abaku

Abaku is a term that can refer to multiple topics, most notably the Abakuá, a male secret fraternal organization in Cuba with roots in West Africa, and, in scholarly contexts, to related West African ethnic and cultural networks linked to Ekpe/Nkpe traditions.

Abakuá in Cuba refers to a historically Afro-Cuban secret society that emerged in the 19th century among descendants of enslaved Africans from the region around the Cross River in present-day Nigeria and Cameroon. The organization is organized into regiments and is known for initiation rites, distinctive symbols, and ceremonial performances that include music and dance. Although it operates as a closed society with initiations and oaths, Abakuá has left a visible imprint on Afro-C Cuban culture, particularly in music, ritual vocabulary, and masquerade traditions. Its practices have been the subject of anthropological study and have at times faced public scrutiny and legal controversy within Cuban society.

In West Africa, the term Abaku (and its variants) appears in relation to Ekpe/Nkpe-based secret societies among the Efik, Ibibio, and neighboring groups in the Cross River region. These traditions historically functioned as networks of social governance, diplomacy, and concealed ceremonial life. The Cuban Abakuá tradition is commonly described as having drawn inspiration or lineage from these West African sister practices, though distinctions exist between the diaspora organization and its African roots.

Spelling variants include Abaku, Abakua, and Abakuá, with the latter forms more frequently used in Cuban and scholarly literature. The exact meaning and usage of the term can vary by source and context.