Obol Lopon of Ugep and Paramount Ruler of Yakurr, Cross River State is His Royal Majesty, Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng. He ascended the throne in 2015
after the passage of Obol Ubi Ujong Inah.
The Obol Lopon of Ugep is more or less a Priest cum political King. He is the Head of the Binah Council. Binah is the council of the Head Priests of the 12 matriclans. These matriclans demonstrate that Yakurr is partly a matriarchy social.
What is matriarchy?
It is a form of social organization in which descendants and relationship are reckoned through the female line. These matriclans straddle Yakurr (Idomi, Ekori, Nko, Mkpani, Assiga, Agoi Ekpo, Ekom Agoi and Ibami) Abi, Obubra, Biase, and Akamkpa local government areas of Cross River State.
My matriclan, Leyor jimo is also found in Afikpo in Ebonyi State, Arochukwu, Abribia and Ohafia people of Abia State who originally were Ekoi people from Cross River State. These people also practice matriarchial system.
Ugep has 12 maternal (Matriclan) families. Every matriclan is headed by a Chief known as Inah. He is a priest in charge of the fertility shrine of his matrilineal clan or family. Every matriclan has a fertility shrine known as “yose”.
Obol Lopon is the Head of his Maternal clan or family. It attests to the fact that matriarchy is very strong among the Yakurr (just like other Ekoi people like Bakor, Mbembe, Agbo, Ejagham, Olulumo, Bahumuno, etc).
Then, he is primus inter pares in the Council of the Heads of the Maternal families. Succession to the tool of the Obol Lopon is restricted only to somebody from the Royal maternal family known as Lebol Jimo.
A son of the Obol Lopon can only to succeed his father if he is also a member of the matriclan to which his father belongs.
Let us look at the picture carefully to see typically how Obol Lopon of Ugep ceremonially will dress for outing on Leboku (Ekoi) New Yam Festival day when he normally will lead a procession of Binah to salute the people.
On his right arm, you can see the brass bangle and the anklets made up of cowrie shell. Cowrie is a small, glossed, porcelain-like shell that’s typically light beige. It has a gentle oval structure with a ventral aperture that splits the shell into half. The Cowrie shell in its immaculate beauty is more than a fashion statement.
In traditional African culture, the small humped, ovate shells hold significant spiritual and even monetary value. The bangle represents the insignia of his Royal family and authority.
Equally all the Binah also wear this same type of bangle Obol Lopon is wearing which is the family insignia of their matriclan.
On his Head the Obol Lopon is wearing a hat atop another cap made with ivory (anegha) (elephant tusk) and a red piece of cloth. Obol Lopon has a type of chewing stick in his mouth. It is known as “atune”.
Do you know why Obol Lopon and matriclan chiefs always have the chewing stick (atune) in their mouths? Obol Lopon is royalty, honor, integrity and authority personified and epitomized and therefore he is always to maintain such composture, dignity and splendor and should not be heard to be talking always. He should always talk sparely and when it matters.
On his neck is the royal beads which have been worn by every Obol Lopon for the past 1000 years.
On his right shoulder is a sort of blanket or cloth which forms part of the dressing of Obol Lopon.
By Okoi Obono-Obla