Interaction of Secularism and Religion among Ibibio ethnic group of Ibiaku Itam Community, Nigeria: Documentation and Living Libraries

Abstract

This paper is based on a survey conducted by the author covering between 1990 and 2010. The survey was geared to find out the extent of Christian influence and education on cultural modifications and the social system in Ibiaku Itam community of Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigerian. The community as noted had previous Scottish missionary encounter decades ago, though there were no primary data sources on their latter’s impact within the period covered in this study. Through preliminary findings made, only key persons in the community and significantly Heads of families could offer reliable information in that respect. Accordingly, participant observation and direct interview was the medium of data collection with four categories of indigenes: Chiefs, Family heads, clergymen and a former governor of the State. It was found that Christianity and ‘modernization’ were main factors to cultural modifications other than education for the fact that resident indigenes took high cognizance of their cultural values and customs. The experience however re-established that in documenting local information, events and experience in traditional African setting, observation and oral sources (living libraries) are still commonly relevant.