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57-502: Use of the symbol system was first discovered in 1904. Excavation of terracotta vessels, headrests, and anthropomorphic figurines from the Calabar region of southeast Nigeria, dated to roughly the 5th to 15th centuries, revealed "an iconography readily comparable" to nsibidi . There are several hundred Nsibidi symbols. They were once taught in a school to children. Many of the signs deal with love affairs; those that deal with warfare and

114-715: A British protectorate, Miss Slessor acted as a female magistrate and skilful diplomatic ambassador. For her efforts in Okoyong, she was given the Efik name Obongawan Okoyong (Queen of Okoyong). She was also instrumental in the establishment of the Hope Waddell Training Institute in Calabar, which provided vocational training for Efiks. Miss Slessor is widely regarded as a heroine in Nigerian history, and

171-633: A mission station in Calabar. Among the missionaries, Hope Waddell, who worked in Calabar from 1845 to 1858, and Mary Slessor , who evangelized Christianity in Calabar from 1876 to 1915, worked to improve treatment by and among the native peoples. They influenced many Efik people to convert to Christianity . They tried to change or abolish the following traditional practices: They founded a school to provide secondary education to Africans. They also worked to protect water supplies and limit mosquitoes to contain yellow fever epidemics. Waddell and Slessor are still honoured in Calabar today; streets and squares in

228-544: A newspaper owner and grandson of Samuel Ajayi Crowther , in 1923 founded the first Nigerian political party, the Nigeria National Democratic Party . It remained the strongest party in the elections until 1939. In 1926, Governor Graeme Thomson attempted to introduce a poll tax in southeast Nigeria, including Calabar. It would reduce the number of Africans eligible to vote in elections. The people reacted with strong protests, which Nigerians call

285-426: A sign of contempt. He does not care for the words spoken. The lines round and twisting mean that the case was a difficult one which the people of the town could not judge for themselves. So they sent to the surrounding towns to call the wise men from them and the case was tried by them (j) and decided; (k) denotes that the case was one of adultery or No. 20. Nsibidi is used to design the 'ukara ekpe' woven material which

342-533: A variety of locations around the Cross River, and especially the Ikom district in what is now Cross River State . Both of the writers used informants to retrieve Nsibidi that were regarded as secret and visited several Cross River communities. Calabar Calabar (also referred to as Callabar , Calabari , Calbari, Cali and Kalabar ) is the capital city of Cross River State , Nigeria . It

399-425: Is a multi-purpose facility. The harbour consists of 2 terminals, A and B, and 2 smaller berths in the "Old Harbour" area. It has a channel draught of 7.5 metres. The terminals are operated by private operators under concession agreements. Terminal B, which occupies 80% of the harbour area, is operated under a concession by ECM Terminals Ltd; Intels LTD and Addak are the other terminal operators. Calabar sees itself as

456-573: Is also home to a chimpanzee nursery - the project's youngest chimpanzees live here, where they receive round-the-clock care and supervision before moving to Afi Ranch at the age of 6-8 years. Not far from Calabar, you can visit the Kwa Waterfalls (approx. 15 km away), Ibeno Beach (30 km away) and the Cross River National Park . These three attractions are the most popular in Calabar on tourism websites. The Kwa Falls

513-422: Is an impressive waterfall characterised by a narrow, steep gorge from top to bottom. The sparkling water plunges into the depths and forms a pool that is ideal for a variety of water sports. Anyone can go swimming here. Abakaliki Abakaliki is the capital city of Ebonyi State in southeastern Nigeria , located 64 kilometres (40 mi) southeast of Enugu . The inhabitants are primarily members of

570-419: Is dyed by post-menopausal women in secret, and young males in public. Ukara was a symbol of wealth and power only handled by titled men and post-menopausal women. Ukara can be worn as a wrapper (a piece of clothing) on formal occasions, and larger version are hung in society meeting houses and on formal occasions. Ukara motifs are designed in white and are placed on grids set against an indigo background. Some of

627-476: Is hot, muggy, and partially cloudy while the wet season is warm, oppressive, and overcast. The temperature rarely falls below 58°F or rises over 92°F throughout the year, often fluctuating between 65°F and 89°F. Abakaliki lies at the intersection of the Enugu , Afikpo and Ogoja Roads. Abakaliki also hosts a Federal hospital , which has largely contributed to the affordability of public healthcare delivery in

