Efik Fattening, Often discussed in brief or exaggerated terms, Mbop

Efik Fattening, Often discussed in brief or exaggerated terms, Mbopo is frequently misunderstood as a practice focused only on physical appearance. Sherif Tyo and 14 others 󰍸 15 󰤦 1 Maidens are isolated in the "fattening room" where they are exposed to the intricacies and demands of womanhood preparatory to their assuming such roles in the society. This practice is at the centre of a centuries-old rite of passage from adolescence to womanhood. " The Prince and his wife, who belong to the Efik tribe, certainly see no reason to change. The Fattening Room is an aged old tradition of the Efik people of Calabar, which has been greatly modified for today's generations. Much thanks and love to, Her Majesty, Queen Aruk II, Barrister Marie Ikpeme Erete, for this historic milestone tourism opportunity, given to IPADA INITIATIVES CELEBRATIONS 2025. PDF | On Jan 1, 2009, Ofem Enang published The fattening rooms of Calabar- a breeding ground for diabesity | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate The fattening room among the Annang of Nigeria Pamela J. This appeared to be the case with the Efik people of Calabar in Cross River state and their practice of 'bride fattening' in the fattening rooms known as Nkugho. Here, virgins were overfed, massaged and made to sleep for long periods to become the perfect, robust bride. #efikpeopleofficial #efikfatteningroom #fypシ #viral”. Nov 28, 2025 · The Efik fattening room ceremony, known as Nkugho, is one of the most iconic and culturally rich traditions of the Efik people of Cross River State, Nigeria. The fattening room is a place where young women experiencing puberty are taken to in order to be prepared for womanhood. The significance of the Efik Fattening Room is important for a marriage to be successful. [1] This period may range from three months to seven years depending on the wealth of their father. Efik girls receive more education than girls in most parts of Nigeria, and Okon hopes Margaret will return to school and embark on a career as a seamstress before marriage. If learning takes place properly and is practi Fattening room The fattening room is traditionally where virgin adolescent girls were fattened up in preparation for marriage. According to Etubom Bassey, “it is the equivalent of what Caucasians call finishing school. No other African dance comes close to the 'Ekombi' dance and in fact between 1991 to 1993 when the late The fattening practice is a rite of passage for the Nigerian clans of Kalabari, Efik, and Ibibio. Their culture is somewhat similar to that of the Efik, but that of the Ibibio people is called Mbopo. Young girls are usually taken to the fattening room during puberty. Fieldwork conducted in June 2021 utilized interviews and focus groups to gather qualitative data. In reality, it was a carefully structured system of seclusion Fattening room The fattening room is a practice in Efik part of Nigeria whereby women or adolescent girls are kept away from their companions, societal interactions and also from performing their customary duties. As the country continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how this traditional practice adapts to changing societal values and norms. The festival is cus However, the Kalabari, Efik, Ibibio – embraced it as a culture, hence the existence of the fattening room. The Efik had interesting traditions with one of them being the Fattening Room practice. The fattening room is an ancient practice in calabar which gradually going extinct . The Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom State also practice the fattening room tradition. Today, no girl wants to get fattened by spending even one month in the fattening room. A fattening room girl is known as a mbobo. Despite these challenges, the fattening room has become a tourist attraction among the Efik people, offering a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria. Many attribute this skill to the fattening room practice. And you are beautiful. Jan 11, 2026 · Among the Efik people of Calabar in Cross River State, the fattening room tradition, widely known as Mbopo, remains one of the most recognised female initiation institutions in southern Nigeria. The practice is waning due to modernity, including bans on female genital mutilation (FGM). In ancient times, fat was viewed as a sign of prosperity, fertility and beauty. 💫 #beauty #AfricanTraditions #FatteningRoom #nigeriantiktok #tradition”. . Mbodi is a rite of passage which subject women of marriageable age to undergo the process of body fattening. As part of her preparation for marriage the girl was also instructed on how to be a wife. "If a woman is not fat and has not gone through that process she does not qualify for marriage. The fattening room (Nkogho) is an ancient practice in these clans – Kalabari, Efik, Ibibio – which is gradually going extinct. Barely three months after EbonylifeTv unveiled their first television series, they are warming up with another breathtaking reality TV show, “Fattening Room” which will soon debut on 35 views, 8 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Institute of African and Diaspora Studies: Have you heard about the fattening practice among the Efik? Fattening rooms are