CROSS RIVER STATE
AT A GLANCE
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CULTURAL
DIVERSITIES:
6 Glance Magazine
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There are two seasons, the rainy and the dry
season. Visitors to the state will find the state
mostly wet during the months of March to
September, with tropical storms especially
during June and July. The rain simmers down
during August to October, but it's not uncommon
for rain showers to linger on till December. The
Dry season usually commences in November
and ends in March. Average temperatures are
250C to 280C.
ross River State is often referred to as a mini nation, due to its
many ethics, linguistic and cultural multiplicity. It is important
to note that, despite her cultural diversity, there is harmony and
peaceful co-existenceas they come together to express their way of
life through Dances, Music, and Masquerade Parades.
The diverse costumes of masquerades and Dances is a must see.
Although, the State's costume also differ a typical Efik woman who
has had contact with the western world is used to the Onyonyo (a long
flowing gown) with variety of accessories, which includes coral
beads, top hair pins and a decorated staff while a typical rural woman
takes pride in tying double wrappers and blouse, while the men look
quite distinct in their white shirts, worn with colorful wrappers known
as the Usobo, they accessorise with beaded shoes alongside a long
piece of cloth called the Okpomkpomon which they hang around their
necks.
The traditional music and oral literature also differ in language, tone,
and contents due to the linguistic differences.
Such diversity clearly makes us what we are, indeed a mini nation.
Market Daysin the state also differs from community to community,
with each community having its own special market day.
The people of Obanliku have its own day to be every 5days, which are
the Sankwala and the Amagashic market days. Meanwhile in Calabar
they are two major markets in the city, the Watt market and the
Marian Market which function on daily basis. The Marian Market is
located in the Calabar Municipality axis while the Watt Market is
located at the Calabar South axis.
It is important to note that these markets are quite some distance apart
from each other, but at the same time accessible from any part of the
state. Another market in the state is the beach Market, which is the
central for Okrika wears, and functions mostly on Thursdays and
Sundays,
TraditionalDances among the Efiks and Ejagham people of the
southern region range From Egib, Ebiabo, Igbam, Ekeludi, Obin,
Moni Nkim, Ochima Nijm, with dances from the northern region to be
Igbili, Ikpate, Mana, Udeng, Ayila, Abakpa, Iwala, Igeli, Ikpatuma,
Gana Dance, Ijor, and Otsippi which is also referred to as the queen
dance, other dances include Abang, Ekpe, Obon, Otichui, Moninkim,
Acharbor, Ayita, Udiang and a lot more.
Among the southern districts masquerades range from Ikobin, Obam
Etangala, Ogbodo And Mgbe, while the northern senatorial districts
have masquerades like Ikwom and Ishor...other existing masquerades
are Ekpe, Mgbe, Nnabor, Ndube, Tinkorikor, among others.