The Ekajuk are an ethnic group and clan primarily located in the Ogoja Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State, Nigeria. They are a significant sub-group of the larger Ejagham people, and are also considered part of the Bakor language cluster.

---

Location and Demographics

The Ekajuk clan occupies the southern part of the Ogoja LGA in Cross River State.

• Location: Primarily in the Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. They are part of the larger Bakor cluster which spans parts of Ogoja and Ikom LGAs.
• Population: The estimated population of the Ekajuk clan is around 56,000 inhabitants.
• Major Communities: Their clan is divided into Ward I and Ward II, including major communities like Nwang, Ekpogrinya, Esham, Egbong, Nnang, Ewinimba, and Bansara.
• Economy: The area is predominantly agricultural, with a focus on subsistence farming and trade of crops like yams, cassava, rice, and palm products.

---

History and Origin

Oral tradition and scholarly research trace the origin of the Ekajuk people through a series of migrations.

• Ancestry: Like other Ejagham clusters, Ekajuk oral tradition often traces their ultimate origin to the Bantu race of East Africa.
• Migration Route: Their migration path is believed to have taken them from East or Central Africa, through the Cameroon Republic (where they were last collectively settled at Nsan-Araghanti with other Ejagham groups), and finally to their present location in Nigeria.
• Warlike Reputation: Historically, the Ekajuk were known to be a warlike people, engaging in numerous conflicts with neighboring clans, often over land acquisition due to their agricultural focus.

---

Language and Culture

The Ekajuk people possess a rich cultural heritage tied to the broader Ejagham and Bakor groups.

Language

• Name: The language is called Ekajuk (sometimes spelled Kajuk, Akajo, or Akajuk).
• Classification: It is an Ekoid language, which belongs to the Southern Bantoid branch of the Niger–Congo language family.
• Sub-group: The Ekajuk language is part of the Bakor speaking sub-group of Ejagham.
• Vitality: The language is considered stable, meaning it is still the norm for children within the community to learn and use it at home.

Traditional Culture

• Livelihood: Primarily subsistence agriculture.
• Matriliny: The Bakor sub-group (which includes Ekajuk) is noted for maintaining a matrilineal system, a significant cultural identity index in the area.
• Festivals: The New Yam Festival is an important cultural and ritual event.
• Arts and Crafts: Economic activities also include weaving, smithing, carving, and the production of clay utensils (pottery).

---

Nsibidi Ideographs

The Ekajuk people are one of the groups that historically used the Nsibidi system of symbols.

• What it is: Nsibidi is an ancient ideographic (or proto-writing) system of symbols developed by the Ejagham people of the Cross River region.
• Usage: These symbols can represent entire words, concepts, or ideas and were traditionally used for:
  • Communication: both public and covert messaging.
  • Art and Decoration: on walls, calabashes, textiles (like the ukara cloth), and for body adornment.
  • Secret Societies: Nsibidi is most closely associated with the Ekpe (Leopard Society), which historically functioned as a political, judicial, and religious institution. The symbols were crucial for communicating within and conveying the authority of the society.