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684-775: Is now generally attributed to the Ekoi or Ejagham people of the Northern Cross River, though in the 1900s J. K. Macgregor recorded a native tradition attributing it to the Uguakima or Uyanga section of the Igbo people . However, the Nsibidi of the Ejagham people predates Macgregor's stay in the area and he may have been misled by his informants. A few years later, the anthropologist Percy Amaury Talbot  [ fr ]

741-438: Is of an Ikpe or judgement case. (a) The court was held under a tree as is the custom, (b) the parties in the case, (c) the chief who judged it, (d) his staff (these are enclosed in a circle), (e) is a man whispering into the ear of another just outside the circle of those concerned, (f) denotes all the members of the party who won the case. Two of them (g) are embracing, (h) is a man who holds a cloth between his finger and thumbs as

798-420: Is one of the monuments dedicated to her memory. Originally, the house was a mud house with two bedrooms, a verandah, a shop and a parlour. She referred to it as a "trailer", but the locals called it a "good pass all". In 1889, Mr Owens, a carpenter at the mission, was hired to build a more permanent structure for her. The walls were made of iron plates with wooden doors and windows. When Southern Nigeria became

855-591: Is the use of the symbols by the Ekpe society in the Old Calabar slave traders who had established a "lavish system of human sacrifice". In old Cross River region, Nsibidi is mostly associated with men's Ekpe society. The Ekpe societies were a legislative, judicial, and executive power before colonisation in parts of Aro Confederacy, including Igbos, Efik, Ibibios who exerted much influence over the old Cross River region, located in today's Nigeria. The origin of Nsibidi

912-565: Is usually dyed blue (but also green and red) and is covered in Nsibidi symbols and motifs. Ukara ekpe cloths are woven in Abakaliki , and then they are designed by male Nsibidi artists in the Igbo-speaking towns of Abiriba , Arochukwu and Ohafia to be worn by members of the Ekpe society. Symbols including lovers, metal rods, trees, feathers, hands in friendship war and work, masks, moons, and stars are dyed onto ukara cloths. The cloth

969-571: The Guinea coast, they called the tribes of the area "Calabar". These historic inhabitants were Efiks, Ibibios and Quas . The Efik people migrated from the area of the Niger River to the shores of the Calabar. They were fleeing civil war with their kindred and the Ibibio people . Since the 16th century, Calabar has served as an international seaport , exporting such goods as palm oil . During

1026-578: The Igbo nation. It was the headquarters of the Ogoja province before the creation of the Southeastern State in 1967. The name Abakaliki originally means 'Aba Nkaleke' and is the name of a community in Izzi land (Nkaleke). Abakaliki was an important center for the slave trade in the 17th century. The slave trade continued in the area with Aro raids into Abakaliki and surrounding areas through

1083-706: The Niger Delta until 1906 when the seat of government was moved to Lagos . Calabar developed earlier, albeit less vigorously than Lagos , with which it is sometimes compared because of some parallels. Calabar has the following achievements: From 1914 until the 1960s, a mail steamer of the Liverpool Elder-Dempster Line called at Calabar every month. In addition to letters and parcels, it also delivered newspapers, and cargo and carried up to 100 passengers to Lagos , Port Harcourt and Calabar. In 1922, British governor Clifford established

1140-551: The "Women's War", for many of its leaders, and the British termed the "Aba Riots". These riots spread from the neighbouring town of Aba to Calabar. Several administrative buildings were destroyed and more than 50 women died at the hands of colonial forces. After independence in 1960, tensions increased between the North and South areas of the country, which were strongly affiliated with Muslims and Christians, respectively. In addition,

1197-563: The "tourism capital of Nigeria". This is supported by the state government. One of the five main themes of the museum is the Esuk Mba slave market in Akpabuyo. The slave trade in Calabar was based on slave raiding and trading, which mainly took place in the hinterland, where the enslaved were mostly prisoners of war. The prisoners of war were collected at this market and sold as slaves to slave traders. Another exhibition shows objects from

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1254-534: The 18th century. The Odozi Obodo Society was a secret cult that operated between 1954 and 1958 in Abakaliki. Abakaliki, as in the past, is a center of agricultural trade including such products as yams , cassava , rice , and both palm oil and palm kernels ,. It is also known for its local lead , zinc , salt , and limestone mining or quarrying. They host a golf course and many hotels. There are also isolated poultry and egg production farms across

