Eket is a Nigerian city or rather a large town, which is located at an altitude of 511 feet or 155 meters. The geographical coordinates of Eket corresponds to 4.6500 latitude and 7.9333 longitude or 4°39' 0 North and 7°55'60 south. The time zone of Eket lies one hour ahead of the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The people of Eket are descendants of the Ibibio tribe, who for centuries had occupied the Cross river basin. Even the British invasion was made difficult in the region but finally they gave in during the first world war. The British however had to adapt a lot to the traditional customs to reach out to them and get their cooperation. The economy of Eket is partially dependent on the palm oil products that are traded in the outside market.
Eket Art
The art of the Eket people is spectacular and masks that they make are similar to that of the masks made by the Ibibio people. The wooden sculptures of the Eket people are also spectacular, which can be taken home by tourists as ideal souvenirs from Africa. Eket music is splendid and play a very important role in the various rites and rituals of the tribe.
Eket Religion
The Eket people abide by their traditional system of ancestor worship. The belief is that the spirit of dead ancestors had to be appeased in order to maintain their daily life. Their religion is named after their ancestors and is hence called the Ibibio religion.
Eket is ruled locally on basis of the various communities that inhabit the region. It is the Ekpo Ndem Isong, or the council of the senior members of the village, who rule the land and are responsible for a number of social traditions and activities.
