Traditional societies and social change in Nigeria: a study of Ekpe among the people of Cross River State

The paper critically examined the Ekpe society in its indigenous form and nature prior the advent of Christianity, Western education and Western influence. It described the religion, social, economic and political structures of the society as progressive and dynamic. But, Ekpe in the course of the colonial period underwent a wide range of fundamental changes in their structure, roles, status and activities. The attitude of colonial agencies, the tenets of colonial enterprise – Christianity, Western education and commerce and the pursuit of these tenets as well as some activities of the societies themselves, conduced inevitably to a series of measures adopted by colonial authorities to suppress the societies in question. The acts of suppression altered the pattern of relationship of these societies to their communities and people by altering (diminishing) their roles, status and activities. The aim of this paper is to examine the role and activities of this society, its confrontation with colonial authorities as well as its contemporary standing. Essentially, this is an examination of the themes of change and continuity. The methodology adopted in the course of researching is the primary and secondary sourcesKeywords: Traditional Societies, Social Change, Ekpe, Cross River Stat