RELIGION, CULTURE AND WOMEN LIBERATION: IDENTITY OF IBAN I SONG IN EFIK TRADITIONAL SOCIETY

Abstract (English)

ANTHONY OKON BEN
DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL STUDIES,
UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR, CALABAR.
ORCID NO: 0000-0002-9086-8094
Email: anthonyokonben@unical.edu.ng
anthonyokonben7@gmail.com
+2348034397844

GLORIA MAYEN UMUKORO
DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION STUDIES,
UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR, CALABAR.
ORCID NO: 0009-
Email:
+2348037227162

ABSTRACT
There was preliterate social structure that ensured the rights of women in some African societies before colonialism were protected. African philosophy, ideas, and phenomenon are generally influenced by religion and culture which were the foundations on which the societal world views were established. These cultural ideas and traditions formed patriarchal or matriarchal systems which guided and prescribed gender roles of some societies which in turn created inequality and equality. The Efik traditional society have a rich her historical of Iban (women) Isong (land) traditional institution which helped to fight against all forms of gender discrimination, victimization and abuses against women and created a balance by also punishing women who oppressed, abused and victimized their husbands, and men in general. The Iban Isong traditional institution helped to liberate and fight against inequality of all forms and in turn created gender equality and balance in the Efik traditional society. This work identifies as a problem the influence of globalization, Christianity and secularization which has discourage and term the Iban Isong activities as diabolic and archaic. This contemporary trend which discourages women from partaking in Iban Isong has increased and encouraged abuses, discrimination and violence against women and contributed to the underdevelopment of women and the society. This work adopts the qualitative method, it relies on primary data such as oral interviews, focus group discussion and key informants. It also relies on secondary research materials such as textbooks, journals, and internet materials, the datas were descriptively analysed. The research findings shows that, cultural and religious belief of a particular people or society is the root cause of gender equality and inequality. It concludes that the Efik women have use the Iban Isong Traditional institution to liberate women by making gender sensitive laws and entrenched norms in the Efik society which compels the male folk to treat the female folk with some sense of value, esteem and gender balancing.