The ancient Calabar kingdom was natively known as "The Kingdom of Akwa Akpa" as locally referred to in Efik language of the current day greater calabar municipal and known to the European as Old Calabar the name "Calabar originated from the term used by the Spanish merchant trader to refer to the indigenous people occupying the kingdom close to the Bamum Kingdom currently referred to the Republic of Cameroon in recent time. In Calabar the city of Akwa Akpa is adjacent to the Calabar and Great Kwa rivers and creeks of the cross river (i.e from its inland delta).
Calabar is mostly regarded as the tourism capital of Nigeria. The administrative structure of the city is divided into Calabar Municipal and Calabar South local government areas. It has a total area of 406 square kilometers (157 sq mi) and a population of 371022 according to the 2006 census result in Nigeria.
Colonial era.
The Kings and chiefs of Akwa Akpa known to the European as Old Calabar rulers signed a Treaty of Protection with the United Kingdom under the reign of Queen Victoria on 10 September, 1884 which gave United kingdom the sovereignty over the entire territory around Calabar, including Bakassi.
In recent time, Calabar is a large metropolis with several towns like Akim, Ikot Ishie, Kasuk, Duke Town, Ikot Ansa, Henshaw Town, Bakassi, Biase and Akamkpa.
Colonial Trade Era.
Prior to the 16 century, Calabar had been a recognized international seaport, for transporting out goods such as palm oil, rubber and yam. During the era of the Atlantic slave trade, it became a major seaport used for shipping out African slaves mainly of the Igbo and Kwa's extract. Most slave ships that transported slaves from Calabar were English with around 85% of these ship belonging to Bristol and Liverpool merchants. The major key towns used during these era were the Duke Town and Creek Town, situated 10 miles Northeast.
It is likely thought of that the first British warship to sail as far as Duke Town was used to capture the seven Spanish and Portuguese slavers, may have been HMS Comus in 1815. The African -American writer John Jea was a slave from this area. mainly there were small community suspected to be the location where a small Community of merchant and missionary stays.
Colonial Landmarks of Calabar.
The city of Calabar was the home to the first social club in Nigeria, and it hosted the first Competitive football field hockey and cricket games in Nigeria. Among all the cities in Nigeria the Calabar city was the first to held a Roman Catholic Mass at 19 Bocco Street Calabar in 1903 and it is the home to the oldest secondary school called the "Hope Wadell Training Institution" founded in 1895 in eastern Nigeria. Which later graduated the first elected president of Nigeria ( Nnamdi Azikiwe).
The city of Calabar has an international museum, an international airport, and integrated sports stadium complex, cultural centre and one of the most Popular universities in Nigeria - The University of Calabar and a slave history park. It is also a home to many standard hotels, amusement Parks and resort. It is also noted that the former Liberian warlord Charles Taylor lived in the Old colonial palace in the city, after which he reach an agreement that ended his country's civil war, before he ran away in March 2006 to avoid extradition.
It is also in the city of Calabar. that the annual Christmas festival is held every year which attracts thousands. across africa and beyond. In this festival much performance from both local and international artists are usual event. Other annual events include the Calabar Carnival, fashion shows, a Christmas village, the Annual Ekpe festival, Traditional dances, and a boat regatta.
Local Political Authority.
The region now called Calabar was divided into three kingdom with three principal ruler namely Qua Kingdom of Ejagham ( currently called Ekoi) with a Bantu Origin. The Efut kingdom and Efik kingdom respectively.The King of the Qua Kingdom bears the royal title Ndidem of the Qua nation and he is also regarded as the Grand Partriach. The Grand Partriach of the Efut Kingdom is known as the Muri Munene of the Efut Nation and the Efik King has the Royal title Obong and he is also the Grand Patriarch of the Efik Nation.
Sub-Tribes In Calabar.
Mainly the people of Calabar are people from the Greater Calabar district - Calabar South, Calabar Municipality, Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Biase, Odukpani and Akamkpa, although as commonly used in Nigeria, the term "Calabar People" Could also refer to the people of Greater Calabar and also people across the Great Kwa River Known as the Kwa people(also called AkwaCross) of Akwa Ibom State as the samewhich is true. But according to recent political division of the South Eastern State of Nigeria to form Several States it seems now more politically not current to refer to Akwa Ibom people as "Calabar People" Due to there recent sense of unique identity as the Annang people, Ibibio, Oron and Eket People respectively and therefore disagree with the idea of being identify as Calabar people even though they are all people of the same Tribal origin.
