The Efik religion is based on the traditional beliefs of the Efik people of southern Nigeria. The traditional religious beliefs of the Efik are not systemised into a logical orthodoxy but consists of diverse conceptions such as worship of the supreme God, ancestral veneration, cleansing rituals and funeral rites.
Religion for the Efik consisted of showing respect for God by avoiding sins such as adultery, murder, theft, false witness, and work on the day sacred to God. In addition, it included respect for ancestors and supernatural powers. The Efik people believe in a supreme being known as Abasi or Abasi Ibom. Other variations of the name Abasi may also be found across the lower Cross River region such as Obase, Ovase and Obassi Nsi. Apart from the belief in a supreme being, the Efik also believe in water spirits or deities known as which are believed to mainly reside in the water. The singular of Ndem is Idem but Ndem may be worshipped as a single deity or a host of deities.
Worship of Abasi
The Efik people believe in one God known as Abasi who is believed to dwell in the sky and is the source of life and death. Abasi is also known as Abasi Ibom where the appended word "Ibom" signifies greatness. Writers such as James Walker and Rev. Hugh Goldie attest that the word "Ibom" is only ever applied to two objects i.e the Sea () and Abasi. During the pre-Christian days of the Efik society, Worship of Abasi took place on Akwa Ederi which was one of the days of the week. According to Simmons, "No washing of clothes, marketing, fishing, hunting, or drumming was permitted on Akwa ederi, the day of the eight-day week sacred to God, People remained inside the house and rested, or feasted and visited friends* Efik never commenced a war or fought a battle on "Calabar Sunday" as the day was known to early European traders." Abasi was worshipped in front of which is described as, "a little mud hut has an altar in the middle of the yard in which plates, bones, etc, are placed."
Ndem worship
The Efik affirm a strong belief in Ndem which are believed to rule various territories in old Calabar. Ndem is believed to reside in various water bodies such as streams, creeks and rivers. The belief in water deities is mainly as a result of the geographical location of the Efik in subsaharan Africa. According to Aye, Prior to the advent of Christianity in Old Calabar in the nineteenth-century the Efik people were polytheists by religion, that is to say, they worshipped several gods and goddesses to whom they offered periodic animal and human sacrifices. For instance, Creek Town had worshipped Akpa Uyɔk; Old Town, Anansa Ikọt Obutong; Cobham Town, Iboku Anwan; Henshaw Town, Esiet Ebom Nsidung or Suŋku Moŋko: but these were by no means all, and individual families and Houses had their patron gods and goddesses. The college of deities were collectively known as Ndem Efik ()). Ndem Efik is believed to reward its adherents with wealth, children and good fortune. Children who were born as result of consultation with Ndem Efik are known as and are often given the name "Ndem". According to Akak, "Women who become spiritualits with deep knowledge in the mystery of spiritualism are also known as ","women of the deity. Men who fall within this category are known as and both male and female worshippers of the Deity are "," people of the Deity." The various Ndem often have priests and priestesses who sacrifice to them. Ndem Priests and Priestesses are known as . The chief priest or priestess is known as . Among the Efik of Iboku, Ndem worship is often associated with the Eyọ Ema clan which includes Otung in Creek Town and Cobham town.
A place where prayer and offerings are made to Ndem is known as . Iso Ndem is believed to be an area where a deity is supposed to dwell. Such an area may exist on land, forest or water. Offerings or sacrifices to Ndem are usually made in a specially woven basket known as (). Contents of the basket usually include oil palm fruit, an oil palm kernel, pieces of plantain, pieces of mashed yam, and a species of small croaker. The various Ndem have unique objects which complement offerings made to them. According to Savage, "For Anansa Ikot Obutong a pipe must be included in the sacrifice, for Afia añwan (fair lady) there must be a piece of white cloth." A sacrifice to Asari Anyando included a goat, chicken, eggs, wine and white, yellow and red chalk. Other sacrificial items included Eggs, white fowl, white goats, cows, tortoises. During the pre-colonial era, Human sacrifices were sometimes made to the Ndem but this practice gradually declined with the entry of the Christian missionaries.