Egbema, one of six Ijo groups in Nigeria, is an obscure group in danger of becoming dominated by the culture of its neighbors. The Ijo people appear to be socially, politically, and spiritually lost, and their dialects are disappearing. In the Ijo society physical appearance is important, and men and women wear specified dress. Performing greetings correctly with the proper gestures is an essential part of the culture. Marriage rites are very traditional, including a bride price, a formal ceremony, and marital rules. For births, middle-aged women serve as mid-wives; for deaths the women burst into bitter lamentation while the men dress the corpse and perform other rites. For the settlement of disputes, there are different ways for different cases. Since the Ijo live in the Niger Delta, they are accomplished rivermen who excel at work in boats and ships. Religion is also a very important part of their lives. Other activities include dancing, wrestling, and children's games (11 are described). A 13 page wordlist of the Egbema dialect is appended. (NCR)