tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8686769.post6074221075527736..comments2016-01-28T04:39:12.919+01:00Jeremy[email protected]Blogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8686769.post-19749269844410306432010-12-05T23:57:08.229+01:002010-12-05T23:57:08.229+01:00How are you sure the hairstyles are long forgotten?Ginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17331681710443845550[email protected]tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8686769.post-69843619914642234342010-09-17T18:42:42.621+01:002010-09-17T18:42:42.621+01:00&quot;During an Abakuá chant, Asuquo danced towards the Cuban musicians; then as the lead drummer stepped forward, Asuquo gestured symbolically with his eyes and hands. A Cuban Abakuá dancer joined them, also using a vocabulary of gestures dense with symbolism. This was perhaps the first time that Ékpè and Abakuá members had met in a performance context, and their ability to communicate through movement contrasted with the divisions between them created by Spanish and English, their respective colonial languages.&quot; Ivor Millers account of a meeting in 2001pamhttp://www.pdbraide.blogspot.com[email protected]tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8686769.post-59015296713595594522010-09-17T18:35:19.530+01:002010-09-17T18:35:19.530+01:00its seems i cant keep away from these posts! <br />the sign language is still used by ekpe initiates... in 2004 a researcher Ivor Miller with the help of Chief Bassey Ekpo Bassey brought the Cuban Abakwa(sp?) society to Calabar to meet with the Ekpe there sponsored by then Donald Dukes christmas festival(theres a huge Ekpe display day during the festival) <br />Actually they first met with thier Nigerian brothers during Efik day celebration in the US. I heard from a friend who was there that grown men broke down and cried when they realized they could recognize to an extent the sign language. The Cuban version of the Ekpe masquerade is very similar to the old style which wasnt as flamboyant as the ones now.<br /> I cried at presentations done in Calabar. Abakwa in Cuba also protected slaves and even aided freedom. Abakwa is thought now to be derived from Abakpa a term that people in the area used to descrbe thier land long ago...heres a link cos the story is long and fascinating.<br />http://www.afrocubaweb.com/abakwa/ekpefestival.htmpamhttp://www.pdbraide.blogspot.com[email protected]