Veiled in Secrecy: Cross River Nsibidi
This paper engages the history of the Cross River region of Nigeria to investigate the sculptural characteristics and inscribed forms found on stone monoliths and compare these findings to contemporary nsibidi practices throughout the region, specifically analyzing nsibidi practices in southern Calabar including Ekpe masquerade and ukara cloth. This analysis focuses primarily on the importance of exposed secrecy, and the power this method enacts among the larger initiated, and non-initiated, community. This paper delves into secrecy and power from a perspective of materiality and iconography, looking specifically at visual and performative depictions of Cross River nsibidi. In doing so, I employ cases of nsibidi from Cross River initiation-based institution Ekpe that make use of masquerade and performance arts to understand the interdependence of and secrecy and power.
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