Obong of Calabar

Last updated

The Obong of Calabar is the traditional ruler and custodian of the culture of the Efik people of Western Africa. The Obong is referred to as a natural ruler (because his kingdom predates the Nigerian state), treaty King (because he signed sovereign treaties with other world powers), grand patriarch of the Efik Kingdom and later bestowed with the additional title of defender of the Christian faith by a British monarch owing to the Obong's documented efforts in helping the spread of christianity in his domain. The Efik people are dispersed and settled in many parts of south eastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroun but are mostly Centred in Calabar, capital of Cross River State. Calabar which was named by the Portuguese was locally known as Ata Akpa in local Efik language.

In modern times the Obong of Calabar is crowned twice, first traditionally at a sacred lodge known as efe asabo where different branches of Efik royal houses perform their esoteric roles during coronation and then in line with the Christian faith at the Duke Town Presbyterian church. The Obong's title defender of the Christian faith was given by previous kings of the Europeans during the colonial era. The crown, sword, orb and bible used during coronation are said to be gifts from Queen Victoria after a correspondence with a previous Obong, Previous Obong's had close relationships with the British colonial monarchy resulting at one time an Obong offered to marry Queen Victoria as one of his wives in order for both of them to rule over the black and white people. Their correspondence can be seen at the National Museum in Calabar. [1] [2]

The current Obong of Calabar is Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, He is the 78th monarch of the Efik people and has held the title since 2008. [3] The Obong of Calabar is the current chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). [4]

List of Obongs of the Efik Kingdom

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Efik mythology</span> Body of myths and legends of the Efik people

Efik mythology consists of a collection of myths narrated, sung or written down by the Efik people and passed down from generation to generation. Sources of Efik mythology include bardic poetry, art, songs, oral tradition and proverbs. Stories concerning Efik myths include creation myths, supernatural beings, mythical creatures, and warriors. Efik myths were initially told by Efik people and narrated under the moonlight. Myths, legends and historical stories are known in Efik as Mbụk while moonlight plays in Efik are known as Mbre Ọffiọñ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibibio people</span> Ethnic group in southern Nigeria

The Ibibio people are a coastal people in southern Nigeria. They are mostly found in Akwa Ibom, Cross River State and the Eastern part of Abia State. They are related to the Efik people. During the colonial period in Nigeria, the Ibibio Union asked for recognition by the British as a sovereign nation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Efik people</span> Ethnic group in West Africa

The Efik are an ethnic group located primarily in southern Nigeria, and western Cameroon. Within Nigeria, the Efik can be found in the present-day Cross River State and Akwa Ibom state. The Efik speak the Efik language which is a member of the Benue–Congo subfamily of the Niger-Congo language group. The Efik refer to themselves as Efik Eburutu, Ifa Ibom, Eburutu and Iboku.

Ukanafun is a Local Government Area located in the South South of Nigeria in Akwa Ibom State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duke Town</span> Town in Cross River, Nigeria

Duke Town, originally known as Atakpa, is an Efik city-state that flourished in the 19th century in what is now southern Nigeria. The City State extended from now Calabar to Bakassi in the east and Oron to the west. Although it is now absorbed into Nigeria, traditional rulers of the state are still recognized. The state occupied what is now the modern city of Calabar.

EfikEF-ik is the indigenous language of the Efik people, who are situated in the present-day Cross River state and Akwa Ibom state of Nigeria, as well as in the North-West of Cameroon. The Efik language is mutually intelligible with other lower Cross River languages such as Ibibio, Annang, Oro and Ekid but the degree of intelligibility in the case of Oro and Ekid is unidirectional; in other words, speakers of these languages speak and understand Efik but not vice versa. The Efik vocabulary has been enriched and influenced by external contact with the British, Portuguese and other surrounding communities such as Balondo, Oron, Efut, Okoyong, Efiat and Ekoi (Qua).

