Ekpe Chief Maurice Enoh's funeral in Dallas on January 27th and 28th 2012

The mythical tiger is roaring, anxious to be let out of its cage so it can charge to Dallas, Texas, where it is said that its chief is dead. This is the third Ekpe Chief, or Sessekou, from Manyu who died in the United States of America in any historical accounts. The first was Sessekou Eddie A Besong, from Tayo Village, who died in Florida. The second was Sessekou George Enow Enow from Besong Abang who died in Minnessota.

What makes Maurice Enoh's situation different is that: while in the first two cases the Sessekous were visiting from Cameroon, Sessekou Maurice Enoh had settled in United States; was only 43 years old; had risen to the position of National President of Manyu Elements Cultural & Development Association (MECA-USA); and was a senior member of Ekpe-USA.

All Ekpe members are hereby reminded that under Ekpe custom, we do not leave the lifeless body of our warriors in the battle field, and we certainly do not leave the remains of an Ekpe chief unguarded. On behalf of Ekpe-USA Leadership, I hereby remind every member of Ngbe who has taken the aoth that our fathers and great grand fathers took to uphold those sacred traditions and beliefs, to immediately start preparations to do what they must do to send our brother to join our ancestors.

Wake Keeping is scheduled to take place in Dallas, Texas, on Friday January 27th 2012, and Funeral Services on Friday January 28th 2012. Any updates will be communicated to you as they become available.

Sessekou Solomon Egbe, Esq.
On Behalf of Ekpe-USA (Material used above is from the archives of Ekpe-USA

Maurice Enoh: The 1st Manyu Ekpe USA Sessekou to die in USA

Bario,

Sessekou Maurice Ako Enoh, senior member of Ekpe-USA and former National President of MECA-USA, answered the call to join our ancestors today. He ceased to be one of us and became an ancestor on this blessed Sunday morning, January 8th 2012, after a very brief but aggressive battle with cancer. Maurice is the first Ekpe-USA Sessekou to die in America, and the third Ekpe Sessekou from Manyu Division in Cameroon to die in the United States.

Sessekou Maurice Ako Enoh was born on March 16th 1968, the son of Late Sessekou Mathias Enoh-Akpo who died when Maurice was still a baby. He inherited the title of Sessekou or Nfor Ngbe from his father and was officially crowned as Sessekou on Saturday the 23rd day of May 2009. On that day, Maurice who was born in Kepelle Village in the Upper Banyang Subdivision, in Manyu Division, in the Cross River region of Cameroon where Ekpe originated, completed the rites necessary to rekindle their Ekpe house which had remained dormant for over 30 years, and replanted the Ekpe stone of his late father. On that blessed day, an extremely rare event occurred as an Obasinjom emerged to support this young Ekpe chief whom, onlookers were astonished at the similarity of his agile dance moves to that of his late father.

The young Sessekou cherished Manyu Culture since childhood as could be seen from his unusually high level of participation in Manyu events. He frequently encouraged Manyu youths to participate in community activities. As a child who was introduced to Ekpe at a very young age, he worked very closely with the Ekpe members in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area while carefully ensuring that he did not break any Ekpe Rules and fast became an Ekpe Chief of exemplary character.

Sessekou Enoh came to the Untied States in 1993 and lived in Alexandria, Virginia, until 2007 when he moved to Mansfield, Texas, where he lived with his family until his death.

When he lived in the Washington DC Metropolitan area, he was a very active member of MECA-DC, and the Chief Whip of the Upper Banyang Sub-divisional Group in that Chapter. He became the Secretary General of MECA-Dallas when he moved there, and then became the President of MECA-USA from 2009 to 2011. He has been an active member of The Ekpe Society in USA since 2009. He leaves behind a wife, kids and several siblings.

All Ekpe members are hereby put on notice to start individual and collective preparations to do what our customs and traditions require, to do what is necessary to assist our fallen Sessekou through his final journey to meet our maker. (The above information is based material in the archives of Ekpe-USA provided by Late Sessekou Maurice Ako Enoh himself).

