The Journal of Arts, Humanities and Development Studies Research (JAHDSR) Vol.6, No.3, pp 23 – 37; September 2025
The Practice of Afiye/ Aiyebe Caste System in Yala-Ikom (Yala Nkum), Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria
1aOnah, Gregory Ajima, 2Patrick O. Odey, 1bEyong, Usang Ubana, 3Grace Gregory Onah,
1cKenneth Onah Odibu & 1dGabriel Aduma Odey
1Department of Religious and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Calabar,
Email: gregoryonah@unical.edu.ng; Orcid No: 0000-0002-4690-2267
1beyongusang@unical.edu.ng; 1codibuken@yahoo.com: 1dadumaodey1980@gmail.com
2Department of History and International Studies, University of Calabar, Nigeria
patrickodey@unical.edu.ng; Orcid No: 0000-0002-4749-1340
3Department of Language Arts Education, University of Calabar, Nigeria
Email: graceonah1@unical.edu.ng; Orcid No: 0009-0008-1381-670X
The practice of Afiye/ Aiyebe Caste System is an age-long practice among the Yala communities of Cross River State, Nigeria. Some works have been done on this practice among the Yala of Yala Local government and of the Obubra Local Government Areas, but no such work had been done on the Yala-Ikom of Ikom Local Government Area. This is not just for historical and record purposes, but also to appraise this practice among the Yala-Ikom and indeed the entire Yala; to get recommendations which will help in the growth and further development of Yala land in general. The paper reflects on the rigid cultural practices of the Yala people in pre-mordial times and the seemingly positive aspect that have taken place among the Yala -Ikom communities of Cross River State. Thus, this research is seen as a welcome development, which could be used as a parameter for the other Yala communities in casting to the dustbin of history these practices that are against the welfare, development and progress of Yala people in general.
Keywords: Afiye, Aiyebe, Yala-Ikom, Slavery