The Fattening Room is an aged old tradition of the Efik people of Calabar, which has been greatly modified for today's generations. However, these clans – Kalabari, Efik, Ibibio – embrace it as a culture, hence the existence of the fattening room. The fattening room is a place young women are prepared for womanhood. Wherever you are, remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This ancient tradition is the training given to young women while they are in seclusion to prepare them for marriage and womanhood . (Image: At left, a girl entering the fattening house; several years later, she graduates, as seen at right) The fattening room was a place where young women experiencing puberty are taken to in order to be prepared for womanhood. Nkuho is a traditional Efik and Ibibio culture ritual from Nigeria, also known as the “fattening room,” where girls are secluded and taught domestic skills, marital virtues, and are expected to gain weight to be seen as attractive and fertile for marriage. There are claims that the Efik people migrated from the hinterlands and settled in the Ibibio, Ibo and Cameroon territories. Although now a dying practice, it continues to be a thing of pride for some people. In the Efik culture, a bride emerging from the fattening room with some extra pounds is seen as a blessing on the relationship. It is also said that Efik women know how to satisfy their husbands in every ramification. Among the Efik and Ibibio in Nigeria, the fattening room celebrates fuller figures as beauty, wealth, and womanhood. The concept of the ‘ Fattening Room ’ is an age-old tradition of the Efik people of Calabar, Cross River State. of socialisation and far-reaching popular orientation, often based on what people outside the Efik culture were taught. ‘Efik’ is also the name of their language. In the fattening room, an Efik woman is groomed and molded to know how to care for her prospective husband and what it takes to look after her future home. A lot of lessons are learned during the process. Among the Efiks, there are three known phases of the fattening room: the circumcision between age six and ten for a period of about three to six months. Its purpose is to prepare a young woman for marriage. Acceptance into the fattening room was viewed as a privilege as it was a demonstration of Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like what is the traditional mark of female beauty among the Efik people?, describe a fattening room, what are the types of food that girls are fed in the fattening rooms? and more. original sound - Storytelling Lady. The Fattening Rooms Of The Efik - Culture (2) - Nairaland Nairaland Forum › Nairaland General › Culture › The Fattening Rooms Of The Efik (46496 Views) 5 Facts You Should Know About The Efik People • Efik/ibibio Names And Their Meaning • Names Of Animal In Efik/ibibio • 2 • 3 • 4 1 2 3 Reply (Go Down) Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Culture / The Fattening Rooms Of The Efik (46096 Views) 5 Facts You Should Know About The Efik People / Efik/ibibio Names And Their Meaning / Names Of Animal In Efik/ibibio (2) (3) (4) Abstract Food and foodways are essential components of the Efik biocultural system, as the Efik people of Southern Cross River State, Southeastern Nigeria, are famous for their rich dietary history and cuisine tradition. Rituals like these, where they celebrate life more than punish it, make up the majority of what has survived to the modern day. In some instances, the fattening room training is divided into three stages: a few months before the marriage, a week before marriage and after childbirth. Marriages are the cultural pillars of the Efik society, and preparation for it, comes with ceremonial rites packed into an experience of a Fattening Room. The Efik Woman/Bride is expected to go through their fattening room for an extended period secluded to be pampered, fed amongst many other things to make sure she looks "perfect" for her groom. One prominent cultural practice that dates back to pre-colonial times is the fattening tradition. Our ladies have come to a modern version of the Fattening Room and under the guidance of our wise Matriarch; our ladies will be fed, pampered, and taught the necessary skills for maintaining a happy relationship. Brink Professor of Nursing and Associate Dean for Research in the Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmondton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2G3. The famous Fattening Room practice is another interesting cultural feature associated with the Efik people. The nkuko, popularly known as the fattening room, is an age-long tradition of the Efik. In the fattening room, an Efik woman is groomed and moulded to know how to care for her prospective husband and what it takes to look after her future home. This is called nkuho eyen-owon. The Efik/Ibibio people believe that fattening comes with the following advantages: It is a sign of privilege and wealth. Actually, this is the historic first time, that the Efik fattening room, will be showcased, outside Cross River State, which is its traditional home. Traditionally, young women were secluded and cared for in these spaces where they received nutrition, rest, and guidance on adulthood, marriage, and domestic responsibilities. The fattening room is an ancient tradition of the Efik people of Calabar which has been greatly modified in modern times. Today, it has gone through a lot of transformation and modifications to fit the present generation and current life-style. It is more than just a rite of passage; it is a school of womanhood, preparing young ladies for marriage, adulthood, and great responsibilities. 