Adadia is a town with five villages in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Adadia is inhabited by the Ibibio12people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bassey Eyo Ephraim Adam III</span> Edidem Efik Eburutu

Bassey Adam III was the Obong of Calabar and the Edidem of the Efik kingdom from 27 November 1982 until his death on 14 December 1986. Bassey was born in Calabar, during the reign of his Uncle Obong Adam Ephraim Adam as the Obong of Old Calabar and its dependencies. His father was Etubom Eyo Ephraim Adam, the second son of Ephraim Adam of Etim Efiom royal house of Old Calabar. His mother was Princess Eyoanwan Eyo Edem of Duke royal house of Old Calabar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Ephraim Adam I</span> Obong of Calabar

Adam I was the Obong of Calabar, Nigeria from 1901 until his death on 1 July 1906.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eyo Ephraim Adam</span> Head of Etim Efiom House of Old Calabar

Eyo Ephraim Adam was the head of Etim Efiom royal house of Old Calabar from 1908 until his death on September 28, 1911. His father Ephraim Adam was the founder of the Tete household in Etim Efiom House. His mother Enang Otuk Oyom was equally from Etim Efiom House. He is credited to have aided in the spread of christianity in Akpabuyo, Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archibong I</span> Obong of Calabar

Archibong I also known as Archibong Duke was the Obong of Calabar from 28 May 1849 to 4 February 1852. Born as Efio-Okoho, he was named after his Great Grandfather Efiom Okoho. His father was Asibong Ekpo and his mother was Obuma. Archibong is the anglicised form of the name Asibong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orok Edem-Odo</span> Obong of Calabar

Orok Edem-Odo also known as Eyamba IX or King Duke IX was the Obong of Calabar from 17 April 1880 to 21 November 1896. His father Edem-Odo Edem Ekpo was the Obong of Calabar from 1854 to 1858. His mother was Ekanem Ama from the Eta Odionka family of Efut Abua, Calabar.

Eyamba V popularly known as Johnny Young by his Liverpool friends and known to the Efik people as Eyamba V, was the Obong of Old Calabar and the fifth Iyamba of Ekpe Efik Iboku. His father was Ekpenyong Offiong Okoho also known as Eyamba III. His mother was Edim Ekpenyong Ekpe Oku, a daughter of Ekpenyong Ekpe Oku also known as Eyamba II.

The Efik religion is based on the traditional beliefs of the Efik people of southern Nigeria. The traditional religious beliefs of the Efik are not systemised into a logical orthodoxy but consists of diverse conceptions such as worship of the supreme God, ancestral veneration, cleansing rituals and funeral rites.

Efik names are names borne by the Efik people of Southern Nigeria and Western Cameroon. The naming system of the Efik is unique and differs from contemporary African names in several ways. The word for name in Efik is Enyiñ and the act of assigning a name to a child is Usio enyiñ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Efik literature</span> Literature written in the Efik language

Efik literature is literature spoken or written in the Efik language, particularly by Efik people or speakers of the Efik language. Traditional Efik literature can be classified as follows; Ase, Uto, Mbụk, Ñke and Ikwọ. Other aspects of Efik literature include prose and drama (Mbre).

Essien Etim Ofiong III also known as Etinyin Essien Etim Offiong was the founder of Essien Town in present-day Calabar. He was a political agent during the early years of the colonial era and was instrumental in the establishment of the Catholic Church at Old Calabar. He was also instrumental to the establishment of Ikot Ishie, whose founder, Obong Ishie Offiong Okoho became a beneficiary of Offiong's land gift among other things.

Eyo Honesty IV popularly known as Father Tom was the ruler of Creek Town from 1862 until his death on 22 March 1865. Creek Town was part of the Efik city-states of the Old Calabar province in the Bight of Biafra. Born into the family of Chief Eyo Nsa, he was known at birth as Efiok. His father Eyo Nsa, alias Willy Eyo Honesty or Eyo Willy Honesty, was one of the prominent figures of the 18th century in Efik maritime history. Efiok was also the elder brother of King Eyo Honesty II.

Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V is the present the Obong of Calabar and the 78th recognised monarch of the Efik People, he was crowned and officially recognised by the Government of Cross River State on 11 July 2008.

References

  1. ↑ Effiong, Aye (2000). The Efik People. Glad Tidings Press Ltd. ISBN   978-30541-3-9.
  2. ↑ U. Aye, Effiong (1967). Old Calabar through centuries. Calabar: Hope Waddell Press, Calabar. OCLC   476222042.
  3. ↑ "Obong of Calabar, King of Efik people, Nigeria - THE AFRICAN ROYAL FAMILIES". theafricanroyalfamilies.com. 2022-11-19. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  4. ↑ Cyril (2022-03-22). "Obong of Calabar urges Buhari to reconstitute FUNAAB governing council". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  5. ↑ Oku, Ekei Essien (1989). The kings & chiefs of Old Calabar, 1785-1925. Calabar: Apellac. ISBN   978-978-30541-0-3.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.