Shedding off old toga: PASSED in Calabar, Nigeria.

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Calabar, which is now one of the
leading tourist cities in Nigeria,
was once a destination of no
return for slaves captured from
the South-Eastern and South-
South parts of Nigeria, writes
Adaeze Anaekwe after an eye–
opening visit….

Recently, students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, under the auspices of the Pearls of African Society, Sciences, Education and Development (PASSED), a Pan-African movement, got to hear of
Calabar’s history during a recent visit to the “Canaan City”.
As a Pan-African movement, PASSED is geared towards the development and preservation of the African culture, and the emancipation of
Africans from the shackles of mental enslavement and the “white supremacy syndrome”. It is
committed to the development of
Africa, just as her motto states, “... in the service of African civilization.” PASSED, which was founded in 2002, now has several branches and affiliates across Nigeria and the Diasporas, and with several intellectuals as facilitators and
patrons, such as Dr. Nnanna
Onuoha Arukwe a senior lecturer of Sociology and Anthropology, UNN.
The UNN chapter of the
organisation, embarks on annual
tours to historical places across
Nigeria, including the ancient and
historic town of Badagry in Lagos
state. The choice of the ancient city of Calabar for this yer’s tour was
symbolic. This symbolism lies in the historical connection of the beautiful city with the tragic story of the inglorious human trade that left in its wake an ugly scar in the psyche of
the black man the world over.
The choice of the location was not a mistake, as the atmosphere made visitors feel at home.

Tinapa

Receiving the students to Calabar
was Richmond, an official tour
guide. The tour began at Tinapa
Resort. Tinapa was initiated by
Governor Donald Duke and
commissioned on April 2, 2007, as a way to boost business and tourism in the state.
It has a shopping centre of quality
retail outlets, a games arcade for
kids, a waterpark which comprises
adult and children-sized pools,
exciting water games, breath-taking slides, a lazy river, the ultra-modern Tinapa film studio, the fisherman’s
wharf , the exquisite Lakeside Hotel and other exciting attraction centre to its credit.

Marina Resorts

We were taken round Marina resorts which housed the Slave History Museum and other relaxation centres such as Totugal Island, bars, clubs, games room and so on. The dark enclave museum formally a baracoon building (a building made
of woods for slaves) served as a hub for slave transaction that began in 1441.
The slaves were kept in the
baracoon building like “ice fish” to
emaciate before the next shipment.
Our guide, took us from one
chamber to the other. It was a
delicate and emotional journey into a past of sorrows and tears,
reflecting man’s inhumanity to man.
In a voice laden with emotion, we
were showed a chamber where we
saw a replica of the ships used to
transport the slaves. We were
enveloped in the dark, but the
lighting and other special effects
helped captured the evil of slavery in bold relief.
There were effigies of slaves
arranged in the make-believe ship. Their heads and legs barely showed. They were arranged, one atop the other to avoid conspiracy against their master.
The most poignant moment in the
slave voyage through the history
museum was the dramatization of
the process of auctioning slaves to
the Americans, each slave was sold
to the highest bidder with an
inscription on their back. Made from a hot red iron, it was for the
purpose of identification.
This cruelty was also dramatically
enacted. As the slaves were being
branded in the drama, screams in
Efik language rent the air with the
words, “Ekpa pa mi o!” I found
those words unbearable and highly
emotional. The words sounded like the Yoruba Language of the
Southwest of Nigeria “Won pa mi o!”
The meaning of this painful cry is
“They have killed me o” in English
Language. With these words from
dying slaves tears rolled down my
cheeks. I left the museum more
educated but saddened.
Tortugal Island, on the other hand,
is the exact opposite of the
museum as it is a place meant for
honeymooning lovers while Marina resort is always open until the last customer leaves.

Calabar Museum

The building originally known as the government house was
prefabricated in Britain in 1884 and erected in Old Calabar to
accommodate the early British
administration of the Niger Coast
territory. The building which was the official residence of Lord Lugard where he stayed to administer the Southern Protectorate is still a sight
to behold after over 100 years of its existence.
After 1914, it became the official
residence of the Old Calabar
province. And after the Nigerian civil war, it accommodated offices of the New South Eastern State of Nigeria.
The building which still has its
wooden structure was declared a
national monument No. 20 in 1959 and was renovated by the National Commission for Museum and Monument in 1986.

Obudu Mountain

We arrived at the formerly known
Obudu Cattle Ranch late at night
and were welcomed by the cold
weather. According to our tour
guide, “the ranch is the semi-
temperate mountain climate, which is the general weather condition experienced on the Obudu Plateau due to its altitude.”
The ranch which is presently known as the Obudu Mountain Resort is founded on the Obudu Plateau Close to the Cameroon border in the North Eastern part of Cross River state in Nigeria. The ranch was first discovered by Mr. McCaughley, a Scot in 1949 and in conjunction with Mr. Hugh and Mr. Crawfielddeveloped the Obudu Cattle Ranch.
We rode in the cable car from the
tropical climate at the base of the
mountain right to the hotel’s
reception area on the mountainside which is often in the clouds and is
accompanied by an invigorating
drop in temperature.
The ranch provides accommodation in the form of African-themed round
huts and chalets on stilts maximizing the breathtaking views. It has a 2 –bedroom Governor Lodge, Presidential Villa, Terrace Restaurant and Bar with a cozy and relaxing atmosphere made complete by the blazing log of fire. Obudu is really a
place to be for those in doubt about the beauty of Nigeria. Lectures were given amidst the tours from students and facilitators.
Performances were also done to
ease the atmosphere from
musicians and artistes such as Rino, Smario, I Go Dye, Risky Jolly and a host of others.
The tour was an exciting and
educating experience.