{{infobox ethnic group | group = Bahumono | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = Bahumono_traditional_dancer.jpg | image_caption = Bahumono traditional dancer | population = 58,000 (1989, est)<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12743 Joshua Project - Kohumono,Bahumono in Nigeria<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> | popplace = Abi, Cross River | regions = | region1 = {{NGR}} | pop1 = 58,000<ref name=autogenerated1 /> | ref1 = | langs = Kohumono | rels = Christianity, Traditional African religions | related_groups = | related-c = Yakurr, Efik, Orring people, Igbo people, Ekoi people, Biase and Anang }} The '''Bahumono (Ehumono, Kohumono)''' are a southeastern Nigerian ethnic group that primarily resides in the Abi local government area of Cross River State.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-26 |title=The Bahumono People Of Cross River • Connect Nigeria |url=https://articles.connectnigeria.com/the-bahumono-people-of-cross-river/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Connect Nigeria |language=en-GB}}</ref> They are the largest ethnic group in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-26 |title=The Bahumono People Of Cross River • Connect Nigeria |url=https://articles.connectnigeria.com/the-bahumono-people-of-cross-river/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Connect Nigeria |language=en-GB}}</ref>

They speak the Kohumono language.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ekpo, Samuel Etan.|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/606194101|title=Unwe a Khohumono|date=1993|publisher=[S.E. Ekpo] |isbn=978-2210-00-5|oclc=606194101}}</ref>

==History== {{further|Abi, Cross River }} The Bahumono live along the Cross River, but according to Bahumono tradition and folklore, the group migrated from Hotumusa. Hotumusa, is the land where the rock '''Ekpon á Rara''' is located. And it is that land, the Bahumono consider their spiritual and ancestral homeland.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Abi Local Government|url=https://www.crossriverhub.com/about-abi-local-government/|access-date=2021-09-14|website=Cross River Hub|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914070728/https://www.crossriverhub.com/about-abi-local-government/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During the colonial era, the Bahumono opposed the laws of the British Empire.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-26 |title=The Bahumono People Of Cross River • Connect Nigeria |url=https://articles.connectnigeria.com/the-bahumono-people-of-cross-river/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Connect Nigeria |language=en-GB}}</ref> The Bahumono, alongside other upper Cross River tribes, foiled the Cross River expeditions of 1895, 1896 and 1898. These particular efforts resulted in the deaths of several British personnel.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2 February 1898|title=British massacred in Africa;Cross River expedition defeated by the Ediba tribes|work=The New York times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1898/02/06/archives/british-massacred-in-africa-cross-river-expedition-defeated-by-the.html|access-date=1 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=5 February 1898|title=British fight in West Africa.; Capt. Fenton killed in an engagement against the Ediba tribes|work=The New York times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1898/02/05/archives/british-fight-in-west-africa-capt-fenton-killed-in-an-engagement.html|access-date=1 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=April 1905|title=Cross River Natives|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a093919|journal=African Affairs|volume=4|issue=XV|pages=383–385|doi=10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a093919|issn=1468-2621|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

The Bahumono were once part of the Aro Confederacy<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-26 |title=The Bahumono People Of Cross River • Connect Nigeria |url=https://articles.connectnigeria.com/the-bahumono-people-of-cross-river/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Connect Nigeria |language=en-GB}}</ref> although, as of now, the tribe consists of eight villages: Ebijakara (Ebriba), Ebom, Ediba, Usumutong, Anong, Igonigoni, Afafanyi, and Abeugo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nigeria |first=Media |date=2022-03-01 |title=History Of Abi LGA, Cross River State |url=https://www.medianigeria.com/history-of-abi-lga-cross-river-state/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Media Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref> They are closely related to the Efik, Waawa, Yakurr, Akunakuna, Ekoi people, and Annang people.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-26 |title=The Bahumono People Of Cross River • Connect Nigeria |url=https://articles.connectnigeria.com/the-bahumono-people-of-cross-river/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Connect Nigeria |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Culture and tradition== The Bahumono culture and tradition shares similarities with neighboring communities {{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}. Individuals trace their origin and ancestry through the Eshi which literally means womb or navel, people from the same eshi are considered as brothers and sisters and will trace their origin to the same father and mother similar to the Ananng people.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-26 |title=The Bahumono People Of Cross River • Connect Nigeria |url=https://articles.connectnigeria.com/the-bahumono-people-of-cross-river/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Connect Nigeria |language=en-GB}}</ref> Apart from the Eshi, villages are further divided into Rovone.

The practice of the Ekpe secret society and fattening room is widely observed while few people practice the Bahumono religion {{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}. ===Festivals=== Major Bahumono festivals include; * Rathobai <ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-26 |title=The Bahumono People Of Cross River • Connect Nigeria |url=https://articles.connectnigeria.com/the-bahumono-people-of-cross-river/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Connect Nigeria |language=en-GB}}</ref> * Afu wrestling festival <ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-26 |title=The Bahumono People Of Cross River • Connect Nigeria |url=https://articles.connectnigeria.com/the-bahumono-people-of-cross-river/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Connect Nigeria |language=en-GB}}</ref> * Masquerade parade <ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-26 |title=The Bahumono People Of Cross River • Connect Nigeria |url=https://articles.connectnigeria.com/the-bahumono-people-of-cross-river/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Connect Nigeria |language=en-GB}}</ref> * Oboko <ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-26 |title=The Bahumono People Of Cross River • Connect Nigeria |url=https://articles.connectnigeria.com/the-bahumono-people-of-cross-river/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Connect Nigeria |language=en-GB}}</ref> * The annual Humono festival<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bright|first=Collins|date=2019|title=Anong Bahumono Festival Cross River State|url=https://www.nigeriagalleria.com|website=Nigeria galleria}}</ref> * The traditional boat racing challenge <ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-26 |title=The Bahumono People Of Cross River • Connect Nigeria |url=https://articles.connectnigeria.com/the-bahumono-people-of-cross-river/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Connect Nigeria |language=en-GB}}</ref> * Obam <ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-26 |title=The Bahumono People Of Cross River • Connect Nigeria |url=https://articles.connectnigeria.com/the-bahumono-people-of-cross-river/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Connect Nigeria |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Cuisine=== The Bahumono traditional food is similar to the Efik, Igbo and other Cross River communities. Major dishes include * Fufu {{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} * Okho(Oha) soup {{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} * Edikang Ikong {{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} * Ehkpan {{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}

==See also== * Usumutong * Ebijakara * Ediba

==References== {{reflist}} Category:Society of Nigeria Category:Ethnic_groups_in_Nigeria