Speak Ekpeye Fluently Language Initiative

09/06/2026

Among the Ekpeye people, “Ocho Cho Cho Cho” is a communal expression of joy, achievement, and shared emotional release.

It is typically voiced in moments when something significant has been accomplished, when good news is received, or when a collective effort yields success.

Rather than being a private reaction, it is inherently social.

One person initiates the call:
Call: Ocho Cho Cho Cho Cho
Immediately, the community responds in a rising chorus:
Response: uwóh uwóh uwóh … Ocheeeeeee eeeeeiiie

The back-and-forth structure is important. The initiator sets the emotional tone, and the group amplifies it.

The repetition of sound and rhythm builds intensity, turning individual joy into a shared experience. In that moment, language becomes performance, and performance becomes bonding.

What makes this expression particularly grounded in Ekpeye cultural life is its function. It is not decorative speech; it is situational. It may erupt during celebrations, victories, successful harvests, community achievements, or personal milestones that are publicly acknowledged.

The sound itself carries meaning even without translation, the energy communicates fulfillment, relief, and gratitude.

“Iyeumame ni ye, mu’a gba ni ‘Ocho Cho Cho’” reflects this idea of responding appropriately to joy almost like saying: when life gives reason for celebration, the Ekpeye way is to answer it fully, not quietly.

In essence, “Ocho Cho Cho Cho” is a cultural reminder that joy in Ekpeye tradition is not meant to be muted. It is voiced, shared, and echoed until it fills the space and everyone present becomes part of it.

09/06/2026

Who is readyyyyyy?

Our 21 day challenge begins tommorow! Comment with your favorite emoji

08/06/2026

📢 CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS

5 words a Day Ekpeye Challenge

Do you speak Ekpeye? Are you learning Ekpeye? Do you want to help encourage others learn Ekpeye while winning exciting cash prizes?

Join the 21-Day Ekpeye Language Challenge organized by Speak Ekpeye Fluently Language Initiative in collaboration with Usama Ekpeye USA.

📅 Challenge Period:
June 10 – June 30, 2026

🎯 Challenge Task

Create and post a short video teaching five (5) Ekpeye words and their meanings for 21 days.

Words can come from any category, including:
• Family
• Food
• Culture
• Nature
• Traditional occupations
• Everyday conversations
• Proverbs and expressions
• Any other interesting Ekpeye vocabulary

🎥 How to Participate

1. Record a short video teaching five Ekpeye words.
2. Clearly Spell and pronounce each word.
3. Explain the meaning in English.
4. Post your video daily on your social media platform(s).
5. Tag Speak Ekpeye Fluently Language Initiative on all socials & Usama Ekpeye on I, ensure to use the official challenge hashtags.
6. Participants must be following Speak Ekpeye Fluently Language Initiative on all socials and Usama Ekpeye on IG

✨ Instruction for Participants

• Be creative and engaging.
• Speak clearly and confidently.
• Wear an Ekpeye traditional clothing as much as possible.
• Use examples, demonstrations, stories, or objects to explain words.
• Ensure your videos are easy to understand.
• Stay consistent throughout the
challenge and use Ekpeye as much as you can.

Use the following hashtags for your entry:




🏆 Cash Prizes

🥇 First Prize – $100

🥈 Second Prize – $60

🥉 Third Prize – $40

📋 Judging Criteria

1. Consistency (60%)
Participants will be assessed on how consistently they participate throughout the challenge period.

2. Quality and Uniqueness of Vocabulary (40%)
Participants will be assessed on the originality of the words selected, accuracy of meanings, and effectiveness of their explanations.

Join us as we learn, teach, and celebrate the Ekpeye language five words at a time.

06/06/2026

Ewá bhidi'm uzhe li foto'm dhini kpa la (?)

What is the Ekpeye name for this green squash?

In Nigeria, this type of squash (similar to green kabocha, a Cucurbita maxima variety) is grown like other local squash and pumpkin crops. It develops on vigorous vines and is typically ready for harvest about 75–100 days after planting, once the skin becomes hard and can't be pierced easily with a fingernail. General squash-growing data also shows that many varieties mature within 2–3 months after planting, depending on the type and conditions.

In Ekpeye, this squash is traditionally boiled with the skin on and eaten with a rich palm oil sauce, making it a simple but culturally rooted delicacy.

This food is becoming scarce in Ekpeye communities,not because it is hard to grow, but because fewer people are planting it. Squash crops thrive in Nigeria's climate, and like other local cucurbits, they perform well with basic care: good soil, adequate watering, and space for the vines to spread.

Ekpeye sons and daughters, let's not allow this heritage food to disappear. Start growing it at home or on your farm so we can keep this nutritious squash on our tables and in our culture. 🌱💛

Tell us the Ekpeye name of this food in the comments and if you've tried it before.

05/06/2026

Happy belated birthday to our branding and partnership manager Benson Godsside , an ardent team player and go getter.

Iyeuma meni li ala uwum!

03/06/2026

For Children's day, we took another small but important step towards making Ekpeye language learning resources more accessible.

Through our book distribution drive, copies of A Beginner's Guide to Learning Ekpeye were shared with learners, language enthusiasts, and members of the community who are interested in reading, speaking, and preserving the Ekpeye language.

Access to learning materials remains one of the biggest challenges for many indigenous language learners. By putting books directly into people's hands, we hope to make the journey of learning Ekpeye a little easier.

Thank you to everyone who supported, participated, and helped make this distribution possible.

📖 Interested in getting a copy? The e-book version of A Beginner's Guide to Learning Ekpeye is currently available at a discounted price of ₦1,999 until the end of June.

🎥 by Armstrong Opulency

01/06/2026

01/06/2026

Uzhi ya zhi li fôtô.

The message is in the photos.

This is your reminder to speak Ekpeye this June. Om bu Nwówó

29/05/2026

During our 2025 Ekpeye Summer Class, we reached an important milestone with the launch of "A Beginner’s Guide to Learning Ekpeye", a learning resource created to help Ekpeye learners begin reading, speaking, and engaging with Ekpeye in a more accessible way.

On Tuesday, May 26, in commemoration of Children’s Day, we shared copies of the book with students and school libraries in Ekpeye. For many of the children, it was their first time seeing a learning material written specifically for their language. Seeing them flip through the pages, attempt new words, and recognize familiar expressions was a reminder of how powerful representation in education can be.

The outreach was not only about sharing books. We also reminded children that Ekpeye matters and deserves to be spoken, learned, and used in any domain. Our team members spoke with the students about embracing Ekpeye proudly and becoming part of the generation that carries the language forward.

Language is more than communication. It holds memory, identity, history, and connection to community. When young people are given the opportunity to learn in and through their own language, they are more likely to value it, use it confidently, and pass it on to others.

We hope this marks the beginning of many more efforts to place Ekpeye learning materials into schools and into the hands of children across our communities.

We are grateful to Prince Robert Robinson, Dr. Umasom Philip, and Chief Manuwa Ogiri , whose support made the printing of this resource possible.

For those interested in learning Ekpeye, the e-book version of A Beginner’s Guide to Learning Ekpeye is available for download.

From now until the end of June, the price has been reduced from ₦3,500 to ₦1,999. We encourage parents, learners, educators, and language enthusiasts to take advantage of the offer and get a copy today!

📸: Armstrong Opulency