The tentative program is as follows: January 27th and 28th, 2012. Wake Keeping, Viewing and service in Dallas, Texas. The remains will then be taken to Kepelle Village in Cameroon for burial after that.

Mutame!!! Hiii!!!

Sessekou Solomon Egbe, Esq.
On behalf of Ekpe-USA

Ekpe-USA received at the Smithsonian Museum

Bario,

For the first time in history, Ekpe had a presentation at the highest institution of cultural anthropology in the world, the Smithsonian Museum. The presentation, by Ekpe members from Cameroon, Nigeria and Cuba was arranged by Chief Dr. Ivor Miller and coordinated by Sessekous Ojong-Orock, Joseph Mbu and Mbe Tazi. Unfortunately I was at a wedding in New York that weekend and could not attend, so I had to rely on the various members in attendance for this report.

Haven said that, the event took place on November 28th 2011 at the Museum of African Art of the Smithsonian Institution with resounding success. More photos will follow shortly.

Two weeks after this event, Coca-Cola Foundation donated $2Million to the Museum of African Arts of the Smithsonian Intstitution. As most of you know, the Chairman of Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and President of Coca-Cola Africa, Bill Egbe, is the son of a late Sessekou from Manyu, so we hereby extend our gratitude for his company's support of an institution that has now become a highly valued partner of Ekpe-USA.

Mutame! Hiiiii!
Sessekou Solomon Egbe, Esq.
On behalf of Ekpe-USA
(See article from Washington Post below)

Posted at 02:00 PM ET, 12/13/2011
Coca-Cola donates $2 million to Smithsonian
By Jacqueline Trescott
Coca-Cola, the world’s largest beverage company, donated $2 million to the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex.
The Coca-Cola Foundation hopes that old slogan “Things Go Better with Coke” works its magic on three Smithsonian projects. The entrance to The National Zoo, where Coca-Cola has given money for a new project. (Carol Guzy - THE WASHINGTON POST)
Divided up like those omnipresent soda cartons, the money includes $1.25 million for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. A special African curator-in-residence program at the National Museum of African Art receives $500,000. And the National Zoo’s “At Water’s Edge” exhibit $250,000.

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By Jacqueline Trescott 02:00 PM ET, 12/13/2011

Ekpe Society Resolutions from meeting held on September 16th 2011 in DC

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of resident members of The Ekpe Society - USA, I would like to start by apologizing for the uncharacteristic exchanges from some of our members that flooded these forums recently. Ours is a society of discipline, self restraint and decorum. These public exchanges were a gross deviation from Ekpe norms and alien to the usual serene atmosphere that characterizes Ekpe public appearances. Fortunately for all, we are members of an ancient society with standard operating procedures and distinct conflict resolution mechanisms in place. These dispute resolution tools are precisely what have kept our 260+ Manyu villages in peaceful and harmonious coexistence for centuries.

(A) RESOLUTIONS:
On September 16th 2011, knights of Ngbe solemnly converged to an extraordinary meeting in Hyattsville, Maryland, presided over by Sessekou Emmanuel Ojong-Orock, and in accordance with Ekpe customs and traditions related to conflict resolution, the key problems that resulted in those public exchanges were resolved. In light of the above, it was decided that the following decisions be published beyond normal Ekpe communication channels:

