Over 180 years ago, Queen Victoria of England sent a message to Old Calabar.When the letter reached the then Obong of Calabar, King Eyamba V,
When the letter reached the then Obong of Calabar, King Eyamba V, the interpreter told him that the Queen wanted to “protect” him and his kingdom.
But in Efik culture, a man cannot hide under a woman’s protection unless she is his wife.
So King Eyamba looked at the message and replied with the confidence of a true ruler, “If the Queen wants to protect me, then she should marry me.”
He didn’t say it because he was looking for love.
He said it because the Efik throne did not see itself as weak or inferior to any throne in the world.
Then Queen Victoria later sent royal gifts to Calabar.
A sword, a Bible, and a cape and the people took it as a sign of respect for their king.
And that is why, during the Obong’s coronation today, an empty seat is placed beside the throne which is a reminder of that courageous moment in history when the Efik monarchy stood tall before the British Crown.
It’s a story that shows one thing clearly, the seat of the Obong of Calabar has always carried confidence, pride, and the courage to speak as an equal to any power on earth.
Andrea Ekeng Inyang
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