Ethnographic Studies of Bakor Stone Monolith and Their Implication to Tourism Development
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Abstract
Monoliths in the Cross River State of Nigerian are found in a circular form, they are commonly known as Bakor or Ikom monoliths, because of the universality in conceptualisation and the configuration of the stones, they are sometimes referred to in this research as stone circles. Bakor speaking communities hold a large number of magnificent stone carvings called Bakor monoliths which exhibit a high level of artistic, qualities, and creative awareness by the ancient civilisation that creates them. The study is aimed at examining monoliths in Bakor LGA, to ascertain the socio-cultural and religious beliefs associated with these monoliths and their contributions to tourism development in Cross River State. A mixed-method of qualitative and quantitative research was employed. The result reveals that Cross River State monoliths have the potentials of attracting tourists, and are valued by host communities. However, the monoliths are under human and natural threats. The paper advocates that if Bakor monoliths are developed for cultural tourism, it will create job opportunities, improve the living standard of the host community, generate revenue, and guaranty their preservation, among others.
Article Details
How to Cite
Ajoma Simon Okwoche, Emeka Emmanuel Okonkwo, & Tawo Alfred Oyong. (2021). Ethnographic Studies of Bakor Stone Monolith and Their Implication to Tourism Development. Lakhomi Journal Scientific Journal of Culture, 2(4), 171-187. https://doi.org/10.33258/lakhomi.v2i4.556
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References
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Thom, A. (1978). Megalithic remains in Britain and Brittany clarendo, Oxford: university Press.
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Enemuo, Ogechi (2009). Potential of cultural resources in tourism development of Abia State, Ph.D thesis department archaeology and tourism, university of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Vesperini, H. (2007). Nigeria’s answer to stonehenge: the Ikom monoliths. [Online] AFP. Availableat:http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/alegm%iogc4zutlrgqyevoqjfp cmwar Accessed on 10th June, 2019.
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Witt, D. (2012). Professor Alexander Thom and megalith astronomy: a revival of interest, SOUE news, http://www.soue.org.uk/souenews/issue8/thom.html. [Accessed the 20th January 20119, 11:20].
Wisker, G. (2009). The undergraduate research handbook. New York. Balgrave Macmillian.
World Monoliths Fund (2008). Ikom monoliths of Cross River State. Retrieved from www.wmf.org/project/ikom. monoliths-crossriver-state (Access the 05th January 2019).
Wikipedia (2018). Stone circle homepage-ancient wisdom: online guide to prehistory. Retrieved from http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/stonecircle.html. (Access 20th December 2018, 09:10)
/02/06/Catherine-Acholonu-replies-Helen-vesperinis-on-ikom-monoliths-Nigeria-answer- to-Stonehenge- Accessed on 12th January, 2018.
Adekoya, A. (2005). Ikom monoliths to change status of Cross River tourism for development.
Retrieved from http://www.megalithic.co.ukarticle.php Accessed on the 12th July 2018.
Agashi, V. (2017). Heritage resources in Ogoja unpublished PGD Thesis, University of Nigeria Nsukka.
Akpang, E.C. (2014). Beyond anthropological and associational discourse- interrogating the minimalism of Ikom monoliths as a concept and found object art. Global Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Vol. 2. No. 1, pp. 67-84.
Akpang, C. E. (2013). Found object, recycled art, readymade or junk art? ambiguity in modern African art. Arts and Design Studies, 12(1), 41-48.
Akpang, C. E. (2013). Traditionalism in contemporary art: re-contextualizing African ideographs through hybrid aesthetics. Arts and Design Studies, 11, 25-36.
Allison, P. (1967). Cross River State monoliths. Lagos: Department of antiquities, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Allison, P. (1969). Cross River monoliths. department of the antiquities federal republic of Nigeria.
Amaratunga, R.G., Baldry, D.,Sarshar,m., & Newton, D. (2002). Qualitative and quantitative research in the in build environment. application of mixed research approach. Work Study
Renamed International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management 51(1) 17 31.
Aruku M, I (2000). The Ekajuk Culture, Calabar parfelly prianters.
Iwake (2005). Tourism potentials of obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State. unpublished B.A. project, Department of Archaeology and Tourism, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Bill, D. (2018). "'Black panther': how Wakanda Got a written language | IndieWire". cite web requires |website= (help). Access 9th August, 2018.
Bowen G (2009) Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal Vol. 9 No. 22 Pp 27-40.
Cooper, C. Fletcher, I. Gilbert, D. & Wanhill, S (1999). Tourism principle and practice. second edition. Harlow, Longman.
Christopher, D. A (2013 ). Identifying heritage resources in Ogoja unpublished master thesis university of Nigeria, Nsukka..
Dayrell, E. (1910). Some Nsibidi sign Man. the royal anthropological institute of Great Britain and Ireland. 10: 113–114. doi:10.2307/2787339. JSTOR 2787339.