(1) Ekpe Society members will refrain from writing internal issues on public forums, except announcements, invitations and matters of general public interest.
(2) Sessekou Christmas Ebini resumes his full status in Ekpe Society – USA, as a Sessekou, Ekpe Chief, Nfor Mgbe or Chief of Nyamkpe with all the respect, powers, rights and privileges commensurate with his rank.
(3) Sessekou Ojong-Orock is the most senior Sessekou, in terms of longevity, in Ekpe Society USA, and haven pulled the “mythical elephant” from the bush during his enthronement, has acquired all the stars and stripes required of a Sessekou.
(4) Any Ekpe member who was an actor in this sad episode knows what to do. We all have a duty to protect the land and people that God gave us, but we also took an oath individually to carry out that responsibility. Each actor is therefore individually responsible for their actions. When a fish falls on sand, it cannot be picked up without some sand sticking on its body. Please be guided accordingly.
(5) Everyone present at the meeting acknowledged the supremacy of the mighty Tiger, and the futility to try to fight Ekpe. Decisions of the Ekpe Society – USA are therefore binding on all its members and can only be challenged in accordance with Ekpe rules of procedure. Putting this behind us clears the way for us to focus on our true vision.

(B) MOVING FORWARD:
Following the resolutions above, The Ekpe Society has now decided to move forward with its mission to create a strong brand for The Ekpe Society, and energize the various global Ekpe communities towards a common vision. In that light we voted on the following:

(1) The Ekpe Society, a pioneer participant at the PANAFEST, will participate in this year’s PAN African Festival scheduled to take place this Saturday, September 24th 2011, in Silver Spring, Maryland. The unique nature of Ekpe, devoid of linguistic, national or racial barriers puts us in a very advantageous position and perfectly aligned with the general mission and vision of the PANAFEST agenda. We will participate with our Manyu, Bangwa, Nigerian, Cuban and America members. Our contacts for this event are: Sessekou Christmas Ebini, Sessekou Mbe Tazi and Etobo Tobe Ntui Asam Asam Eyong.
(2) On October 22nd 2011, The Ekpe Society, in response to an Ekpe call from Atlanta, is scheduled to attend an Ekpe Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. This is two years after the first Ekpe Society – USA Conclave held in DC from October 16 to 17th 2009 to address some of the internal issues of the Ekpe Society. Ekpe DC is making arrangements for two vans to transport those leaving from the DC metropolitan area to attend this cultural extravaganza.
(3) On November 26th 2011, The Ekpe Society is organizing a public presentation ceremony at Brandywine, Maryland, for the leader of its Lebialem wing, Sessekou Phillip “Mbe” Tazi. Sessekou Mbe Tazi and members of his Ekpe lodge have brought renewed energy to The Ekpe Society, and have helped steer Ekpe USA back towards using live drummers.
(4) The Ekpe Society will continue its world tour in December, this time, it will be a trip to Lebialem Division. Chief Dr. Ivor Miller (aka Agbor Miller, Ekpe initiation name: Obong Bakara) and Sessekou Mbe Tazi will be part of the delegation to Lebialem Division.
(5) After the Lebialem tour, preparations will begin for a major event in Ndian Division in March 2012, to take the Cubans back to Africa to visit the descendants of one of the founders of the Cuban Ekpe Society called Abakua. The lead organizers of this event are Chief Dr. Ivor Miller and Sessekou Ojong-Orock.

We would like to reassure our people that The Ekpe Society, guardians of our culture and traditions are here to stay. For centuries, through wars, floods, disease and forced migration, we have stood firm as the first line of defense between our people and certain doom. For centuries, we have succeeded in Cameroon, in Nigeria, in Cuba, in Brazil and in countries where the existence of Ekpe is yet to be discovered.

Everyday our people face new challenges. Everyday, Ekpe faces new challenges. But Ekpe is like the leopard it sees in the dark and can hunt at night. It is like the crocodile, it lives on land and in the river. It is like the tortoise it move slowly and deliberately, but can outlive all other animals. It is like the elephant, it crushes anything that stands on its way. It is like the Manyu people, it adapts to any adverse condition thrown its way.

While some were contemplating its obituary, Knights of Mgbe who had taken an oath to protect their homeland, its people, its culture and its land with their life if necessary emerged from last Friday’s meeting with renewed determination to stay true to the oath they took. The oath their fathers and their great grand fathers before them, took to protect that blessed land that God gave us and asked us to make it our own heaven on Earth.