1311-613: The Abolition of the Slave Trade of 25 March 1807 finally stipulated that the slave trade should be abolished by law from 1 May 1807. The Daily Trust Nigeria reported the museum's decline. However, the negative report could be due to the COVID wave that was rampant at the time. The National Museum of Calabar was flat packed, shipped from Britain and built-in 1884 (it is sometimes incorrectly stated to have been built in 1959). It

1368-538: The British blockade of Africa , sailed into Duke Town , where she captured seven Spanish and Portuguese slave ships . John Jea , an enslaved African American , came from the area. He later became a writer. A small mulatto community of merchants was located here that had links to missionary and other merchant colonies in Igboland, Lagos , and across the Atlantic. In 1846, Scottish Presbyterians established

1425-399: The Calabar cement factory. Later that day, the Nigerian 33rd Battalion landed on the beach at Calabar. The Biafran resistance was overwhelmed. After Nigerian troops advanced into Calabar from three different positions, bloody hand-to-hand fighting ensued. After suffering heavy losses, the remaining mercenaries retreated northward and fled Biafra. After three years, the country reunited under

1482-650: The Legislative Council. The four elected members were from Lagos (3) and Calabar (1). The Legislative Council enacted laws for the colony and the protectorate of Southern Nigeria. It also approved the annual budget for the entire country. The four elected members were the first Africans to be elected to a parliamentary body in British West Africa. The Clifford Constitution led to the formation of political parties in Nigeria. Herbert Macaulay ,

1539-575: The Mary Slessor House stands as a historical site in honour of the missionary in Ekenge, Calabar, Cross River State. Millennium Park in Calabar is an amusement park that serves as a famous symbol of the city, offering various recreational activities for children and adults. Millennium Park, with its pretty and attractive garden and arcades, is a major destination for first-time visitors. Tastefully decorated to artfully showcase and embellish

1596-522: The Nigerian 3rd Naval Division under the command of Colonel Benjamin Adekunle. At this time, Calabar was being defended by the 9th Battalion of Biafrans under the command of Major Ogbo Oji. On 17 October, the Biafran defences on the beaches of Calabar came under heavy air and naval fire. Less than 24 hours later, the Nigerian 8th Battalion under the command of Major Ochefu went ashore at Lokoja and captured

1653-549: The Nigerian central government. Today's economy of the megacity of Calabar is dominated by: The state government of Cross River is trying to stimulate tourism in Calabar. The initiation of the Calabar Carnival in 2004 by the then Governor Donald Duke is probably the most successful measure to advance tourism in Calabar. Margaret Ekpo International Airport was inaugurated in 1983 by then-President Shagari. Lufthansa , British Airways and KLM/Air France fly to

1710-538: The Port of Calabar are operated by "world-class terminal operators, namely: ECM Terminal Ltd, INTELS Nigeria Ltd and Shoreline Logistics Nigeria Limited", according to the port operating company NPA. The port of Calabar's profile in the oil and gas industry is fast gaining traction as the business is to capitalise on import and export opportunities by providing an efficient port service system that guarantees fast turnaround time of vessels and faster cargo clearance. Calabar

1767-590: The South had a concentration of educated people who were politically powerful and had a history of trade and interaction with other communities. The Southeastern area decided to become independent and declared itself as the Republic of Biafra in 1967. It included Calabar. In October 1967, an armada of the Nigerian Navy left the harbour of Bonny on a naval campaign en route to Calabar. The ships carried troops of

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1824-659: The airport from Calabar with a stopover in Lagos or Abuja (the last leg of the flight is operated by the regional airlines Air Peace , Ibom Air and Aero Contractors ). The Calabar Port Complex consists of the Old Port, the New Port and the Dockyard and is responsible for the petroleum terminals at Antan, Odudu, Yoho and QuaIboe as well as other jetties at NIWA, McIver, NNPC, ALSCON, Dozzy and Northwest. The three terminals at

1881-461: The centuries of the Atlantic slave trade , it became a major port for shipment of African slaves to the Americas. The Spanish named it Calabar. Tribes around that region were taken in as slaves for slave trades. Such tribes included the Igbo tribes (communities) who lived around that region at the time. Those minority tribes were subject to slave raids by more powerful tribes or ethnic groups in

1938-501: The city and the state. There has been massive infrastructural developments ongoing in the urban center; these include road construction, shopping malls and market places, trans-Sahara fly-over bridges at presco and spera-in-deo junctions amongst others. Ebonyi State University main campus is located on the outskirts of the city. Abakaliki people like other southeastern Nigerians are predominantly Christians. Other religious faith like Traditionalist, Islam, etc. are practiced by handful of

