The Book, Uyo: An Identity Revealed authored by Maurice Matthew Obot, Otoabasi Akpan Umana and Uwem Jonah Akpan, aims at unveiling the identity of Uyo village, one of the distinct villages in Offot Ukwa Clan of Ibibioland in Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria. It is also to preserve the well-defined identity of the people for the sake of posterity.
The book takes into cognisance of the implication of the contemporary meaning of ‘Uyo’. As a phenomenon, Uyo could be interpreted to mean a village, a local government headquarter, a capital city or a senatorial district.
The book, however, places emphasis on issues that concern Uyo village and its evolution over time.
It adopts an inside-out perspective and requisite historical research methodology. It is hoped that by this intellectual exercise, the persistent ignorance about the existence of an Obio Offot village known as ‘Uyo’ would abate and the sensibility of the indigenes of Uyo village, consisting of Nnung Atai (Atai Uyo), Nnung Akpayak and Nnung Ikot Afia, would be respected, as they continue to bear the heavy burden of accommodation, a legacy bequeathed to them by their forbears.
Uyo, as a village, has never been and will never be “a no-man’s land.”
The people of the above three mentioned families do not have anywhere else to claim as their “home, ” whereas, indigenes of the neighbouring villages, clans and other residents, that ignorantly veil the identity of their villages and claim Uyo, have their own villages of origin.
The book explores the ancient sites in Uyo village and its economic institutions.
It brought to limelight its contacts in the pre-colonial period under the sub-headings: Uyo village and the challenge of modernity; the evolution of Uyo village after pacification; Uyo in the era of the Ibibio State Union ( 1928-1966) and the Nigerian civil war and its impacts on Uyo village .
The influence of the church and the development of Uyo village was also mentioned among others.
The book will soon be presented to the public.
