Vol. 3, No. 1, 2018, p. 120-129, ISSN: 2636-7173 Special Issue 120 www.hajmr.org Ritual Sacrifice: An Essential Element Of Ibibio Traditional Religion And Culture Dr. Aniekan Etim Nana Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus 08027425800, 08065964855 Revaninana2000@Gmail.Com Abstract: The reality which religious thoughts express in the diverse religious adherents across the world cannot be over emphasized for instance; sacrificial rite is one of the religious dimensions that occupy a unique place in every religious tradition. This work therefore takes up the challenge to exploy, examine the ritual sacrifice, which is essential element in Ibibio traditional religion. The work shall also look at sacrifice in the three important religions;Christianity, Islam and African Traditional religion. The ritual sacrifice remains the core essence of Ibibio traditional religion and Culture and thus constitutes the essential element of worship. The Ibibio religious Culture is therefore all about ritual sacrifice as families, villages, clan, and communities have their different seasons and time to sacrifice to their God/gods and approach. It concludes by providing the missing link between the living and the dead, the physical and metaphysical, which enhances the attainment of human desires. Keywords: Ritual, Sacrifice, Religion, Culture Introduction Dopamu (1985), argues that ever before the Europeans found themselves in Africa, Africans had their ways of life regarding their cultures, religious beliefs and practices, medical systems and other areas of life… He equally submit that even till today when the whole of Africa has equally been infiltrated by western culture and systems, the fact remains that African age old systems still persist enduringly (Dopamu 1985). In similar but different dimension Olupona (1990), opines that the nature of sacrifice cum ritual and its place in any belief system has always been a central theme of discussion among many scholars especially historians of religion. Mary Douglas, a British anthropologist, describes ritual as a viable means of communication (Douglas 1970). While another anthropologist Victor Turner described sacrifice as formal behavior prescribed for occasions not given over to technological routine that have reference to belief in mystical