The body of late Professor of Comparative Religion at the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Robin William Gray Horton, was buried at the weekend in his adopted home, Buguma City, Asari-Toru Local Government Area with friends, well wishers and people from all walks of life in attendance.
The late Social Anthropologist and Philosopher who was fondly called ‘Kalabari-Bekinbo’, meaning ‘the Kalabari Whiteman’, was described as the wisdom bank of Kalabari culture and tradition. He was a British Anthropologist born in 1932 on November 28, 2019 at the age of 87.
The Paramount Head of Ikpo Group of Houses, Chief Ntai Ikiriko, in his tribute said the late Prof. Horton came to Nigeria in course of career pursuit where he fell in love with the people of Kalabari, got married to late Ibieneba and had a beautiful daughter Mrs. Edwina Nwaogu and two granddaughters Zelda and Elsa Nwaogu. He became a Chief and joined the Ekine Society of Kalabari, the highest socio-cultural fraternity of the Kalabari people.
Chief Ikiriko said the late Prof. Horton was an epitome of success and knowledge, saying Horton’s life was a testament of good confession in the presence of many witnesses and a life which he says will continue to enrich and encourage many youths on the principle of integrity, respect for all and standing for the custom and tradition of the great Kalabari people and the entire Ijaw nations.
Prof. Atei Mark Okoroba of the History and Diplomatic Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Port Harcourt a former student of the Briton, disclosed that Prof. Horton ultimately became a Kalabari-Ijaw man by choice and acculturation.
According to him, it would be very rare to have anyone living or dead, that could claim to have gotten deeper knowledge of the general history and culture of Kalabari –Ijaw than late Prof. Horton.
According to him, Prof Horton would be highly missed by the good people of Kalabari and those he taught and mentored a crowd of highflying academics in History and Religious Studies.
His son-in-law, Emeka Nwaogu also disclosed that late Prof. Horton was a man who loved and cared for his family, and people around him would greatly miss him, noting that late Prof. Horton loved and dotted on his grand children “it was a delight to watch him play with them, they will surely miss him”, he
