With a population of 2.6 million, the Annag people are located in Akwa Ibom state and Cross river state. The political capital of the Anaang People is Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. They have the Ibibio people, Efit, Eket and Orons as their nearest neighbors.
Here are some facts you probably don’t know about the Annang people;
- They are known for their efficiency in traditional spiritual powers and renowned arts like cement sculptures, masked moral paintings
- They are also known for being a patriarchal society, in the sense that men hold primary power e.g control of property, political leadership. Women are also allowed to hold some positions like the position of the female chief priest.
- It is believed that a woman’s first birth should take place in her mother’s compound. Also, the first female born (Adiaha) is a very important figure in their culture and she commands respect both in her family and in her lineage.
- They are known for some cultural practices like: Disregarding females when it comes to power and positions, grandparents are not supposed to beat their grandchildren, married women are not allowed to cheat on their husbands because it will lead to misfortune.
5.The Annang people are known to be courageous and fearless. The villages can come together to fight a common enemy.
6.They have food taboos like, eating squirrel, python, African black birds and albino python.
7.The Annang people have a fattening room where they fatten up virgin adolescent girls and teach them all they need to know in preparation for marriage.
8.While in the fattening room, they make the young girls sleep on a bamboo bed because they believe it will help them to be conceive easily.