Amamaisim: Ancient Pygmies of Nigeria’s Lower Cross River
Image caption: Figure of a Pygymy Dance Leader The mysterious Amamaisim have long been the subject of fascination for the people of the lower Cross River region. These ancient pygmies, with their distinctive tails, are described in the various folktales and literature of the area as being intelligent and skilled in farming, hunting, and trading. It is said that they used the bow and arrow as their hunting equipment, and were known to have existed in a number of lower Cross River communities, including the Efik, Eniong, Eki, Ibibio, and Oron. According to legend, the Amamaisim were first sighted in Akpabuyo by the Efik, though there is no evidence to suggest that they were encountered in other areas such as Ikpa ene, Ndodoghi, Uruan, or the Calabar coast. In the 1930s, colonial anthropologist Jeffreys recorded accounts of Amamaisim sightings from the Efik and the Eniong, and attempts were made in the 1970s to document these stories. Many Ibibio communities also claim that these pygmies ...