Editing Efik mythology (section)

===Creation myth===
The creation story of the Efik reveals characters such as [[Abassi (spirit)|Abasi]], Atai and the first humans. It is believed that Abasi first created the earth and later created the first humans; a man and a woman.<ref name="auto5">[[#refScheub2000|Scheub]], p. 3</ref> Abasi did not let the first humans live on earth because he wanted no one to contend with him.<ref name="auto5"/> Abasi's wife Atai disagreed with him and insisted that Man and woman should live on earth.<ref name="auto6">[[#refScheub2000|Scheub]], p. 4</ref> Abasi gave the humans permission to live on earth but ordered that the Humans should not cultivate their own food but should dine in the heavens whenever a bell is rung.<ref name="auto6"/> Abasi also ordered that the man and woman should not procreate.<ref name="auto6"/> This second instruction was given so that the humans would never forget Abasi.<ref name="auto6"/> Each day, a bell would be rung and the humans would visit the heavens to dine with Abasi.<ref name="auto6"/> The law prohibiting the cultivation of crops of Earth was first broken by the woman.<ref name="auto6"/> The woman cultivated plants and used them to cook food which she served to the man.<ref name="auto6"/> The man and woman also broke Abasi's second command by sleeping together and having intercourse.<ref name="auto6"/> The next time the bell was rung, the man came alone.<ref name="auto6"/> Abasi asked the man where his wife was located, the man lied, saying she was unwell.<ref name="auto6"/> In reality, the man had hidden his wife because she was pregnant.<ref name="auto6"/> The woman had borne a son and later bore a daughter.<ref name="auto6"/> Abasi was aware of what had transpired on Earth and told Atai that the humans had broken his laws, had neglected and forgotten him.<ref name="auto6"/> Atai reassured Abasi that the humans would never forget Abasi and sent death into the world.<ref name="auto6"/>
Some versions of the story attest that Atai killed the man and his wife while other versions employ a form of poetic language attesting that Atai sent chaos and death into the world.<ref>{{cite book|last=Benge|first=Geoff|title=Mary Slessor: Forward into Calabar (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)|date=28 July 1999|publisher=YWAM Publishing|pages=203}}</ref><ref name="auto6"/> The names of the first humans are not given but Burton attests that the earliest humans may have been known as Esefe and Ọkpọrọ, as there are names which featured often in Efik proverbs.<ref>[[#refBurton1865|Burton]], p. 342</ref>