Calabar Museum | Calabar

Calabar Museum, also known as the Old Residency Museum, is a prominent historical and cultural institution located in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, Nigeria. It is one of the most significant museums in the country, renowned for preserving and showcasing Nigeria’s colonial history, local heritage, and the dark legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.

Location and Setting:

The museum is situated in the Old Government Residential Area (GRA) of Calabar, close to the Marina Resort and overlooking the Calabar River.

The building itself is historically important: it was prefabricated in Britain using Scandinavian pine, shipped to Calabar, and assembled in 1884. It served as the British colonial government house during the period when Calabar was the administrative capital of the Southern Protectorate of Nigeria.

Architectural Significance:

The structure is one of the earliest prefabricated colonial buildings in West Africa.

Built entirely of imported timber, it showcases a unique Victorian-era style adapted to tropical conditions.

The building has been preserved with minimal alterations, making it a rare example of early colonial architecture.

Museum Exhibits and Collections:

The Calabar Museum features a wide range of permanent and rotating exhibitions, which are grouped into thematic galleries. These include:

1. Efik Kingdom and Calabar History:

Artifacts, royal regalia, and traditional tools of the Efik people, the indigenous rulers of Calabar.

Exhibits on the Obong of Calabar, traditional ceremonies, and the city’s status as a major coastal trading post.

Items related to Efik literature, including the Nsibidi writing system and early translations of the Bible into the Efik language.

2. Colonial Administration:

Furniture, maps, and administrative equipment used by British colonial officers.

Documents, photographs, and records detailing the governance of Southern Nigeria from Calabar.

3. Transatlantic Slave Trade:

Calabar was a major slave export point in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Exhibits include:

Shackles, chains, and branding irons

Descriptions of slave routes from inland to the coast

Information about local slave markets (e.g., Esuk Mba)

Diagrams of slave ships showing the conditions of transport

Stories of resistance, liberation, and the abolition movement

4. Christian Missionaries and Early Education:

The role of Scottish and English missionaries in Calabar, who introduced Western education and Christianity.

Artifacts from the Hope Waddell Training Institute, one of the earliest secondary schools in Nigeria.

Outdoor and Auxiliary Features:

The gardens around the museum are serene and well-kept, with colonial-era cannons and stone benches.

There are plaques and monuments commemorating key events and individuals in Calabar’s history.

Guided tours are available to provide historical context and enrich the visitor experience.

Slave History Museum (Adjacent Site):

Nearby is the Slave History Museum, located at the Marina Resort, on the site of a former slave-trading warehouse:

Opened in 2011, this museum focuses more exclusively on the transatlantic slave trade and the brutal economy it created.

It features:

Real-life replicas of slave ships

Interactive displays on slave markets, routes, and destinations

Exhibits on the abolitionist movement and African resistance

Educational videos and survivor narratives

Together, both museums provide a comprehensive historical narrative that is emotionally powerful and educationally invaluable.

Cultural and Educational Role:

The Calabar Museum serves as a vital center for historical education, research, and cultural preservation.

It is visited by students, tourists, researchers, and historians interested in West Africa’s past.

It plays an important role in memorializing the history of slavery, colonialism, and the cultural resilience of the people of the region.

Visiting Information:

Opening Hours: Typically from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily (except public holidays)

Entrance Fee: Modest, with lower rates for students and groups

Facilities: Parking, gift shop, guided tours, and small library/archive

Summary:

Calabar Museum is not just a repository of objects; it is a living history center that reflects centuries of African culture, colonial influence, and global historical intersections. The building itself is a monument, while its exhibitions tell deeply personal and national stories. It stands as a reminder of the painful past, the resilient spirit of the Nigerian people, and the importance of preserving history for future generations.