On a sunny Saturday morning my colleagues and I were patiently waiting inside the school premises for the highly anticipated tour bus that was supposed to take us on the tour round the city. Few minutes later we were informed of the arrival of the bus which was stationed outside the school, precisely at the main gate of the university. The small crowd surged forward at a blinding pace almost running me down in the process, I did understand the reason for the urgency, for it was our 1st tour and everyone wanted to get a comfortable sit. we got into the bus with much expectation and resorted to taking pictures, chatting and singing. Inside the bus we met the tour guide who introduced himself as Mr. Martin. He was extremely nice and gave us some tour guiding tips; advising us on the kind of outfit suitable for tours. There was a short benediction which lasted for just a few minutes, and after it was done, the driver turned on the car and the business of the day commenced. Less than 5minutes into the tour we came across the 1st roundabout “The Mary Slessor roundabout”.
BRIEF HISTORY OF MARY SLESSOR
Mary Mitchell Slessor was born in Gilcomston, Aberdeen, Scotland on the 2nd of December 1848. She died on the 13th January,1915 in USE Ikot Oku in Itu local govt. of Akwa Ibom State. She was a Christian missionary who worked in Africa to promote women’s right and rescue unwanted children. However, her greatest fit was d stopping of the killing of twins. She later built a hostel for them which is now used as a school. According to my tour guide, her corpse was exhumed and buried in the European cemetery.
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Thereafter, I saw the botanical garden which is the first in Nigeria according to my tour guide, after a few minutes I saw the cultural center which is opposite the famous Etim Edem Park. Less than a kilometer away was the post office, first of its kind, established in the year 1903, it is situated opposite the African club(discriminating club) which was founded in the same year due to the discrimination of the blacks from the sports club. Individuals from Cameroun, Sierra-Leone and Nigeria came together and built the club which was later called the discriminating club because the whites were not let in. Shortly I saw the “watt market” popularly called “Urua Watt”. It is the largest daily market in the state and was named after a man called James Watt in 1901. The Bassey Duke effigy is situated at the round about. Bassey Duke was the last Obong of Calabar before the colonization. Picture below.
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Few minutes later my journey to old Calabar started. I saw lots of effigies, symbols, historic places, fabricated buildings etc. which I am going to discuss one after the other with the aid of pictures. However, some were not allowed to be snapped due to unknown reasons. Examples were the Obong of Calabar’s palace and the Ekpe Shrine. In old Calabar, the people are known based on their different houses (lineage and family). These are the Henshaw house, Duke house, Cobhams house etc. The inhabitants of old Calabar engaged in fishing, sand dredging, palm oil selling and fire wood gathering.
“EGBO EGBO BASSEY HOUSE” esq
Although majority of the people call it the “EKPO EKPO BASSEY HOUSE”. from my personal research I discovered that it’s the “EGBO EGBO BASSEY HOUSE” located at 19 Boco street, Calabar. He stayed at Ikom. This was the location for the first Christian mass held on the 4th of February 1903, conducted by Rev. father Lena. Egbo Egbo Bassey was a lawyer and an immigrant of Cameroun. Picture below.
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EKIKAK PRINTING PRESS
Late chief Albert Effanga Henshaw aka Ekikak was the owner of the company located at #7 anderson street, and was established in 1928. It was the first printing outfit in Cross river state. It owned a cart which was used for hearse services i.e conveying corpses to and fro the morgue, before then corpses were carried on the shoulder by able bodied men. They also produced mineral water which was taken to the lab for testing and was confirmed safe for drinking. They later upgraded producing communion wine which was used by churches. Picture below
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HENSHAW SQUARE
Dr Lawrence Effigy
Dr. Lawrence Ekeng Richard Henshaw. he was the first doctor from the efiks. He was born on the 7th February, 1898. He was the first director of medical services in West Africa. He died in 1955 in a plane crash. A memorial hospital was built in his name along Edgerley road somewhere in Calabar south.
The first water bore hole is also situated within the Henshaw Square premises. It was introduced in 1938 close to Dr. Lawrence Henshaw’s effigy which came to be later known as “Henshaw Square” established in the year 1938 by the first indigenous Academic professor Late Lawrence Eyo Ita first premier of the former Eastern region of Nigeria. He died in 1972.
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INDEPENDENT STONE (ITIAT EKPE)
The stone was carved in 1960 in remembrance and the celebration of Nigeria’s independence. picture below.
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MISSIONARY LODGE
This is where the early missionaries lived during the cause of missionary work. Picture below.
Missionary Lodge
FIRST PHOTO STUDIO
It was called FERNANDEZ PROVIDENCE STUDIO, established in 1924. It was the first photo studio in Cross river state and belonged to Alexander Fernandez Pedro Sixtus. Picture below
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Fernandez providence studio
EUROPEAN CEMETERY
This located at Anderson Street where some famous white men and women were buried, but the unique tomb there is that of Late Mary Mitchell Slessor. History has it that Queen Elizabeth and her husband (Duke of Edinburgh) visited the tomb and kept a wreath in 1956, this is what makes the European Cemetery outstanding.
DUKE TOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
This was the site for the first Christian wedding on the 19th of April 1904.
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THE COURT (ESOP EFIK)
It was the first court in the southern region where the offenders of the British were brought to book and judged accordingly. Disputes were also settled here.
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CALABAR RIVER
The water here is brackish and is different from other rivers in a series of ways. it goes on low and high tides daily. The chemistry behind it is as a result of the combination of fresh and salt water. It gives fresh water at a low tide and gets a high after 6 hours and gives salt water. it was 222ft deep when it was drenched in 2006.
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THE OBONG’S PALACE
This Is the ceremonial home of the obong (king) of Calabar. According to my tour guide, he doesn’t reside there, but goes there for ceremonial purposes.
THE EKPE SHRINE
This is the mother of all masquerade shrines. During festive periods, masquerades goes there to pay homage. Also in the shrine they have ‘mbiam’ which doesn’t allow people who aren’t initiated to venture into the place.
HISTORICAL ANTICIDENT OF CALABAR
The first academic professor [philosopher] Late prof. Eyo Ita comes from Calabar.
Largest flag in West Africa is in Calabar,14/20m wide
The first discriminating club in west Africa is THE AFRICAN CLUB,situated in Calabar
First secondary school in deform eastern region is the Hope Waddel Training Institution, 1895.
First cinema house in West Africa is PATSON, owned by Patrick Solomon,1979.
First football match that was played in Nigeria took place in Calabar,1902.
First church in Nigeria is in C.R.S, Presbyterian church 1850 and is located in Creek town
1938 the borehole was introduced alongside WAPI secondary school.
Late Sir Louis Orok Edet, (1914-1979) was the first Inspector General Police from 1964-1969. He was also the chairman of the Nigerian football association in the early 1960’s.
The first police barracks in Nigeria is situated at Moore road.
Written by IDIGBOGU, CYPRAIN GODWIN
CES/2014/1141
Good day. Where you able to get the history of Duke Town? If so I'd really appreciate if you could share. Thanks.
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