It is a general belief amongst the Ibibios and Efiks, although hardly ever substantiated, that the members of the Ekpe society invented the Nsibidi. Ekpe 180px|Ekpe Ekoi skin-covered headdress The Amama Social importance is attached to the highest ranks of Ekpe-men, called the Amama. At least in the past, very large sums were paid to attain these upper levels. The trade-off is that the Amama often control the majority of the community wealth. The Amama often appropriate hundreds of acres of palm trees for their own use and, with the profits they earn, ensure that their sons achieve comparable rank, which has the effect of limiting access to economic gain for other members of the community. The Ekpe society requires that its initiates sponsor feasts for the town, which foster the appearance of the redistribution of wealth by providing the poor with food and drink . Art and ceremonies The Ekpe-house, an oblong building like the nave of a church, usually stands in the middle of a given village. The walls are of clay elaborately painted inside and ornamented with clay figures in relief. Inside are wooden images to which reverence is paid.%DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% At Ekpe festivals masked dancers perform. Some of the older masks show horns and filed teeth. Non initiates and women are not allowed to come in contact with the masked dancers .
 Ekpe 180px|Ekpe Ekoi skin-covered headdress The Amama Social importance is attached to the highest ranks of Ekpe-men, called the Amama. At least in the past, very large sums were paid to attain these upper levels. The trade-off is that the Amama often control the majority of the community wealth. The Amama often appropriate hundreds of acres of palm trees for their own use and, with the profits they earn, ensure that their sons achieve comparable rank, which has the effect of limiting access to economic gain for other members of the community. The Ekpe society requires that its initiates sponsor feasts for the town, which foster the appearance of the redistribution of wealth by providing the poor with food and drink %DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% .
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It is a general belief amongst the Ibibios and Efiks, although hardly ever substantiated, that the members of the Ekpe society invented the Nsibidi.
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Art and ceremonies The Ekpe-house, an oblong building like the nave of a church, usually stands in the middle of a given village. The walls are of clay elaborately painted inside and ornamented with clay figures in relief. Inside are wooden images to which reverence is paid.
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At Ekpe festivals masked dancers perform. Some of the older masks show horns and filed teeth. Non initiates and women are not allowed to come in contact with the masked dancers