In the historic heart of Duke Town, Calabar, one of Nigeria’s rare architectural treasures is rising from years of decay. The Egbo Egbo Bassey House, a unique architectural heritage on Boko Street, has long stood as a witness to Old Calabar’s engagement with the Atlantic world. Today, a restoration project funded by Gerda Henkel Stiftung is giving the national monument a new lease of life.

 

Old Calabar played a strategic role in the commercial and political history of colonial Nigeria. Its Atlantic connections in the Bight of Biafra made it an important centre of trade, diplomacy and cultural exchange. Among the legacies of that era were prefabricated buildings of foreign origin, transported in sections and assembled in the coastal historic town. Many have since disappeared through neglect, redevelopment and natural decay.

 

The Egbo Egbo Bassey House is one of the few survivors.

 

Declared a national monument in 1959, the building is notable for its timber construction and distinctive baroque architectural character. Even in deterioration, it remained more than an abandoned house. It stood as a tangible reminder of Calabar’s place in the global history of commerce and cultural interaction.

 

In response to its poor condition, Gerda Henkel Stiftung began funding the building’s research, documentation and stabilisation since 2024. The intervention is being implemented by local partner – the Vernacular Heritage Initiative (VHI) in collaboration with the responsible federal agency – the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM). In December 2025, the project entered a major new phase with the commencement of total architectural restoration adaptive reuse of this National Monument.

 

The project began with a stakeholders’ meeting at the National Museum in Calabar, bringing together families connected to the monument, community members, heritage professionals and government authorities. The meeting ensured that the project would extend beyond technical construction and include the memories, expectations and participation of the community.

 

Following the consultations, work began on the foundation and structural rehabilitation. The team reinforced the foundation, floors and walls, carried out trenching and carefully dismantled deteriorated sections. Damaged beams and columns were replaced, while original materials, dimensions and architectural details were reproduced as closely as possible. The roof carcass has also been installed, restoring the outline of the once-fragile building. However, the conservation of a historic timber structure of this nature has presented significant challenges.

 

According to the project coordinator, Dr. Obafemi Olukoya, one of the most demanding tasks has been sourcing durable local alternatives for some of the foreign materials originally used in the house. The work has required careful material selection, technical assessment and a specialised team capable of balancing historical accuracy with structural durability.

 

Despite these challenges, progress has remained steady.

 

Although the restoration is not yet complete, the transformation is already visible. Once close to ruin, the building now rises with renewed strength and dignity, demonstrating what can be achieved through research, professional expertise, institutional support and community participation. For residents, the project represents far more than the repair of an old wooden house. It offers the promise of cultural renewal, education, tourism and renewed pride in Calabar’s history. Community leaders and residents have expressed optimism about the monument’s future and its potential to preserve memory while creating new cultural and economic opportunities.