©Holyns Hogan, 2024
Elsewhere, I noted that etymology and neology (i.e. words invention through coinage; compounding; cocktailing and/or corruption) are basic origins of words in history.
Accordingly, I refer readers to the subject of this article as treated below.
1. MBARAKPA
Etymologically, this original Efik word, translated to Regatta and defined as “a meeting for boat races” (WordWeb Dictionary, 2018)/MBUBA UBOM in Efik, originated from the corruption of marriage between two distinct but carefully matched Efik words- MBARA and AKPA.
Mbara, an Efik word created by adding “M”-suffix to “bara”(seen for instance, in bara ikañ -set fire; bara itọk -to run very fast/race; and bara sin -figuratively used to mean [to] intensify energy/ effort) is an Efik homonym for dew, intensified effort, to race, act of setting fire/something ablaze. Akpa, on the other hand, is Efik word/name for river.
Therefore, Mbarakpa (rendered fully as “mbara ke akpa” and translated to racing in the river) contextually infers Efik annual ceremonial river race by decorated boats that traditionally represent Efik 12 ancestral clans.
