The Ekpeye are indigenous to Nigeria. They trace their ancestry back to the Benin Empire. The Ekpeye, Ogba, and Ikwerre groups are all believed to have a common origin in a man named Akalaka. The Ekpeye culture reached its peak during the reign of Oba Ewuare of the Benin kingdom in 1440. Democratic practices were present among the Ekpeye until the colonial era in the 19th century. King Nworisa’s community armies opposed colonial forces, but he was exiled to Degema, where he died in 1890.The Ekpeye have proudly retained their traditional language, also called Ekpeye. Ekpeye is spoken in Ahoada East and Ahoda West Local Government Areas in Rivers State.
Due to a shared migration history, the Ekpeye, Engenni, and Echie communities engage in joint cultural activities such as the annual yam festival and participate in communal markets. Many Ekpeye individuals work as farmers or fishermen, benefiting from fertile land that supports high crop yields. The region is occasionally affected by severe flooding, but local experience has led to coping strategies. Other occupations include trading, leatherwork, healthcare, legal services, and more.The monarch of the Ekpeye kingdom, known as Eze Ekpeye Logbo, is elected rather than being hereditary. The first modern monarch, who died in 1977, was noted for his rapport with the community.
Following Bishop Ajai Crowther’s appointment in Lagos in 1891, Anglicanism expanded in Nigeria, including the Ekpeye area. In 1898, Bile, an Anglican, refrained from selling goods on Sundays and instead delivered sermons, leading to the establishment of the first Anglican church in the area. Baptist missionaries arrived in 1910. Today, almost all Ekpeye identify as Protestant Christians.
The community faces challenges such as poverty, limited government support, taxation, and security concerns related to local cult groups. Access to services like medical care, quality roads, electricity, potable water, education, and other infrastructure is limited.Ekpeye remains the primary language in the community but is not part of the school curriculum. Short audio Bible stories and evangelistic materials are available at gospelrecordings.net and have gained attention, particularly after a local official recognized his late mother’s voice in the recordings. Oral Bible story projects covering both the Old and New Testaments have been completed and are used in group discussions at churches to facilitate understanding and application of moral lessons. Additional translation initiatives are planned.
Praise God, Ekpeye speakers are engaging with the Scripture that is available online.Pray that the practice of Bible storytelling in the church will increase attendance and lead more people to come to faith in Christ and grow in their walk with Christ.Pray that the Ekpeye community and church leaders will pursue further oral and written translation projects to provide their people with more of God’s Word in their heart language.Pray that soon God will use the Ekpeyes to take Christ to those who haven’t head the gospel in northern Nigeria.
Scripture Prayers for the Ekpeye in Nigeria.
Ekpeye | Ethnologue FreePeopleGroups.org - EkpeyeEkpeye language. Evangelism tools, church planting resources, Christian songs and audio bible study materials. Download free MP3s.Ekpeye people - WikipediaDay Ekpeye traditional rulers crowned Wudhiga as Ada Ekpeye-logbo - The Nation Newspaper https://dailytrust.com/the-story-of-rivers-two-revered-traditional-stools-265349/A Brief History of the Ekpeye PeopleHistory Of Ikwerre, Ekpeye, Ogba People In Rivers State By Prof. Eric Amadi - Culture (2) - NigeriaEkpeye Cluster Proposal Seed Company Database
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
