The Efik people primarily originated from southeastern Nigeria, in the southern part of Cross River State. The Efik people also come from southwestern Cameroon.

The Efik speak the Efik language which is a Benue–Congo language of the Cross River family and closely related to Ibibio. It is considered the literary language of all educated Efik-Ibibio speakers.

Efik came to the United States mostly to acquire academic education in diverse professional areas, such as lawyers, medical doctors, engineers, architects, chemists, pharmacist, accountants, professors, nurses, administrators, private business owners, clergies, homemakers, etc.

At least three generations of Efik now reside in United States. The Efik have formed several associations (e.g. The Efik National Association, formed in February 1997 at a meeting in Houston, Texas, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan).

Traditional Efik religion begins with the Supreme Creator, Abassi. According to oral traditions, Abassi's wife, Atai, is the mediator. Atai convinced Abassi to allow two humans (one man and one woman), also known as their children, to live on earth, but forbade them to work or reproduce. The children were required to return to heaven with Abassi whenever he rang the dinner bell. These rules were established so that the Efik people would not surpass Abassi in wisdom or strength. Eventually the children disobeyed and Abassi killed them both. Abassi and Atai were disgusted and gave the humans two gifts, chaos and death.

Traditional Efik religion includes belief in a supreme creator god, ancestral and other supernatural beings, magic, sorcery, and witchcraft. A large percetage of Efik, however, are now Christians.