Basket Making
Basket making is an auxiliary occupation among the people of Ekpeye. The materials used for making is obtained from two objects called edhi or ekwe and ega, got form swampy places and forests. They are creeping stems with thorns. They are processed to products such as ukpo, ogbani, ekpa-edhi, etc.
Mat making is practiced by both male and female, and the young and old. There are two types of mats:
-
Mats for sleeping. Mats are made from stem of screw pine or leaves of reeds called Ekpali and Etele.
-
Mats for roofing used as thatches are made from palm-wine fronds called Okayi.
Other occupations of Ekpeye people include black smiting, weaving and carpentry.