Anaang (also spelled Annang and Ànnang) is an ethnic group in Southern Nigeria, whose land is primarily within 8 of the present 31 Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State: Abak, Essien Udim, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara, Oruk Anam, Ukanafun in Akwa Ibom State. The Anaang are the second largest ethnic group after the Ibibios in Akwa Ibom state. The Anaang were formerly located in the former Abak and Ikot Ekpene Divisions of the Anaang Province, as well as part of the former Opobo Division of Uyo Province, in the former Eastern Region of Nigeria. The proper name for the Ika of Akwa Ibom is Ika-Annang. According to oral tradition, the Abiakpo came to the northern range of Anaang from Eka Abiakpo. They were quickly followed by the Ukana clan, the Utu, Ekpu, Ebom and Nyama (the British lumped these groups together and gave them the name Otoro), and other Anaang clans. The Anaang and the entire people of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states of Nigeria (AkwaCross people) have occupied their land in coastal Southeastern Nigeria for thousands of years. The group is related to the Efik people. It is believed that the Anaang people originated from Egypt and began their migration from Egypt around 7500BC before settling in present-day Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria. Before their current settlement, they lived among the Twi of Ghana, where the name Anaang means "fourth son". From Ghana, the group moved eastward into present-day Cameroon. It was in the Cameroon highlands that the group broke off but later reached the same territory in Coastal Southeastern Nigeria. Lineages were recognized and the groups organized into clans, based on old family origins known as Iman. Their northern neighbors, the Igbo, have a similar clan/community structure.
The Ibibio people (Pronunciation: /ɪbɪˈbiːəʊ/) are a coastal people in Southern Nigeria. They are mostly found in Akwa Ibom, and the Eastern part of Abia State. During the colonial period in Nigeria, the Ibibio Union asked for recognition by the British as a sovereign nation. The Annang, Ekid, Oron and Ibeno share personal names, culture, and traditions with the Ibibio, and speak closely related varieties (dialects) of Ibibio which are more or less mutually intelligible. The Ekpo and societies are a significant part of the Ibibio political system. They use a variety of masks to execute social control. Body art plays a major role in Ibibio art. The Ibibio people are reputed to be one of the earliest inhabitants of the south southern Nigeria. It is estimated that they arrived at their present home around 7000 B.C. In spite of the historical account, it is not clear when the Ibibio arrived at the state. According to some scholars, they might have come from the central Benue valley, particularly, the Jukun influence in the old Calabar at some historical time period. Another pointer is the widespread use of the manila, a popular currency used by the Jukuns. Coupled with this, is the Jukun southern drive to the coast which appears to have been recently compared with the formation of Akwa Ibom settlements in their present location. The most accepted version of Ibibio history described that the Cameroon will offer a more concise explanation of their origin. This was corroborated by oral testimonies by field workers who say that the core Ibibio people were of the Afaha lineage whose original home was Usak Edet in the Cameroons. The Usak Edet (Isanguele) are a subgroup of the Ekoi people (the Ejagham). This was premised on the fact that among the Ibibio people, Usak Edet is popularly known as Edit Afaha (Afaha's Creek) which reflects the fact that Ibibio people originated from Usak Edet. 
The Efik are an ethnic group located primarily in southern Nigeria, and western Cameroon. Within Nigeria, the Efik can be found in the present-day Cross River State and Akwa Ibom state. The Efik speak the Efik language which is a member of the Benue–Congo subfamily of the Niger-Congo language group. The Efik refer to themselves as Efik Eburutu, Ifa Ibom, Eburutu and Iboku. The bulk of the Efiks can be found in Calabar and the southern part of Cross River State . Prior to 1905, Old Calabar was a term used to describe the Efik settlements of Duke Town, Creek Town, Old town, Cobham town, Henshaw town, Adiabo and Mbiabo (consisting of Mbiabo edere, Mbiabo Ikot Offiong and Mbiabo Ikoneto). The Efik have also been referred to as "Calabar people" in historical literature. The term "Calabar people" was particularly popular prior to the nineteenth century and was synonymous to the Efik. Efik society consists of various clans which were originally known as "Esien Efik itiaba" (English: Seven clans of Efik) and later known in the 21st century as "Esien Efik Duopeba" (English: Twelve clans of Efik). The original seven clans are scattered between Cross River state and Akwa Ibom state and consist of Iboku (Duke town, Henshaw town, Creek town and Cobham town), Obutong, Adiabo, Mbiabo (Mbiabo Edere, Mbiabo Ikot Offiong, Mbiabo Ikoneto), Enwang, Usukakpa and Abayen. The last three clans had greatly dwindled in number and many of their members are believed to have been miscegenated into other Efik clans. Ibonda (an Efut clan) has sometimes been appended to Adiabo as one of the seven Efik clans. The bulk of the Enwang and Usukakpa are located in the present-day Akwa Ibom state. 
The Eket are a subgroup of the indigenous Ibibio peoples of south-eastern Nigeria with a population of approximately 1 million. The ancestors of the modern Eket subsisted through agriculture and fishing. They have lived in present-day south-eastern Nigeria for several hundred years. Although written accounts of the Eket can be found in colonial records, oral traditions credit them with a much longer presence in the region. The natives refer to themselves and their language as Ekid but the Europeans spelt the name as "Eket". The Eket are regarded as closely related to the neighboring Anaang, Efik, Ibibio, Ogoja, and Oron communities. The name Eket refers not only to the people but also to the language spoken by this group, which belongs to the Benue-Congo branch of languages spoken widely across the south-eastern part of the country. Before the beginning of British colonial rule in 1800, the Eket had a castle-like, hierarchical social structure and like other Ibibio peoples, a government that followed the traditional methods of consensus building and periodic elections. The Eket were governed by a group of elders known as Ekpo Ndem Isong, also referred to as the Ekpo society, who functioned as the ruling class in villages and towns and controlled the distribution of wealth in the communities. These powerful individuals wielded all socioeconomic and political power. The highest caste in Eket was called Amama; this caste of the highest-ranking members of the Ekpo society also was the highest political class. Second to the Amama in power and influence were other member of the Ekpo society. The Ikan, a class of indigenous police, enforced the decisions reached by the political class; qualification for inclusion in this class was by ascription rather than birth. The Ikan, owing to their regular wearing of masks to disguise their identity, are referred to in literature as the "masked police of Eket."
- Anaang (5.5 million speakers, 2018 estimate)
- Ibibio (15 million speakers, including L2 speakers, 2018 estimate)
- Efik (3 million speakers, 2018 estimate. Efik also has about 2 million second-language speakers.)
Minor varieties, according to Williamson and Blench, are:
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