Before we part our ways, we would like to put this out there. It is not this generation that will lead Ekpe to its demise. On the contrary, all indications point to the fact that, this generation of Ekpe members, are the ones that fate has selected to reassemble all the children of Mgbe that Westerners dispersed all over the world during their nefarious slave trade.

(C) INFORMATION SOURCES:
For more information about us, please visit: http://Ekpesociety.blogspot.com; www.ekpe.org; http://Ekpesocietyusa.blogspot.com; http://ndiboyevengo.blogspot.com; or read the following books: (1) Leopards and Leaders: Constitutional politics among a Cross River people, by Malcolm Ruel; (2) In the Shadow of the Bush by Percy Talbot; (3) Imagined Power Contested: Germans and Africans in Upper Cross River Area of Cameroon by Stephanie Michel; and (4) Voices of the Leopard: African Secret Societies in Cuba by Ivor Miller. If you would like to borrow any of these books from the Ekpe DC Library, please contact Sessekou Ojong-Orock.

Thanks for your indulgence,

Sessekou Solomon Egbe, Esq.
On behalf of Ekpe USA

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DC EKPE LODGE

DC EKPE LODGE LEADERS

The most recent history of The
WASHINGTON DC EKPE LODGE goes back as far as 1996 with the immigration into the USA of Sisiku OJONG OROCK.

He is the first SISIKU (EKPE CHIEF) who set foot in the USA on February 27, 1996 to settle in America. With his arrival, He and the then Tata Ngbe Mfonten Mbu, Tata Ngbe Carlet Ako (of blessed memory) and Tata Ngbe Martin Mbeng, who was then First Cousellor at the Cameroon Embassy in Washington DC, began the growing of the Washington DC EKPE LODGE.

In June 1996, Sisiku Stephen Ayuk Okang handed over his throne to his grand son, Sisiku Alfred Okang (Dr. George Okang's son). Present at this Solemn Ekpe Ceremony were:
1. Sisiku OJONG OROCK Emmanuel
2. Tata Mfonten MBU Joseph
3. Tata Ayuk Ako Carlet
4. Tata Agbor MBENG Martin (now Cameroon Ambassador to Brazil) Non-Ekpe members present were:
1. Dr. Nkwanyuo
2. H.E. Nkwain (former Cameroon Minister of Foreign Affairs)
3. Mrs. Nkwain
4. Mrs Ojong Orock
5. Dr. Okang
6. Mrs Okang
6. Joyce Nkwain

In December 1996 Tata Mfonten Mbu became a Sisiku.
The second activity of Ekpe DC was the celebration of the Life of Sisiku Okang. Whose Ekpe title was passed on to his grand son, Alfred Okang, son of Dr. George Okang.
The third major activity of Ekpe DC was the celebration of the Life of Tata Ako Ayuk Carlet.
Other activities included: the celebration of the anniversaries of the deaths of Sisiku Okang and Tata Ako Ayuk Carlet.
The celebration of the life of HRH Stephen Agbaw, traditional ruler of Okoyong Chiefdom.
The celebration of the life of Sisiku Tabot of Bachuo-Ntai.
The celebration of the life of HRH Nelson Enonchong (late), sisiku from Besong-Abang Chiefdom, former Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice in Cameroon, founding member of the Cameroon Bar Association and Chairman and CEO of the Enonchong conglomerate.
The celebration of the life of H.E. Sisiku Emmanuel Tabi Egbe (late), former Minister of Telecommunications and Roving Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon.
We first got in Contact with the Efik Ekpe of Nigeria when Tata Eyong Tabe (Joe) was celebrating his Eyum Ngbe at Takoma Park, Maryland, in 2000.

The Efik in Nigeria have Nkanda as the basic Ekpe whereas,
in Cameroon we have Ekpe as the starting point in Ekpe. This created a need for Ekpe DC to have a full Ayamba Nkanda (Nkanda Chief). That is why Sisiku
Ojong Orock after consultation with the other Ekpe members and Sisiku Mfonten Mbu decided to acquire his own Nkanda Lodge in April 2003.

