Kalabari Kingdom
Encyclopedia
The Kalabari Kingdom, also called Elem Kalabari (New Shipping Port), or New Calabar by the Europeans, was an independent trading state of the Kalabari people , an Ijaw ethnic group, in the Niger River Delta.
Today it is recognized as a traditional state in what is now Rivers State
, Nigeria.
(called "Old Calabar" by the Europeans), a site further to the east occupied by Efik people. This may have been a 19th century invention. The Efik themselves say the name "Calabar" was given to their town by the Europeans.
Other traditions say Kalabari was founded by Ijo settlers from Amafo, on the west bank of the New Calabar River
, and that they were joined there by settlers from other communities.
The people occupied a series of islands among the mangrove swamps of the delta, where they engaged in fishing and trading.
They would take the produce of the delta region up the New Calabar and Imo rivers, and exchange them for food and goods of the hinterland.
In the 15th century, the early European traders noted that they alone of the delta people refused to trade on credit.
The people of Elem Kalabari originally worshipped the goddess Owemenakaso (or Awamenakaso, Akaso), the mother of all the deities of the Kalabari clan, even when individual settlements had their own local gods and goddesses.
She opposed war and bloodshed, and the Kalabari later claimed she was the sister of the British goddess Brittana, who ruled the seas. Among their neighbors, because of their civilized and generally peaceful behavior the Kalabari were called "Englishmen".
A ruler named King Owerri Daba was said to have brought the slave trade to Kalabari and Bonny, and to have founded the houses of Duke Monmouth and Duke Africa.
This happened some time before 1699, since James Barbot records giving presents to Duke Monmouth of Kalabari in that year.
Kalabari became an entrepôt
of the Atlantic slave trade
, mainly selling slaves purchased from Igboland
, further to the north.
Amakiri I, who died around 1800, was the founder of the dynasty that bears his name. Most of the major trading houses expanded during his reign.
In the 19th century, the Kalabari Kingdom was in the center of a power struggle in the east of the delta.
Elem Kalabari fought against the Nembe Kingdom
to the west, the Kingdom of Bonny
to the southeast and Okrika
to the northeast.
The main rival was Okrika, which had the potential to block Kalabari's access to the interior.
The Kalabari brought their goods down to Elem Ifoko, at the mouth of the New Calabar river, but refused to go the seven more miles to Bonny for the convenience of the European traders.
In July 1863, the feud with the Nembe people of Brass
flared up, with the Nembe the decisive victors.
By December 1865 the Okrika had started ambushing Kalabari trading canoes, and Bonny was threatening to join in since Kalabari was blocking their passage through Kalabari territory. The British consul had to intervene to prevent further hostilities.
When Jubo Jubogha ("Ja-Ja") moved from Bonny in 1869 and established the separate state of Opobo
, he became an ally of Kalabari. Bonny now began a more serious push into Kalabari territory to recover from loss of trade to Opobo.
In 1873 a perpetual treaty of peace was signed between Kalabari and Bonny on the same day that a treaty was signed between two rival factions within Kalabari.
Neither of these treaties was observed. In July 1882 the British consul had to intervene again in the struggle with Bonny.
From 1882 to 1884 two factions of the royal family continued to struggle for control.
The Amakiri faction succeeeded, while the Barboy or Will Braide group moved to the new settlement of Bakana.
Soon after, the victors also evacuated Elem Kalabari, moving to the new capital of Buguma
and to Abonnema
, both further inland.
The European traders followed them, now going up the Sombreiro River to Abonnema.
The government of Kalabari had now become a council of powerful chiefs headed by a king with little power, a structure that has survived to this day.
Today it is recognized as a traditional state in what is now Rivers State
Rivers State
Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states...
, Nigeria.
People and customs
According to one tradition, the Kalabari people originally came from CalabarCalabar
Calabar is a city in Cross River State, southeastern Nigeria. The original name for Calabar was Atakpa, from the Jukun language....
(called "Old Calabar" by the Europeans), a site further to the east occupied by Efik people. This may have been a 19th century invention. The Efik themselves say the name "Calabar" was given to their town by the Europeans.
Other traditions say Kalabari was founded by Ijo settlers from Amafo, on the west bank of the New Calabar River
New Calabar River
The New Calabar River is a river in Rivers State, Nigeria, in the Niger River Delta. The Kalabari Kingdom was based on this river....
, and that they were joined there by settlers from other communities.
The people occupied a series of islands among the mangrove swamps of the delta, where they engaged in fishing and trading.
They would take the produce of the delta region up the New Calabar and Imo rivers, and exchange them for food and goods of the hinterland.
In the 15th century, the early European traders noted that they alone of the delta people refused to trade on credit.
The people of Elem Kalabari originally worshipped the goddess Owemenakaso (or Awamenakaso, Akaso), the mother of all the deities of the Kalabari clan, even when individual settlements had their own local gods and goddesses.
She opposed war and bloodshed, and the Kalabari later claimed she was the sister of the British goddess Brittana, who ruled the seas. Among their neighbors, because of their civilized and generally peaceful behavior the Kalabari were called "Englishmen".