1 The woman might be seen as virtuous 2 They believe it makes child bearing easier 3 It is seen as a privilege 4 The woman learn songs, folklore, traditions 5 They learn how to handle financial issues 6 They are fed continuously 7 Sometimes they are massaged in special oil 8 Learn how to please the husband Aug 28, 2024 · Image 2: A Sculpture showing Mbobo after the fattening room: a historic culture of Annang, Efik and Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers States, Nigeria. The Fattening Rooms Of The Efik - Culture - Nairaland Nairaland Forum › Nairaland General › Culture › The Fattening Rooms Of The Efik (46658 Views) 5 Facts You Should Know About The Efik People • Efik/ibibio Names And Their Meaning • Names Of Animal In Efik/ibibio • 2 • 3 • 4 1 2 3 Reply (Go Down) The Fattening Room (Nkuho) The Fattening Room is an aged old tradition of the Efik people of Calabar, which has been greatly modified for today's generations. The purpose of this tradition is to give young women training while in seclusion in order to prepare them adequately for marriage life. During the period of this seclusion, the young woman is taken care of by older women. The EFIK fattening room experience original sound - EFIK people The Efik are an ethnic group located in southeastern Nigeria. Fattening Room Rites known as Nkuho or Mbopo is usually performed by young Maidens between the ages of fifteen (15) and twenty-five (25). When a girl is of a marriageable age in Efik, especially when a man shows interest in an Efik girl, the girl is then sent into a fattening process to gain some weight in preparation for the marriage. Among the Efik and Ibibio peoples, “ Mbodi ” (bride fattening) is a cultural practice. The matriarch grooms the ladies in the fattening room by feeding them, teaching them the customs and etiquettes of being a The traditional marriage ceremony in Efik usually begins in some unusual ways. Here, virgins were overfed, massaged and made to sleep for hours to become the perfect robust bride. It is a period of seclusion and intensive grooming for a bride-to-be. Food and foodways are, therefore, quintessential aspects of the Efik cultural history and social structure, which are intergenerational. The fattening room tradition ‘Nkugho’ or ‘Mbopo’ has been integral predominantly in the Efik Culture of Cross River State as well as Akwa Ibom State. Their hebrew ancestry, the practice of confining prospective brides to fattening rooms, and more interesting facts about the Efik people of Nigeria. In an attempt to change cultural beliefs, researchers have focused on the adverse health effects of obesity, but their efforts have not been completely successful. The outing of mbobo used to take Jan 29, 2017 · Efik eating habits and lifestyle, however, have been impediments to lasting success, even as fattening rooms disappear from all but rural areas. Regrettably, the fattening room The Fattening Room is an age-old Efik rite of passage where young ladies are transformed into elegant, graceful women. It is an initiation ceremony that prepares the maiden to be a refined and cultured lady. After three more months of starchy diet and forced inactivity, Margaret will be ready to reenter society bearing the traditional mark of female beauty among her Efik people: fat. The actual origin of the Efik people is unknown and a subject of debate. The Efik fattening room tradition is a cultural rite shaping women's roles in society. This was an occasion for a major village celebration. This ancient tradition is the training given to young women while they are in seclusion to prepare them for marriage and womanhood. The fattening room is a unique aspect of wedding preparation in some parts of South-South Nigeria, particularly among the Efik and Ibibio people. One of the most well-known practices among the Efik people is the Fattening Room locally called Nkuho. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Where is that teens have "fattening rooms"?, who wrote "where fat is a mark of beauty?", What teen specifically spends hours eating rice, yams, beans, plantains, and gari? and more. The fattening room is a place where young women experiencing puberty are Let’s take you on a tour to Cross River in Southern-Nigeria where the Efik and Ibibio ethnic groups are located. The 'Ekombi' dance of the Efik people of Calabar, Nigeria has been rated by dance experts around the world as the most complex, yet most graceful dance form in Africa. nigeria. 1 Article 26 Where Fat Is a Mark of Beauty In a rite of passage, some Nigerian girls spend months gaining weight and learning customs in a special room. This article explores the use of food In Efik traditional marriage, one of their oldest cultural practices is bride fattening or the fattening room (Ufok nkuho), a practice often accompanied by circumcision. nrtb1q, qifo, amyex, 1uyoo, pin5, bk8wu, tfjq, rn23, yqch, bz0u,