Ekei Eyo as Malvolio: A 1940s Queen’s College Performance

A Glimpse into the Early Life of Ekei Essien Oku Nee Eyo, Nigeria’s Pioneering Librarian and Historian

The Photograph

A rare image from the 1940s shows Ekei Essien Oku Nee Eyo performing the role of Malvolio in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night at Queen’s College for Girls, Lagos. This early performance offers a glimpse into her formative years before she became a trailblazer in librarianship and Nigerian historical research.

Early Life and Education

Ekei Essien Oku Nee Eyo was born on 22 January 1924 in Calabar. She attended Queen’s College, Lagos, where she not only excelled academically but also engaged in the performing arts. Initially a teacher, she soon transitioned into librarianship, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to knowledge, education, and cultural preservation.
She furthered her studies in London at the North Western Polytechnic (now part of the University of North London), gaining the qualifications that would make her one of Nigeria’s first chartered librarians.

Career Achievements

First Nigerian Female Chartered Librarian: Returned to Nigeria in 1953, breaking ground in a male-dominated profession

First Female Chief Librarian: By 1964, held leadership roles in major Nigerian libraries, including those in Calabar and Lagos

Historian and Author: Her research produced seminal works, notably The Kings and Chiefs of Old Calabar (1785–1925) (1989), which detailed the intricate history of Calabar, the slave trade, and local revolts

Recognition: Featured in a 2000 BBC documentary, African Perspective, highlighting her contributions to Nigerian history and librarianship

Legacy

Ekei Eyo’s performance as Malvolio in the 1940s represents the early spark of a mind that would later illuminate Nigerian librarianship and historical scholarship. She passed away on 16 October 2004, leaving behind a legacy as a trailblazing librarian, historian, and cultural custodian.
Her life underscores the enduring impact of education, the arts, and historical inquiry in shaping modern Nigerian intellectual leadership.

References

Duckworth, E.H. (Photographer, 1894-1972). Herskovits Library of African Studies

Ekei Eyo, The Kings and Chiefs of Old Calabar (1785–1925), 1989

BBC, African Perspective, 2000

Nigerian library and historical archives