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Chapter 6. Demographic and Socio-Economic Overview Including Peoples and Languages of Bakassi and Social Interaction
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145 Chapter 6 Demographic And Socio-Economic Overview Including Peoples And Languages Of Bakassi And Social Interaction Demographic Distribution of the People of the Bakassi Region The region, as already mentioned in the previous chapters, has a rich history dating back to the early 1400’s and before. The native coastal populations are made up of the Old Calabar Kingdom stock that comprises of groups with various origins e.g. Bakassi (Effik/Ibibio, Igbo), Oroko. Senator Henshaw (2008) insisted that following the Conference of Berlin in 1884, a bilateral treaty was signed between Queen Victoria of England with the King and Chiefs of Old Calabar. This treaty led to the partitioning of Africa; enabling the United Kingdom to exercise control over the territory of Old Calabar and its sovereign territories, including Bakassi. The author has also demonstrated how the influx of German, British, Portuguese, Swedish and Norwegian merchants, fishermen, explorers, settlers, sea pirates and the endo-migration of other Cameroonians, led to the diversification of skills and production systems. The co-habitation and intermarriage between the original natives of the region and the foreign migrants led to the geo-ethnic stratification of the region. This miscegenation of peoples and cultures has contributed to the rich diversity of peoples and cultures of the various ethnic groups that constitute the Ndian Division and its peoples who can be broadly divided into four key groups: x The ‘natives’ are considered to be those people originating from the South-West Region in general, namely Oroko (Balondo, Batanga, Barombi), Isangele, Bakassi (Effik/Ibibio/Igbo), Bakweri and the Bakolle. Some of these populations like the Bakolle and Batanga originated from the Bakoko, Bassa, Abo, Douala, Kribi Batanga and related races, together with the first occupants of the region who were 146 the Wovea and the Effik and Ibibio (natives of the Calabar kingdom). The Banyangi, natives of Mamfe, in Manyu Division, are found in several localities e.g. Ilor Balondo, Funge Balondo, Dibonda Balondo, Mbonge and Munyenge Peace. x Beside these natives, we find a relatively large numbers of populations born of the North-West Region called Grassfields or Bamenda. They are present in all the localities of this area. Other Cameroonian ethnic groups that are found in limited number are the Beti also called ‘Yaounde’, Bakoko and Bassa. Most of these populations settled a long time ago, working in the Pamol and CDC plantations. One Mousgoum community settled at Yenda (Bamusso) in 2006. These groups from the Lake Chad Basin were encouraged to settle in the area, by the national authorities, because its members are commonly known as hard working; they have a good knowledge of fishing. This latest group is intended by the national authorities to gradually replace the native Effik and Ibibio and Igbo fishermen who are erroneously identified as Nigerians who constitute ninety per cent of the fishers in the Ndian Division. x The largest ethnic group in the exploration area is the Effik/Ibibio, Oroko and their sub-clans from neighbouring Nigeria. The Effik/Ibibio are the most numerous in the Bakassi region Oroko and are found along the fishing villages in the entire Ndian Division, while the Oroko sub-clans are more numerous in five of the districts of the Ndian sub- division, namely Dikome-Balue, Ekondo Titi, Mundemba, Toko and Bamusso. The high rate of rural exodus despite the increase in population in the Ndian Division and lack of interest in the fishing activities has led to the domination of the Effik, Ibibio, Oron and Ibo in Bekumu, and the Ghanaian and Beninois ethnic groups, most especially in Enyenge, who practice Awasha fishing. Bakassi Peninsula Demographics A rapid demographic overview of Bakassi projects that the 300,000 figure officially (Fongot Kinni, 2005, Léopold Maxime Eko, 2005) given above at the introduction is far bellow the real population which is estimated by the local unhabitants to stand at over one million [3.235.199.19] Project MUSE (2024-03-19 09:22 GMT) 147 (±1,000,000) inhabitants. The population of Bakassi is made up essentially of the Effik and Ibibio Ethnicities and sub-ethnicities interspersed with Ijaw and Igbo ethnicities. Since a detailed demographic study has not yet been carried out before and after the Bakassi War, it is advisable to take these figures as just tentatively accurate after a rapid appraisal process. Table 6.1 Villages visited as part of the physical and mental health; and socio-cultural and socio-economic appraisal report on ADDAX seismic activities...