Yakö people
Lokạạ | |
|---|---|
Ceremony of the coronation and presentation of the new Obol Lopon of Ugep | |
| Total population | |
| 120,000 (1989, est.) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Yakurr Local Government (Nigeria) | |
| Languages | |
| Yakö | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Bahumono, Efik and Igbo |
The Yakurr (also Yakö and Yakạạ) live in five compact towns in Cross River State (Obono 2001, p. 3), Nigeria. They were formally known as Umor, Ekoli, Ilomi, Nkoibolokom and Yakurr be Ibe. Due to linguistic problems encountered by the early European visitors, the settlements have come to be known by their mispronounced versions – Ugep, Ekori, Idomi, Nko and Mkpani (Okoi-Uyouyo 2002). In the latter, it is a product of yakpanikpani (a Lokạạ word for "tricks"), a name, which Enang (1980) says was given to them by the Ugep people after being tricked in a conflict (Yakurr News).