Abakuá

Abakua or Abaku? is a men's secret society, which originated in what is now Nigeria, within the Negbe people of the Calabar region, and was brought to Cuba by the African slave trade http://www.cse.ogi.edu/Drum/groove/abakua.html. The first such societies are thought to have arisen around the port of Havana in the latter part of the 19th century, and this remains the main area of Abaku? implantation, especially the district of Guanabacoa in eastern Havana, where Afro-Cuban culture is vibrant. Nevertheless, Abaku? rapidly included members of European descent, especially among freemasons.

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Abaku? members, known as ?a?igos, derive their culture from the Efik and Efo of the Cross River Delta in Nigeria. They worshipped a water deity known as Ndem Efik, and Epke was the name of both a forest deity and a leapord related secret society http://www.batadrums.com/background/abakua.htm.

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The rhythmic dance music of the Abaku? can also be traced to one of Cuba's musical traditions, the rumba. The Calle family of Efo origin supposedly invented the guaguanco, a type of rumba.

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Secret society: A secret society is a social organization that requires its members to conceal certain activities—such as rites of initiation or club ceremonies—from outsiders. Members may be required to conceal or deny their membership, and are often sworn to hold the society's secrets by an oath. Th...

Nigeria: The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a country in West Africa. It is the most populous country in Africa. It borders Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, Niger in the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the south. Major cities include the capital Abuja, the former capital Lagos, Ibadan, Osog...

Calabar: Calabar is a city in south eastern Nigeria. The City is watered by the Calabar and Great Qua rivers and creeks of the Cross River (from its inland Delta). It is the capital of Cross River State....