mkpe, Ntem-Ntem, Ikiba, Odiodio and Mutaka. Others are Ekondo, Mbawa, Mosongo, Akpe Iboku, Akwa and Ibonda Uruan.
Today, only seven remain in present day Uruan Local Government Area, while the other five clans and their villages are now among the Ibibio, but still maintain strong bonds with their Uruan kindreds.