1995-548: The city were named for them. On 10 September 1884, Queen Victoria signed a treaty of protection with the king and chiefs of Akwa Akpa, known to Europeans as Old Calabar—then the official title to distinguish it from New Calabar to the east. This enabled the United Kingdom to exercise control over the entire territory around Calabar, including Bakassi . Calabar was the headquarter of the European administration in

2052-432: The cleanest and most environmentally friendly city in Nigeria. Administratively, the city is divided into Calabar Municipal and Calabar South Local Government Areas . It has an area of 406 square kilometres (157 sq mi) and, as of the 2006 census, a population of 371,022. Both LGAs together had an estimated population of 571,500 in 2022. When Portuguese explorers in the 15th century reached this part of

2109-455: The colonial era, Nsibidi was characterized by Talbot as "a kind of primitive secret writing", with Talbot explaining that it was used for messages "cut or painted on split palm stems". Macgregor's view was that "The use of nsibidi is that of ordinary writing. I have in my possession a copy of the record of a court case from a town of Enion [Enyong] taken down in it, and every detail ... is most graphically described". Nsibidi crossed ethnic lines and

2166-598: The designs include abstract symbols representing the Ekpe society such as repeating triangles representing the leopard's claws and therefore Ekpe's power. Ukara includes naturalistic designs representing objects such as gongs, feathers and manilla currency, a symbol of wealth. Powerful animals are included, specifically the leopard and crocodile. Nsibidi plays a central role in the Nsibidi Script Series of fantasy novels ( Akata Witch , Akata Warrior , and Akata Woman ) written by Nnedi Okorafor . Nsibidi

2223-405: The first group back into the wild. The Drill Ranch is also home to 28 orphaned chimpanzees. As the closest relatives of humans, chimpanzees contribute greatly to the education of visitors by arousing interest and sympathy for the animal world. The project has two locations. The original site in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, is where it all began. Today, the "Drill Ranch Calabar" serves as

2280-711: The furnishings used by Europeans during the slave trade and colonial period. You can also see the constitutions in their original documents, which are kept in a large library. Calabar's most impressive monument is located in the park of the National Museum. It depicts two chained hands. Mary Mitchell Slessor was a Scottish missionary sent to Nigeria by the United Presbyterian Church in the 19th century. Mary Slessor's House , built around 1880 in Akpap Village, Calabar, Cross River State,

2337-423: The project's headquarters, office, quarantine centre for new animals and veterinary practice, as well as accommodation for the managers and rotating volunteer staff. One of the project's 6 drill breeding groups is also located here so that anyone living in or visiting the state capital has the opportunity to see drills. This group now comprises 39 animals in 4 generations, including the first drill. Drill Ranch Calabar

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2394-409: The region. From 1725 until 1750, roughly 17,000 enslaved Africans were sold from Calabar to European slave traders; from 1772 to 1775, the number soared to more than 62,000. Old Calabar (Duke Town) and Creek Town , 16 kilometres (10 mi) northeast, were crucial towns in the trade of slaves in that era. In 1807, Great Britain abolished the slave trade. In 1815 HMS  Comus , as part of

2451-514: The rich history and culture of Cross River, it provides an excellent backdrop for carefree moments. The Millennium Park is beautifully landscaped and managed and complements the beauty and tourism concept of Calabar town. Located within the Calabar Marina Resort, Tortuga Island is an area with three popular plantation-style bars. The colonial-inspired themed bars are set in beautiful landscaped gardens and offer panoramic views of

2508-483: The river. The famous Tortuga Island is a seating area within the resort. The operators rave about a cocktail at sunset and a delicious grilled meat dinner. You can "order from a well-stocked bar and enjoy expertly fried fish as well as some other delicacies." The Tinapa Resort seems to have fallen into disrepair during the Covid epidemic. Pictures on a travel website show broken windows and various pioneer plants around

2565-457: The sacred are kept secret. Nsibidi is used on wall designs, calabashes , metals (such as bronze), leaves, swords, and tattoos . It is primarily used by the Ekpe leopard society (also known as Ngbe or Egbo), a secret society that is found across old Cross River region among the Igbo , Ekoi , Efik , Bahumono , and other nearby peoples. Before the colonial era of Nigerian history , Nsibidi

