South South
Cross River State
Capital: Calabar · Created 1967 · ≈4.1 million · Area 20,156 km²
Population
≈4.1 million
Size
20,156 km²
Capital
Calabar
Year created
1967
Geopolitical zone
South South
Languages
Efik · Ejagham · Bekwarra · Yakurr · English
Ethnic groups
- Efik
- Ejagham (Ekoi)
- Bekwarra
- Yakurr
- Boki
Natural resources
- Limestone
- Kaolin
- Salt
- Timber
- Uranium
- Manganese
Signature foods
- Edikang ikong
- Afang soup
- Ekpang nkukwo
- Ikokore
- Fisherman soup
- Fresh coconut rice
Notable people
- Donald Duke (former governor)
- Liyel Imoke (former governor)
- Ben Ayade (former governor)
- Bassey Ekpo Bassey (activist)
Culture, values & festivals
- Calabar Carnival — 'Africa's biggest street party' (every December)
- Ekpe secret society
- Nchibi masquerade
- Rich Efik royal heritage — Obong of Calabar
Top places to visit in Cross River
- 1
Calabar Carnival & Marina
December festival + colonial-era waterfront strip.
- 2
Obudu Mountain Resort
Cable-car ride, cool climate, canopy walk on the Cameroon border.
- 3
Cross River National Park
Tropical rainforest — home to forest elephants, drills, chimps.
- 4
Slave History Museum, Calabar
Restored slave-trade era warehouses and archives.
- 5
Agbokim Waterfalls
Seven-tier waterfall near Ikom.
About the South South
Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Rivers. Niger Delta, oil belt, mangrove creeks, Calabar carnival.