History
This happened some time before 1699, since James Barbot records giving presents to Duke Monmouth of Kalabari in that year.
Kalabari became an entrepôt
Entrepôt
An entrepôt is a trading post where merchandise can be imported and exported without paying import duties, often at a profit. This profit is possible because of trade conditions, for example, the reluctance of ships to travel the entire length of a long trading route, and selling to the entrepôt...
of the Atlantic slave trade
Atlantic slave trade
The Atlantic slave trade, also known as the trans-atlantic slave trade, refers to the trade in slaves that took place across the Atlantic ocean from the sixteenth through to the nineteenth centuries...
, mainly selling slaves purchased from Igboland
Igboland
Igboland, or Igbo land , also known as the Ibo, Ebo, and Heebo Country, is a cultural region in Nigeria that includes the indigenous territory and cultural reach of the Igbo people...
, further to the north.
Amakiri I, who died around 1800, was the founder of the dynasty that bears his name. Most of the major trading houses expanded during his reign.
In the 19th century, the Kalabari Kingdom was in the center of a power struggle in the east of the delta.
Elem Kalabari fought against the Nembe Kingdom
Nembe Kingdom
The Nembe Kingdom is a traditional state in Niger Delta. It includes the Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The traditional rulers take the title "Amanyanabo"...
to the west, the Kingdom of Bonny
Kingdom of Bonny
The Kingdom of Bonny is a traditional state based on the town of Bonny in Rivers State, Nigeria. Founded in the 14th century AD, it became an important slave trading port, later trading palm oil products. During the 19th century the British became increasingly involved in the internal affairs of...
to the southeast and Okrika
Okrika
Okrika is a port town in Rivers State, Nigeria, capital of the Local Government Area of the same name. The town is situated on a small island just south of Port Harcourt, making it a suburb of the much larger city....
to the northeast.
The main rival was Okrika, which had the potential to block Kalabari's access to the interior.
The Kalabari brought their goods down to Elem Ifoko, at the mouth of the New Calabar river, but refused to go the seven more miles to Bonny for the convenience of the European traders.
In July 1863, the feud with the Nembe people of Brass
Twon-Brass
Twon-Brass is a community on Brass island in the Nun River estuary of Southern Bayelsa State, Nigeria, in the Brass Local Government Area.The royal Chief is His Royal Majesty Alfred Diete-Spiff....
flared up, with the Nembe the decisive victors.
By December 1865 the Okrika had started ambushing Kalabari trading canoes, and Bonny was threatening to join in since Kalabari was blocking their passage through Kalabari territory. The British consul had to intervene to prevent further hostilities.
When Jubo Jubogha ("Ja-Ja") moved from Bonny in 1869 and established the separate state of Opobo
Opobo
Opobo is a traditional state in southern Nigeria. The state was founded in 1870.A part of the traditional state is now Ikot-Abasi in Akwa Ibom State.-History:...
, he became an ally of Kalabari. Bonny now began a more serious push into Kalabari territory to recover from loss of trade to Opobo.
In 1873 a perpetual treaty of peace was signed between Kalabari and Bonny on the same day that a treaty was signed between two rival factions within Kalabari.
Neither of these treaties was observed. In July 1882 the British consul had to intervene again in the struggle with Bonny.
From 1882 to 1884 two factions of the royal family continued to struggle for control.
The Amakiri faction succeeeded, while the Barboy or Will Braide group moved to the new settlement of Bakana.
Soon after, the victors also evacuated Elem Kalabari, moving to the new capital of Buguma
Buguma
Buguma is a larger town in Rivers State, Nigeria. It is the headquarters of the Asari-Toru Local Government Area and base of the Kalabari Kingdom, a Nigerian traditional state.The town has an official Post Office....
and to Abonnema
Abonnema
Abonnema is a was founded in 1882. It was discovered by an expedition of a host of chiefs from the Kalabari town . These include Chief Young Briggs in Nigeria...
, both further inland.
The European traders followed them, now going up the Sombreiro River to Abonnema.
The government of Kalabari had now become a council of powerful chiefs headed by a king with little power, a structure that has survived to this day.
Independent state
Following were the later independent rulers of Kalabari.| Start | End | Ruler |
|---|---|---|
| 1770 | 1790 | Amakiri I |
| 1790 | Amakiri II | |
| April 1863 | Amakiri III | |
| April 1863 | 1900 | Amakiri IV (Abbe Princewill) |
Protectorate and Nigerian Federation
Rulers after the kingdom became part of the British protectorate, then the independent Federation of Nigeria:| Start | End | Ruler |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 1918 | Amakiri V (Charlie Keini) |
| 1919 | 1927 | Amakiri VI (Willie Keini) |
| 1927 | 1960 | Amakiri VII (Obenibo J.T. Princewill) |
| 1960 | 1973 | Amakiri VIII (Frederick Princewill) (b. 1884 – d. 1960) |
| 1973 | 1975 | Amakiri IX (Cottone Keini) |
| 1975 | 7 June 1998 | Amakiri X (Abbiye Suku) (d. 1998) |
| 7 Jun 1998 | 2002 | Vacant |
| 2002 | Amakiri XI (Theophilus J.T. Princewill) (b. 1930) |