The Obong of Calabar is the

traditional ruler A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...

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 The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional form of government by which a hereditary sovereign reigns as the head of state of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies (the Bailiwi ...

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 Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

and southwestern

Cameroun Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...

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 Duke Town, originally known as Atakpa is an Efik people, 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 (state), Oron to the west. Altho ...

Presbyterian church Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

. 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 Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

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. 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. The Obong of Calabar is the current

chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta is one of the higher institutions of learning owned and run by the Federal government of Nigeria. History The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, or FUNAAB, was estab ...

(FUNAAB).

List of Obongs of the Efik Kingdom

Eyamba V Eyamba V (Edem Ekpenyong Offiong Okoho Efiom Ekpo Efiom Ekpo) 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.Hart, p.55 H ...

(1834-1847) *

Archibong I Archibong I (Efio-Okoho Asibong Ekpo Efiom Okoho Efiom Ekpo Efiom Ekpo) also known as Archibong Duke was the Obong of Akwa Akpa, Calabar from 28 May 1849 to 4 February 1852.#refMarwick1897, Marwick, p.259 Born as Efio-Okoho, he was named after ...

(1849-1852) * Edem-Odo Edem Ekpo (1854-1858) *

Orok Edem-Odo Orok Edem-Odo (Orok Edem-Odo Edem Ekpo Efiom Okoho Efiom Ekpo Efiom Ekpo) 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 ...

(1880-189

* David James Henshaw V (1970-197

* Essien Ekpe Oku V (1973-198

*

Bassey Eyo Ephraim Adam III Bassey Adam III (Abasi Eyo Efiom Ededem Edak Edem Etim Efiom Okoho Efiom Ekpo Efiom Ekpo; 25 December 1904 – 14 December 1986) was the Obong of Calabar and the Edidem of the Efik people, Efik kingdom from 27 November 1982 until his deat ...

(1982-198

*

Adam Ephraim Adam I Adam I (Edem Efiom Ededem Edak Edem Etim Efiom Okoho Efiom Ekpo Efiom Ekpo; ca. 1849 – 1 July 1906) was the Obong of Calabar, Nigeria from 1901 until his death on 1 July 1906. Adam was born in Calabar, sometime around the reign of hi ...

(1901-190

* Otu Ekpenyong Efa IX (1987-198

* Boco Ene Nkpang Cobham (1989-199

* Nta Elijah Henshaw (2001-200

* Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V (2008-till date)

References

{{Reflist History of Nigeria Nigerian traditional rulers Efik people