Annang

The Annang are an ethnic group in southern Nigeria, with most communities located in Akwa Ibom State and smaller populations in neighboring states and in the Nigerian diaspora. They speak the Annang language, a Niger-Congo language closely related to Ibibio and Efik, and share linguistic and cultural ties with these groups.

The Annang homeland lies in the coastal forest region of the Niger Delta, and the people are traditionally organized around villages and clans. Local governance centers on village heads and elders who oversee customary law, land, and communal decisions. Social life is built around extended families, rites of passage, and ceremonies for birth, marriage, and death. The culture features music, dance, crafts, and various communal celebrations that reflect agricultural cycles and historical heritage.

Religiously, the Annang historically practiced indigenous beliefs and ancestor worship, but today the majority identify as Christians, including Protestant and Catholic denominations, with minorities maintaining traditional practices or Islam.

Economically, the Annang have long engaged in agriculture—yams, cassava, palm products, and vegetables—and fishing along riverine areas. In contemporary times, many work in education, public administration, commerce, and the oil and gas sector, reflecting Akwa Ibom’s position as an oil-producing region. The Annang maintain a strong cultural identity while participating in Nigeria’s modern economy and national life. Related groups include the Ibibio and Efik peoples.