// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Eket say to its language friend? "You speak my tongue.

Ekid
Native to	Nigeria
Region	Akwa Ibom State
Native speakers	400,000 (2020)
Language family	Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Cross River Lower Cross Ibibio-Efik Ekid
Language codes
ISO 639-3	Either: eke – Ekit etb – Etebi
Glottolog	ekit1245
ELP	Ekit
	Etebi

Ekid (Esit Eket and Eket) is sub Ibibio-Efik language of Nigeria.

The Ekid language belongs to the lower Cross River branch of Benue-Congo languages and is closely related to ibibio varieties. It originated from proto-forms associated with ancient migration of speakers from the Cameroon highlands into the Cross River basin. Linguistics evidence suggests these movements were part of broader Ibibio expansion, with group like the Afaha settling in Eket areas after crossing from Usak Edet(modern Isangele in Cameroon) southward into present-day Akwa Ibom State, where they established fishing and farming communities amid dense forest.These migrations occurring in waves driven by environmental pressures, conflicts and resources quests unfolded gradually from pre-15th-century periods, fostering linguistics continuity through shared totems, deities and genealogies.