Farming
This is the main occupation of the people of Ekpeye. Work to be done by men and women are clearly defined. The task of clearing the bush. falling trees, tilling the ground, making moulds staking of yams, etc. are exclusively for men. Though of recent, because men are involved in white-collar jobs, the women are venturing into doing the above mentioned tasks. Yams are generally referred to as men's crops.
The women are involved in planting crops such as cassava, three leaf yams, cocoyam, pepper, corn, melon, okra, pumpkins, tomatoes, vegetables, weeding and harvesting most of the crops.
Types of Farms
There are two types of farms: distance farms (a few kilometers from
home) and home farms that are near or around the home. In the distance
farms, plantains, bananas, economic trees such as cola nuts, pears, etc.
are the crops on the farms. In home farms, yams, cassava, cocoyam,
vegetables, pepper, etc. are the main crops on the farm.
The distance farms are made in forests, unvirginated for that purpose. The home farms are on a long time unvirginated forests. Shifting system of cultivation is mainly used. After harvesting from a piece of land, the farmland is allowed to fallow for a period of three to seven years.
Planting Seasons
There are two planting seasons among the Ekpeye people. Men plant the
yams between the months of March to May and harvest from January to
February. After men have harvested their yams, women will start their
own farming on the same piece of land called Uche-Ukpu. Crops such as
water yam, cocoyam, vegetables, pepper, etc. are cultivation. Just of
recent, cassava is demanded more than yams, which makes the system of
fallowing very difficult top Practice.
Cropping and Diety Worship
Cassava was a crop imported into Ekpeye. In the olden days, it was
believed that the goddess of women called Ebilika contributed more to
harvest of the farm. Cocoyam was regarded as being her making, hence
Ebilika (deity) shrine is prepared for every good female farmer in
Ekpeye. The symbol is a type of special cocoyam called "Nali" planted at
a corner of the woman's house with an old hoe called oguu and a calabash
pot called agbu-gbolo, believed to be used by the spirit in the farm.
This concept contributed to cocoyam being a holy crop for juju priest in
Ekpeye land and marked as a special diet for them on the special diet
for them on the special day of Ekpeye week days of Eke, Udhie, Izu and
Ehwo, in which their juju may forbid them to eat cassava. The regard of
cocoyam as the women's crop and its spiritual conception to the diet of
the juju priest on special days makes it a general staple food on the
days of ogwu Adaunwo/Ekpeye festival. And it is during or after the ogwu
Adaunwo/Ekpeye that the chief priest of Ekpeye juju can eat new yams,
that day is usually a special feast day for him called Ubeshi-gbidhi.
Professional native doctors both men and women are inclusive in the belief and act accordingly. They will not eat new yams until after Ubeshi-gbidhi ceremony.
The first daughter (Adaunwo) as a custom in Ekpeye land has a very forceful stand in every home. As an honor to her, every farmer in Ekpeye is expected to reserve at least a rope of yams in his barn called Ekwe before planting. And on the day of the planting, the biggest yam in the barn is given to her to sit down called "gbidhi unazi ezi" and good fish to cook it. New yam festival are held annually to signify harvest season or eating of fresh fruits in Ekpeye land during which thanks are given to god/goddess of the land.