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City-state · 1500–1884

Kalabari

Elem Kalabari and New Calabar

Elem Kalabari, “new shipping port”, was the island state of the Kalabari Ijaw at the mouth of the New Calabar river.

Watch the Kalabari on the old map

At a glance

When did the Kalabari exist?
From c. 15th–16th century to 1884. It was at its height around 1750.
What was the capital of the Kalabari?
Elem Kalabari (approximate).
What was the ruler of the Kalabari called?
Amanyanabo (Amachree dynasty).
What happened to the Kalabari?
The Amanyanabo of Kalabari reigns from Buguma, Rivers State.
Who lives in the lands of the Kalabari today?
Ijaw, Ekpeye, Ikwerre, Abua, Engenni, Odual

Overview

Elem Kalabari, “new shipping port”, was the island state of the Kalabari Ijaw at the mouth of the New Calabar river. Its people traded fish and salt up the New Calabar and Imo rivers for the food and goods of the hinterland, and early European traders noted that they alone refused to trade on credit. King Owerri Daba brought the slave trade and founded the Duke Monmouth and Duke Africa houses before 1699; under Amachree I the great trading houses grew. In the 19th century Kalabari fought Nembe, Bonny and Okrika over the trade rivers, then tore itself apart in a civil war, and in 1881–1884 its people left the old island for Bakana, Abonnema and Buguma.[1]High confidence

Through the centuries

  1. c. 1500

    Elem Kalabari

    One tradition says the Kalabari came from the east, from Calabar; others that Ijo settlers from Amafo, on the west bank of the New Calabar river, founded the town and were joined by others. They live on islands among the mangroves, worship Awoamenakaso, mother of the Kalabari gods, who opposes war, and carry delta produce up the New Calabar and Imo rivers.[1],[1]Medium confidence

    Capital: Elem Kalabari (approximate)

  2. c. 1690–1750

    Owerri Daba and the slave trade

    King Owerri Daba, says tradition, brings the slave trade to Kalabari and Bonny and founds the houses of Duke Monmouth and Duke Africa; James Barbot gives presents to Duke Monmouth of Kalabari in 1699. Kalabari becomes an entrepôt for captives bought in Igboland. Alagoa dates the reign of Amachree I, founder of the modern kingdom, from 1669, and traces him to Emakalakala in Ogbia.[1]Medium confidence

    Capital: Elem Kalabari (approximate)

  3. c. 1669–1757

    Amachree I

    King Amachree I builds the house system and the trade up the New Calabar river into Ikwerre, Engenni and Igbo markets.[1],[2]Medium confidence

    Capital: Elem Kalabari (approximate)

  4. 1800–1862

    Amachree's houses

    By Amachree I's death around 1800 the great trading houses have grown under him. The Kalabari bring slaves, ivory and palm oil down to Elem Ifoko at the river's mouth for cotton cloth, hardware, guns and powder, and make salt for the inland markets, but will not carry their goods the last seven miles to Bonny for the Europeans' convenience. Their neighbours call them “Englishmen” for their peaceable ways.[1]Medium confidence

    Capital: Elem Kalabari (approximate)

  5. 1863–1879

    Wars on the trade rivers

    In July 1863 an old feud with Nembe flares and Nembe wins decisively. From 1865 Okrika ambushes Kalabari trade canoes and Bonny threatens to join in; the consul steps in. After Jaja founds Opobo in 1869 he becomes Kalabari's ally, and Bonny pushes harder into Kalabari waters. A perpetual peace with Bonny and a treaty between Kalabari's own factions are signed on the same day in 1873; neither holds.[1],[3]High confidence

    Capital: Elem Kalabari (approximate)

  6. 1879–1884

    Civil war and three towns

    From 1879 to 1884 two royal factions fight for control. The Barboy or Will Braide group leaves for the new town of Bakana in 1881; the Amachree group, the victors, abandon the old island too, moving to Abonnema in 1882 and Buguma in 1884, and the European traders follow them up the Sombreiro river. Kalabari is now governed by a council of chiefs and princes under the king.[1],[2],[1]Medium confidence

    Capital: Buguma

Wars, treaties and turning points

Today

Amanyanabo of Kalabari, Buguma

The Amanyanabo of Kalabari reigns from Buguma, Rivers State.[1]High confidence

Its people

Ijaw

Living in its lands today

Peoples whose homelands lie inside its lands at its height, by number of LGAs.

Ijaw, Ekpeye, Ikwerre, Abua, Engenni, Odual

Sources

Every claim carries a confidence level: high (well attested), medium (one source or approximate) or disputed (sources disagree).

  1. Wikipedia contributors. Kalabari Kingdom
  2. Jones, G. I. (1963). The Trading States of the Oil Rivers: A Study of Political Development in Eastern Nigeria. Oxford University Press for the International African Institute (cited elsewhere, not yet checked directly)
  3. Wikipedia contributors. Kingdom of Bonny