Tsohon Sunan Jihar Calabar Kafin A Canza Shi Daga Baya
Yan Najeriya da dama suna tattaunawa da birnin na Najeriya da ake kira Calabar saboda yanayi mai dadi da kwanciyar hankali. Duk da haka, mutane kaɗan ne suka san sunan da aka sani da shi kafin a canza shi zuwa Calabar. Don haka, wannan labarin zai fallasa mu ga tsohon sunan Calabar da wanda ya sa masa suna.
Tsohuwar sunan Calabar ita ce masarautar Akwa Akpa, kuma Turawan mulkin mallaka na Burtaniya sun kasance suna kiranta da tsohuwar Calabar ko garin Duke. Masarautar Akwa Akpa birni ne ko kuma birni da ke mamaye da Efik wanda ya shahara sosai a ƙarni na 19, kuma garin yana cikin Calabar a yau a Jihar Cross River ta Najeriya.
Asalin tagwayen dai za a iya gano shi ne daga iyalan Efik da suka fara wani sabon matsuguni a gabar gabashin kogin Calabar. Wannan ya biyo bayan barin tsohon mazaunin a Creek-town a cikin 1650.
Iyalan Efik sun yi amfani da damar shaharar kogin Calabar wajen mamaye cinikin bayi tare da jiragen ruwa na Turai da suka tanka a cikin kogin. Wannan saboda yankin ya zama babban yanki na cinikin bayi na Trans-Atlantic.
Masu farautar bayi sun yi musayar bayin da kayayyakin Turawa, yayin da ’yan kabilar Igbo suka fi yawa daga cikin bayin Afirka da ake sayar da su a yankin. Fiye da haka, ko bayan hana bautar da gwamnatin Burtaniya ta yi, yawancin sassan duniya ba su daina cinikin bayi a lokaci daya ba kuma ba a bar garin Duke ba.
Ko da yake an hana shi a 1808, garin Duke ya sami damar dakatar da cinikin bayi a 1842 bayan sarkin garin Duke (Eyamba V) da sarkin garin Creek (Eyo) sun sanya hannu tare da wata yarjejeniya don kawar da cinikin bayi a yankin.
Bayan haramcin cinikin bayi, yankin ya shiga harkar fitar da dabino da dabino wanda suke sayar wa Turawa. Sai dai daga baya wani mai binciken dan kasar Portugal ya sanyawa yankin suna Calabar, kuma har yanzu ba a san dalilansa na zabar sunan ba.