Calabar is mostly regarded as the tourism capital of Nigeria. The administrative structure of the city is divided into Calabar Municipal and Calabar South local government areas. It has a total area of 406 square kilometers (157 sq mi) and a population of 371022 according to the 2006 census result in Nigeria.
Colonial era.
The Kings and chiefs of Akwa Akpa known to the European as Old Calabar rulers signed a Treaty of Protection with the United Kingdom under the reign of Queen Victoria on 10 September, 1884 which gave United kingdom the sovereignty over the entire territory around Calabar, including Bakassi.
In recent time, Calabar is a large metropolis with several towns like Akim, Ikot Ishie, Kasuk, Duke Town, Ikot Ansa, Henshaw Town, Bakassi, Biase and Akamkpa.
Colonial Trade Era.
Prior to the 16 century, Calabar had been a recognized international seaport, for transporting out goods such as palm oil, rubber and yam. During the era of the Atlantic slave trade, it became a major seaport used for shipping out African slaves mainly of the Igbo and Kwa's extract. Most slave ships that transported slaves from Calabar were English with around 85% of these ship belonging to Bristol and Liverpool merchants. The major key towns used during these era were the Duke Town and Creek Town, situated 10 miles Northeast.
It is likely thought of that the first British warship to sail as far as Duke Town was used to capture the seven Spanish and Portuguese slavers, may have been HMS Comus in 1815. The African -American writer John Jea was a slave from this area. mainly there were small community suspected to be the location where a small Community of merchant and missionary stays.
Colonial Landmarks of Calabar.
The city of Calabar was the home to the first social club in Nigeria, and it hosted the first Competitive football field hockey and cricket games in Nigeria. Among all the cities in Nigeria the Calabar city was the first to held a Roman Catholic Mass at 19 Bocco Street Calabar in 1903 and it is the home to the oldest secondary school called the "Hope Wadell Training Institution" founded in 1895 in eastern Nigeria. Which later graduated the first elected president of Nigeria ( Nnamdi Azikiwe).
The city of Calabar has an international museum, an international airport, and integrated sports stadium complex, cultural centre and one of the most Popular universities in Nigeria - The University of Calabar and a slave history park. It is also a home to many standard hotels, amusement Parks and resort. It is also noted that the former Liberian warlord Charles Taylor lived in the Old colonial palace in the city, after which he reach an agreement that ended his country's civil war, before he ran away in March 2006 to avoid extradition.
It is also in the city of Calabar. that the annual Christmas festival is held every year which attracts thousands. across africa and beyond. In this festival much performance from both local and international artists are usual event. Other annual events include the Calabar Carnival, fashion shows, a Christmas village, the Annual Ekpe festival, Traditional dances, and a boat regatta.
Local Political Authority.
The region now called Calabar was divided into three kingdom with three principal ruler namely Qua Kingdom of Ejagham ( currently called Ekoi) with a Bantu Origin. The Efut kingdom and Efik kingdom respectively.The King of the Qua Kingdom bears the royal title Ndidem of the Qua nation and he is also regarded as the Grand Partriach. The Grand Partriach of the Efut Kingdom is known as the Muri Munene of the Efut Nation and the Efik King has the Royal title Obong and he is also the Grand Patriarch of the Efik Nation.
Sub-Tribes In Calabar.
Mainly the people of Calabar are people from the Greater Calabar district - Calabar South, Calabar Municipality, Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Biase, Odukpani and Akamkpa, although as commonly used in Nigeria, the term "Calabar People" Could also refer to the people of Greater Calabar and also people across the Great Kwa River Known as the Kwa people(also called AkwaCross) of Akwa Ibom State as the samewhich is true. But according to recent political division of the South Eastern State of Nigeria to form Several States it seems now more politically not current to refer to Akwa Ibom people as "Calabar People" Due to there recent sense of unique identity as the Annang people, Ibibio, Oron and Eket People respectively and therefore disagree with the idea of being identify as Calabar people even though they are all people of the same Tribal origin.
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