History

Calabar, formerly Old Calabar, is a town and port that serves as the capital of Cross River State, southern Nigeria. It lies along the Calabar River, about 5 miles (8 km) upstream from its entrance into the Cross River estuary. Settled in the early 17th century by the Efik branch of the Ibibio people, Calabar became a significant trade center between Europeans on the coast and Africans inland. The town was known for trading fish, cassava, bananas, palm oil, and palm kernels for European manufactured goods, and it also played a major role as a slave-trading depot. Duke Town and other Efik settlements—Creek Town, Henshaw Town, and Obutong (Old Town)—were loosely unified into the state of Old Calabar by the Ekpe secret society, which was controlled by the town’s merchant houses.

By the mid-19th century, after the decline of the slave trade, Calabar’s economy shifted to the export of palm oil and palm kernels. In 1884, the chiefs of Duke Town accepted British protection, and from 1885 to 1906, the town served as the capital of various British protectorates, including the Oil Rivers Protectorate (1885–1893), Niger Coast Protectorate (1893–1900), and Southern Nigeria (1900–1906). However, after British administrative headquarters moved to Lagos, Calabar's significance as a port declined, particularly after Port Harcourt became a major transportation hub in 1916.

The name Old Calabar (distinguished from New Calabar, 120 miles [193 km] west) was originally given by Portuguese navigators in the 15th century to describe the inhabitants of this part of the Gulf of Guinea coast. This region was the primary source of the Calabar bean, a poisonous seed known for its strong effects on the nervous system. The construction of roads linking Calabar to Arochukwu, Ikom, and Mamfe (in Cameroon), along with the Calabar–Itu–Expene highway, further solidified its early importance as a port. Today, Calabar still exports products such as oil, natural gas, palm produce, timber, rubber, cocoa, and piassava fiber. The city is home to industries such as sawmilling, rubber processing, food production, oil-palm processing, and cement manufacturing. The Efik people are known for their traditional wood carving, and Calabar artisans create ebony sculptures for the Lagos tourist market.

Calabar has long been an educational center. The city’s first church school was established in 1846 by the Rev. Hope Waddell of the Free Church of Scotland. His efforts led to a major cultural shift, with the Ekpe secret society passing a law in 1850 to prohibit human sacrifice. Today, the city is home to the University of Calabar (established in 1975), a college of technology, a teacher-training college, and several secondary schools. Calabar remains a vibrant city known for its rich history, cultural heritage, and growing economic activities.

Population (2016 est.): 895,000 (urban agglomeration).