**The Cultural Legacy of Ekpe and Nsibidi: Unraveling Igbo Socio-Political Traditions 🌍🎨**
By Jude Obuseh In the heart of Ndiuche Ofe, Imo State, a captivating procession unfolds during a burial, revealing the rich cultural legacy of the Ekpe society. Members, adorned in 'Ukara Ekpe' cloth, bear Nsibidi designs painted on their torsos, symbolizing a unique form of coded communication. 🔍 **Exploring Ekpe Society:** Ekpe, a secret society thriving among various ethnic groups, including Ejagham, Igbo, Efik, and Ibibio, holds deep roots in the Cross River region and Western Cameroon. Its influence extends even to diasporic communities in Cuba and Brazil. 📜 **Unveiling Nsibidi Script:** Legend has it that Ekpe society members pioneered the Nsibidi script—an ideographic, abstract language integral to their coded communication. This script, once a source of spiritual empowerment, granted access to the mystical realm, enabling the establishment and enforcement of societal norms. 👔 **Ekpe and Nze na Ozo: Shapers of Modern Igbo Attire:** The attire o...