In the late 1800s, the people of the area were receptive to European missionaries. Most people are Christian and festivals tend to occur at Christmas. Food In Ikot Udo Abia gari, fufu, plantain and yam are staple foods. A wide variety of soups are prepared to eat with the staples. They are made with seafoods, such as crayfish, shellfish (periwinkles for example) or dried fish, palm oil, palm fruits, meat from cow skin, chicken or goat, local spices and leaves such as afang (Gnetum africanum), pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis), water leaf (Talinum fruticosum), editan, Ntrong, etighi (okra) and atama. Examples are Afang soup, edikaikong soup, atama soup, afia efere ebot (white soup, made without palm oil), efere ndek iyak (fresh fish soup), efere nyama,” ubo, “ bitter leaf soup, melon soup, ikpafai ntuen, and mkpafere. Economy The villagers are engaged in crop farming (mostly cassava), raising livestock, fishing, hunting and gathering. Secondary industries include food processing and manufacturing, forestry, and blacksmithing. Tertiary industries include provision of services and governance. The village has a fabricator of cassava processing plant replacement parts. Farming The farming year is divided into three seasons: the early, late and dry seasons. Cassava is the main crop, and its root processed into fufu, tapioca, flour, starch and porridge. The Nka Iwa association is the cassava growers and processors' association in the village. Irrigation is via streams and boreholes. Vegetables crops are also farmed, for example, fluted pumpkin, bitter leaf, waterleaf, okro, pepper and afang (Gnetum africanum), atama, editan (an orange cultivar), ntron, uyayak, mmeme, and utazi. See also Geography of Nigeria References Ibibio Populated places in Akwa Ibom State