The Success of the Group At FESTAC '77 attracted several associates to the Group. Prominent members of the "Makumba Makumba Cultural Troupe" from the Republic of Cameroon who had variants of the xylophone instrument got attracted to the Performance by the winning team and followed Prince Inieke Ufford home to Abak to join forces with him to learn of his techniques and enhance the xylophone performances incorporating many African variants. They lived with him for three years performing. At this point, the group was renamed the "Ikon Afrikaana Theatre" the name it bears till date. Their Performances starred many young children for years some of which were his biological children who performed and grew in the art. These many Performance were thrilling and at some point caught the attention of the then young wife of the Military Officer in charge of the Newly established Ibagwa Barracks in Abak Mrs Mariam Babangida who was one of the Special Guests at an event. Prince Inieke Ufford relocated to Uyo in 1982 and intensified Performances using his team, the Ikon Afrikaana Theatre. In 1987, Akwa Ibom State was created by the then General Ibrahim Babangida Administration. Ikon Afrikaana grew In membership performing in most of the State Government hosted events. Prince Inieke Gabriel Ufford inducted his biological children and relatives into Ikon Afrikaana, He started a family tradition of introducing all at the celebration of their first year birthday to the culture of dance and Xylophone details In Ikon Afrikaana. His family members inducted into the Ikon Afrikaana were: Madam Maria Inieke Ufford, (his dear wife and first choreographer of the group) Ifiok Inieke Ufford Idongesit Inieke Ufford Ikike Inieke Ufford Oton Ufford Ufford Ifure Inieke Ufford Aniekan Ufford Ufford Idorenyin Inieke Ufford Emem Ufford Ufford Ifreke Inieke Ufford Unwana Ufford Ufford Iniboioke Inieke Ufford Edima Ufford Ufford Itoro Inieke Ufford Akwaowo Ufford Ufford Others were Ime Paul, Asuquo Eyo, Idongesit Ukpong, QueenEsther Moses, and many others. Prince Inieke Gabriel Ufford instilled the Ikon Afrikaana consciousness into his family even to the future generation. In the year 1988 the Military Administration In Akwa Ibom State sponsored Prince Inieke Ufford's Group "The Ikon Afrikaana Theatre" in company of other very talented performers from the state to represent Akwa Ibom State In the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST '88) Hosted By Lagos State, They Group performed excellently well and were, adjudged 2nd after the then Bendel State who came 1st Position. On their returned to Akwa Ibom State with the Silver Gong, the then Military Administrator Cornel Tunde Ogbeha who was physically present at the presentation in Lagos, was filled with pride and excitement. This resulted in his pronouncement and actualization of Educational Scholarship to all student members of the Akwa Ibom State contingent to Lagos for NAFEST including Ikon Afrikaana. That Same Year 1988 The group "Ikon Afrikaana" Led By Prince Inieke Ufford was the only team selected to represent Akwa Ibom State at the National Youth Festival (NAYOUFEST), Yola in the then Gongola State. They returned victorious with a First Position. The Following Year They Were At Enugu State For Another Edition Of The National Youth Festival, The came back with a silver trophy. The Success and consistency of the group Attracted The Then First Lady Mrs Miriam Babangida who sent a high powered delegation of her NGO "Better Life for Rural Women" To Prince Inieke Ufford asking for Performance of the Xylophone Skillful Kids she saw back then in Performances, Prince Inieke Gabriel Ufford explained to the First Lady's delegation that those kids she saw back then are all grown due to the passage of time. The delegation was not satisfied. Smart as Prince Inieke Ufford was, he went to another cultural group in Anua, Uyo to train young children so he could take them to the First Lady's Command Performance. He went to a group called "Ikid Inuen Utah" Led by a man known by the name Mr Aka-Adi. He offered to train children in the group. In the course of training, he discovered Master Ofonime Felix Okon (Now known as Udo Miriam). Rising from the training experienced, Kids of the then "Ikid Inuen Uta" starring Master Ofonime Felix Okon excited the then First Lady, who danced with Master Felix and adopted him. This experience brought about the popular name change to "Udo Miriam"
In 1977, The states and federal government of Nigeria then started announcements for the preliminary zonal contests for the Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC 77). The then Administration Of Abak Local Government Council made enquiries and sponsored Prince Inieke Ufford's School Group Ikon Group Of U.C.I. To represent Abak Local Government Council In the FESTAC 77 Preliminary Contest, The Council Change The Name Of the group To "Ikon Group of Abak". Prince Inieke Ufford Led the group to win that Contest and brought glory to Abak Local Government Council. Abak Local Government Area sponsored Prince Inieke Ufford's School Group Called "Ikon Group of Abak" , to the regional contest of the South Eastern State and they came tops. They then we're picked to represent the South Eastern State as Ikon Group of the South Eastern State at FESTAC 77. Prince Inieke Ufford Took time to select the youngest Students and other selected talented students from different schools, taught them the Xylophone Skills and Choreographed dances. f This team taken to FESTAC 77 was amazing. They formed part of the team that brought home the Gowon Giant Golden Gong for Instrumental music. The group being a corporate Ambassador to Nigeria was rechristened Ikon Group of Nigeria.