Some important activities of Ekpe DC Lodge include the recognition of Ekpe personalities from Cameroon who visit Washington DC Metropolitan Area like Sisiku Egbe Achuo (Hilman) Supreme Court Justice in the Republic of Cameroon; HRH Sisiku Dr. Achale traditional ruler of Ewelle Chiefdom in Cameroon and Executive Director of Finance at the National Petroleum Investment Fund in Cameroon; Sisiku Ekortarh (Late) former Supreme Court Judge in Cameroon; HRH Sisiku Ndiepso Tabetando, traditional Ruler of Bachuo-Ntai Chiefdom and President & CEO of Euro Oil in Cameroon; HRH Chief Mukete, paramount chief of the Bafaw region in Kumba and Chairman of CAMTEL and Mukete Estates; etc. Ekpe members who visit the area also pay homage to the Ekpe DC Lodge.

Originally, our meetings were held monthly, but now we meet on a bi-weekly basis due to the high demand for Ekpe exoteric and esoteric skills in the community. With a membership of over fifty initiated members in the Metropolitan Washington DC area, our priority is to increase the initiated membership roll by encouraging aspirants who number over thirty, to go home and be initiated.

Our second priority is to be present or be represented wherever there is an Ekpe event, anywhere in the world. That is why at short notice; we were able to send a delegation to New York City to rediscover our Cuban brothers and sisters on Saturday October 05, 2009 at the launching of their Ekpe CD which will be sold during The Conclave Cultural Gala in Maryland on October 17th 2009.

We are preparing to attend The World Ekpe Festival which will take place in Calabar, Nigeria, in December 2009 or Spring of 2010.

We put together an excellent research team headed by Sisiku Solomon Egbe Esq., Sisiku Joseph Mbu, Etobetobe Ntui Asam Asam and Tata John Ashunkem. They have been charged with the responsibility to track down all our Ekpe brothers and sisters who were displaced from the Cross-River area of Nigeria and Cameroon by the Slave Trade. So far, we have made contact with Ekpe members in Cuba, Brazil and Haiti. We are currently reactivating the relationship we have had with the Ekpe groups from Nigeria. We have also developed an Ekpe library with very rare ancient and modern books that cover the exoteric details of the Ekpe Society. We also have manuscripts that cover the esoteric details of Ekpe, and these can be reviewed by initiated members only.
MEMBERS PERFORM AT ACCDF EVENT IN MARYLAND

Our long term goal is to build a model Ekpe Lodge in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area based on a solid foundation of Ekpe principles that can be replicated around the world.

PROGRESS OF EKPE DC Lodge
The top brass of Ekpe DC has been growing as follows:
The list of active Sisikus in the DC Ekpe Lodge and allied Sisikus continues thus:
4. Sisiku Elias Akwo, April 2006.
5. Sisiku Peter Ebot, December 2007.
6. Sisiku Solomon Egbe Esq., March 2008.
7. Sisiku Christmas Ebini, April 2008
8. Sisiku Jean Jacques Enow, April 2009.
9. Sisiku Arrey Barchel (allied member in Dallas)
11. Sisiku Dr. David Tambe (allied member in Dallas)
12. Sisiku Dr. James Tabe (allied member in Dallas)
13. Sisiku Maurice Enow (allied member in Dallas)
14. Sisiku Dr. George Besong (allied member in Florida)
15. Sisiku Philip Tabi (allied member in Atlanta)

References: In the Shadow of The Bush, Leopards and Leaders, Ekpe Effik, Imagined Power Contested, and various secret manuscripts.

Note: The Christians names exhibited by the Ekpe chiefs show how “Christed” the Ekpe society has become.

Auto-Biography of Sisiku Emmanuel Ojong-Orock, Leader of Cameroonian Ekpe Lodge in Metropolitan DC

Sisiku Ojong-Orock was born on Saturday October 2nd, 1948 in Ogomoko Village,Eyumojock Sub-Division, Manyu Division in the Republic of Cameroon, West Africa. In Ekpe, he is a product of a dynasty of more than five Generations of Ekpe Sisikus, also known as Nfor Ngbe or Ekpe Chiefs.

