The Use of Ibibio Traditional Means of Communication

Abstract

The Ibibio are found in Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria. With a population of about 4 million speakers living in Akwa Ibom and other states across Nigeria, there are the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria. They Ibibio as a people have several oral traditional means of communication, such as the use of plants, like palm front (eyei), plantain, a kind of flower called mkpatad, etc. also used in oral communication are drums, music, folktales and town criers. Here we document this oral traditional means of communication to preserve them from extinction. This was done using unstructured interviews and participant observation and documentation. This documentation of Ibibio oramedia was also to potray the rich cultural means of communication among the Ibibio and is a valuable contribution to the rich cultural heritage of the Ibibio.