Prince Inieke Gabriel Ufford is the first man in history that Introduced and modernise the use of African Xylophones as a prominent musical instruments In Command Performances. Prince Inieke Gabriel Ufford is the First African to play and prioritise Xylophone as a pure musical ensemble. Prince Inieke Gabriel Ufford is the First Man Known for using a tree known in Ibibio/Annang as 'Ukpa' tree. It is a Red tree Called Iron wood. This he used to create Xylophones. Before his advanced device, the uno tree (Umbrella Tree) was prevalent in use for making traditional xylophones in this part of the World. It had a sonorous sound but lacked durability. Prince Inieke Ufford in his creative versatility dipped into their peculiarities and combined both for excellent delivery. The Difference: Xylophones Made From Ukpa ( The Iron Tree) have lighter metallic sound which need amplification for optimal production but they are very durable. They are easily tuned to capture musical tunes of all genres. Xylophones made from Uno wood gives the natural African rhythmic tones on the pentatonic scale and so captures the traditional harmonic blends. Prior to his emergence, Xylophones were usually played as a single unit Instrument but he built them into multiple units as an ensemble. The Instrument Xylophone got Its name from two latin words: "Xylo" meaning 'Wood' "Phone" meaning 'Sound' Xylophone is an idiophonic musical instrument played by striking the wooden bars of graduated length with one or oore wooden or plastic beaters History has it that it was Prince Inieke Gabriel Ufford who invented the popular specie of Xylophone known as "Nyamma". Prior To The Invention Of "Nyamma" xylophones were used as single rhythmic traditional instruments with a single key but "Nyamma" was invented to allow the lead xylophonist modulate into any key introduced by a singer. Prince Inieke Gabriel Ufford Was employed as a Lecturer in the Department of Music of the then College of Education, Uyo in 1982. This institution metamorphosed into then University of Cross River State and now University of Uyo. He taught traditional music in the Department of Music and Dance in the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Uyo. GOD ALMIGHTY Has Blessed Prince Inieke Gabriel Ufford with Children that Are University Dons in the Same Field he discovered. Dr Ikike Ufford One Of The Best Traditional Drummers in Akwa Ibom Theatre History Is A Senior Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Media Studies, University of Calabar and Dr. Ifure Ufford-Azorbo One of the best dancers and choreographers Akwa Ibom State has produced works as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts, University Of Uyo and incidentally is the Akwa Ibom State Chapter Chairperson of National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP). His First Son Mr. Ifiok Ufford is A Senior Staff of the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation AKBC, One Of his daughters Iniboioke Ufford Won The Miss Akwa Ibom Beauty Contest in 2022 and Miss Niger Delta, 2023. All His Children Are Successful in their various fields of professionalism. The Ikon Afrikaana Music, Dance and Theatre consciousness lives Permanently amongst the lineage of Prince Inieke Gabriel Ufford As his Children and grand Children remain members and maintain the Legacy Of the Group. His Grandchildren Have Been Grouped Into A Team Performing The Ikon Under The Name Twinkle Stars. Akwa Ibom Citizens I Present To You A Thespian That Deserves To Be Honoured A man whose legacy initiated the Foundation f The Arts And Cultural Theatre providing value for performance and Creating Jobs For Artistic Talents In Akwa Ibom State. He died on the 25th of June, 2001. Celebrate Our Late Hero Prince Inieke Gabriel Ufford Akwa Ibom Citizens Are Creative Akwa Legends Creativity ARISE