He is the first surviving male child of his father and the second surviving child of his father after he had lost twelve children, most of who died before the age of two. The infant mortality rate amongst these forest tribes in Cameroon was extremely high in those days which prompted his father to initiate him into Ekpe at the tender age of three. Initiating toddlers into Ekpe in this area was exceptionally done by the elderly because only Ekpe members could take part in Ekpe burials. So they wanted to ensure that their direct blood relatives and heirs witnessed the burial.

Based on information he got from his father: Sisiku ATA EGBE OSOKO I, was the first.
SISIKU (EKPE CHIEF) in their Ekpe lodge. He was succeeded by SISIKU ATA EGBE OSOKO II. Ojong-Orock’s Father, SISIKU OJONG EGBE took over from his father, Ojong-Orock’s grandfather. Information about the family genealogy and their births is found in their family registry which was created by the late Sisiku Ojong Egbe. It is preciously preserved in a safe in the family strong room.Ata Egbe Osok EKPE LODGE of Ogomoko:

Sisiku Ojong-Orock’s original Ekpe Lodge is known as ATA EGBE OSOK's EKPE LODGE. Their family is located on the southern slopes of Ogomoko Village, which is a village about 16 miles West of Mamfe, the administrative capital of Manyu Division in the Republic of Cameroon, West Africa. They live on his late father's plantation of 535 Acres of registered land. His father's plantation is made up mostly of Cocoa with plantains, coffee, palm tree and various other crops. Sisiku Ojong-Orock has acquired an additional two hundred hectares (about 500 acres) of land in Njege where some cash and food crops are being grown.

MY EYUM NGBE INITIATION 1987
Sisiku Ojong-Orock was initiated into EYUM NGBE (Public Initiation) on April 18th. 1987. This was after a month of lavishly feeding and entertaining the Leopard and cajoling it into welcoming the new Sisiku into the higher ranks of the Ekpe society. His EKPE LODGE was like a bee hive during this period and he used this opportunity to help twenty-two sons of Ata Egbe Osoko cross that stream into the prestigious Ekpe Society.

EKPE BUSH 1980. Before his EYUM NGBE initiation, he had been initiated into the Ekpe bush in 1980 by his father by proxy. He effectively saw all his ancestors in the EKPE BUSH in 1985 which is a key process in the initiation ceremony in the bush. Key witnesses to this process were Dr Moses Besong and Mr. Ayuk Tabe-Ebob. Their mentors were Sisiku Elias Tanyi, who was the "AKWA OTNGHO EZUM NGBE" (The Professor of Professors in EKPE) and Taata Ngbe Oben Besong; and Dr. Moses Besong's was their close range teacher, who polished their knowledge of the Ekpe Bush.

NNE EBHOO (SITTING MAGISTRATE)After fulfilling all the requirements which took him about five years, he was promoted to the rank of a Sitting Member in 1987. It is then that he could sit and drink or greet Ekpe.SISIKU AND OKPEII NGBE (AHUII NGBE) 1994.
He became a SISIKU in March of 1994 and pulled out his OKPEII NGBE in June 1994. In 1996, he immigrated to the United States of America where he became the founding leader of the Ekpe DC Lodge – a coalition of various Ekpe lodges in Cameroon.

NKANDA AND EKPE PURCASES He then felt the need for an AYAMBA NKANDA to be in America because that is the basic Ekpe among the Effik of Calabar, Nigeria, and whenever we met with them the Cameroonian members of Ekpe were wanting in Nkanda sign language. He bought his Nkanda in April 2003 and was forced to regularize his Sisiku title, because if you are not a libation pouring Sisiku, you cannot pour the Nkanda Libation. He then became SISIKU AYAMBA NKANDA OROCK OJONG of Ogomoko Village.