2622-535: The ship, either sitting, standing or side by side. These positions were maintained until the ships reached their destination in the New World - a crossing that could take several months. Finally, another exhibition traces the efforts of abolitionists such as William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson and Granville Sharp, who saw the slave trade as morally reprehensible and a matter of natural rights. They therefore put forward twelve proposals for abolition. A British Act for

2679-477: The slave trade and the currency of the slave trade. The Calabar National Museum, designed and built by the colonisers in Glasgow, houses souvenirs from the slave trade. In 1959, the building became a national monument. The National Museum was once the home of a British governor. It is located in Calabar, Cross River State, and displays unique artefacts and historical heritage. On a tour of the museum, you can see

2736-482: The slave trade, including chains and shackles. The traders used these to prevent resistance while transporting as many people as possible over long distances. One exhibition shows the various means of payment used in the slave trade, from copper bars, manillas and Danish guns to brass bells, gongs, flutes and more. The arrangement of the slaves on a ship is artistically illustrated. The slaves were arranged in different positions depending on where they were accommodated on

2793-633: The state. The last known population of Abakaliki was 223,000 (year 2022). The population of the metro area was estimated to be 662,000 (year 2023). Abakaliki is generally populated by the Igbo people. Abakaliki is predominantly populated by the Northeastern Igbo of the Afikpo-Abakaliki axis. Abakaliki is also use to refer to people of old Abakaliki political block comprising Ohaukwu-Ishielu-Izzi-Ezza-Ikwo. The dry season in Abakaliki

2850-477: The vacant building. The decay also affects the Calabar monorail located on the premises, which was once the first of its kind in Africa. The Drill Rehabilitation Centre nature reserve was founded in 1991 and is the first rehabilitation project for primates in the region. Drills orphaned by hunting are donated by local citizens or handed over after confiscation by the authorities; no animals are bought or taken from

2907-568: The wild. More than 75 drills have been rescued and reunited with conspecifics after a thorough medical examination. Drills have reproduced poorly in western zoos, but the DRBC has recorded over 250 births from rehabilitated wild-born parents and their offspring, making the project the world's most successful captive breeding programme for an endangered primate. Today, 286 drills live in 6 family groups, each in their own natural habitat in an electrified enclosure of up to 9 hectares. There are plans to release

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2964-566: Was a uniting factor among ethnic groups in the Cross River region. Nsibidi spread to other parts of Nigeria, especially the Igbos, who are neighbors to the old Calabar people (the Efik , Ibibio and Annang ). Nsibidi was used in judgement cases known as 'Ikpe' in Enion, an Igbo subgroup, according to Macgregor, who was able to retrieve and translate an Nsibidi record of an ikpe judgement. The record

3021-497: Was divided into a sacred version and a public, more decorative version which could be used by women. Nsibidi was and is still a means of transmitting Ekpe symbolism. Nsibidi was transported to Cuba and Haiti via the Atlantic slave trade , where it developed into the anaforuana and veve symbols. Robert Farris Thompson glosses the Ekoid word nsibidi as translating to "cruel letters", from sibi "bloodthirsty". The context

3078-476: Was formerly the government building or the governor's residence during colonial rule, which was built in Britain and then shipped in parts to Calabar. The Calabar National Museum is made of old Scandinavian pine and has preserved centuries-old relics, especially documents, furnishings and artefacts from the colonial era. The museum houses the relics of the slave trade, including the names of the people who supported

3135-563: Was originally named Akwa Akpa , in the Efik language , as the Efik people dominate this area. The city is adjacent to the Calabar and Great Kwa rivers, and the creeks of the Cross River (from its inland delta). Calabar was once described as the tourism capital of Nigeria, especially due to several initiatives implemented during the administration of Donald Duke as the Governor of Cross River State (1999–2007). The city became

3192-552: Was the inspiration for the Wakandan writing system shown in the 2018 film Black Panther . Nsibidi symbols were also featured in the sequel, Wakanda Forever . Below are some examples of Nsibidi recorded by J. K. Macgregor (1909) and Elphinstone Dayrell (1910 and 1911) for The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland and Man . Both of them recorded symbols from

3249-486: Was unable to verify the tradition recorded by Macgregor and concluded that the claims of the Ekoi to have created the system were more plausible. Nsibidi has a wide vocabulary of signs usually imprinted on calabashes, brass ware, textiles, wood sculptures, masquerade costumes, buildings and on human skin. Nsibidi has been described as a "fluid system" of communication consisting of hundreds of abstract and pictographic signs. In

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