The Ekpe Leopard Society in Calabar

Record summary

Ekpe, also called Egbo in some historical sources, was a graded association involved in ritual performance, political authority, law, taxation, and trade across the Cross River region. European observers often sensationalized its secrecy and leopard symbolism, while local histories emphasize governance and intercommunity networks. The lead matters for comparing esoteric initiation, masquerade, coded communication, and colonial transformation. Names and institutional structures varied among Efik, Ibibio, and neighboring communities, so a specific locality should be established before comparison.