CALABAR
CANAAN CITY

Calabar is located on the bank of the Calabar River in confluence with the Cross River at the Southeast Region of Nigeria. With population estimated at 240 million, it is also the capital of Cross River State . The people living here are the Efiks known for their artistic skills, rich food, culture and traditions. Their main occupation is Agriculture.

As one of the first regions invaded by the British, Calabar became the first capital of Nigeria and an important Niger delta trading state in the 19th century. It served as a seaport exporting rubber, palm oil, cocoa and timber.

Calabar is an educational center that homes of one of the major universities in Nigeria , University of Calabar (UNICAL).

One of the four cultural centers in Nigeria where most of the families in Calabar are involved in the development of culture ensuring that their children maintain and preserve the Efik cultural traditions.

Calabar is made up of seven clans (Esien Efik Itiaba) namely: Creek Town , Adiabo, Ikoneto, Ikot Offiong, Old Town , Duke Town and Henshaw Town .

As a tourist heaven, Calabar offers the best cultural setting of the Efik people as you can see in their traditional attire, Masquerades and cuisine. It is also known as " Canann City ", the land of flowing milk and honey because of the abundant warmth and hospitality of its people, rich history, culture and natural attraction. This historical town can be access by air, road and the sea from different parts of Africa .

IMPORTANT FACT:
According to history, an Efik leader and his entire village of Obutong were captured by the British slave traders and taken to their final destination, Havana in Cuba . This Efik Chief founded the Abakua society in Havana in the 1830s. The first Abakua group is named after "Obutong" an Efik town in Calabar (Efi Kebuton). Most of the names mentioned in the songs are places and names of the Efik people and town of Calabar . These societies has become an cultural identity of the Cuban people.