De Jonge, R. M. (2010). The Ikom monoliths and the flood. Retrieved from http://www.barry.warmkessel.com/IKOM-4.html. Access on the 4th of May 2018
Diminiyi, F,E (1995). The Bakor traditional new Yam festival: its cultural and economic implication on Ekajuk clan: Unpublished NCE Project, Department of History and Social Studies. Cross River College of Education, Akamkpa.
Egede, E, E (1988). History of Bakor, Calabar: Macky environs publishers.
Esu, B.B. & Ukata (2012). Enhancing the tourism value of Cross River State monoliths and stone circle through geo mapping and ethnography. Journal of Hospitality Manage and Tourism. Vol. 3 No.6 Pp106-116.
Halloway, J.C (2006). The business of tourism. England Pearson Education ltd Edinburgh hate. Heritage of Japan (2012). Discovering the historical context and culture of the people of Japan.
Retrieved from http; heritageofjapan.wordpress.com /pacing-the Paleolithic-path/stone-age-access. Accessed the 20th May 2019, 10: 40.
International Council of Museums, (1982) and Association of European Open-air Museums. Principles for the Creation and Operation of Open-Air Museums. Association of European Open-Air Museums.
Isichei, E. A. (1997). A History of African societies to 1870: Cambridge university Press. p. 357. ISBN 0-521-45599-5.
Isichei, E. A. (1870). A History of African societies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997.
Ivor, M. & Abu, E. (2015). Cross River monoliths in critical danger of total destruction: department of history and international studies, university of Calabar, Cross River State.
Knight C (2012). The mystery of the megalithic yard revealed: How to create the prehistoric measurement unit for yourself. Retrieved from Http://ancient-wisdom.co.uk/megalithicyard.htm#thom. Accessed the May 2018, 12.40.
Macgregor, J. K (1909). "Some notes on nsibidi". Journal of the royal anthropological institute. royal anthropological institute of Great Britain and Ireland. 39: 209–219. doi:10.2307/2843292. JSTOR 2843292.
Miller, H. & Flugel, M (1999). Tourism and okologies, forsdungsiasstitact fvi freigeit and tourismus (FIF) an der university at Bern, Bern, Pp310.
Murphy, A (1983). Ogoja yesterday, today and tomorrow. Calabar: Igoli Ushie Prianter
Nash, M. (1963). “Introduction approaches to the study of economic growth”. Journal of social Science vol. 29, No. 1.
Nkombe W.M. (2006). Ekajuk history and aspect of culture. Ogoja pafelly printing press. Okpoko, A.I. & Okpoko, P.U. (2002).Tourism in Nigeria. Nsukka: Afro-Orbis publishing co.Ltd.
Okpoko, A.I & Ezeadichie E.U (2002). Cultural heritage and sustainable development in Africa. Nsukka. Journal of humanity No. 12, Pp 1-8.
Rentzhog, S. (2007). Open Air Museums: The History and Future of a Visionary Idea. Sweden: Carlssons.
Slogar, Christopher (2007). Early ceramics from Calabar, Nigeria: towards a history of nsibidi. African arts. University of California. 40 (1):1829. doi:10.1162/afar2007.40.
Slogar, Christopher (2005). Iconography and continuity in West Africa: Calabar terracottas and the arts of the Cross River region of Nigeria/Cameroon. Eyo, Ekpo (ed.). University of Maryland. pp. 58–115.
Telfer, D.J, Sharpley, R. (2007). Tourism and development in developing world: Routledge. P 280.
Thom, A. (1967). Megalithic sites in Britain. Retrieved from http://ancient-wisdom.co.uk/megalithicyard.htm#thom. Access on the 20th of May 2012.
Thom, A. (1978). Megalithic remains in Britain and Brittany clarendo, Oxford: university Press.
UNESCO (2007). Alok Ikom monoliths UNESCO online retrieved from http://whc.unesco.org/tentativelist/5173. Access on 20th of march, 2019.
Enemuo, Ogechi (2009). Potential of cultural resources in tourism development of Abia State, Ph.D thesis department archaeology and tourism, university of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Vesperini, H. (2007). Nigeria’s answer to stonehenge: the Ikom monoliths. [Online] AFP. Availableat:http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/alegm%iogc4zutlrgqyevoqjfp cmwar Accessed on 10th June, 2019.
Wall, G. & Matheison, H. (2006). Tourism change and opportunities. England: Pearson education Ltd. Pp 30.
Witt, D. (2012). Professor Alexander Thom and megalith astronomy: a revival of interest, SOUE news, http://www.soue.org.uk/souenews/issue8/thom.html. [Accessed the 20th January 20119, 11:20].
Wisker, G. (2009). The undergraduate research handbook. New York. Balgrave Macmillian.
World Monoliths Fund (2008). Ikom monoliths of Cross River State. Retrieved from www.wmf.org/project/ikom. monoliths-crossriver-state (Access the 05th January 2019).
Wikipedia (2018). Stone circle homepage-ancient wisdom: online guide to prehistory. Retrieved from http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/stonecircle.html. (Access 20th December 2018, 09:10)