Reterdeen Staff
The Kalabari are a clan of the Ijaw individuals living in the western Niger Delta area of Nigeria. Initially, they were known as the Awome. The name Kalabari was gotten from their progenitor Perebo Kalabari who was a child of Mein Owei.
They relocated from the Benin edges of Ijaw arrive and turned into an extensive kingdom of around 35 networks/settlements including Buguma, Bakana, Tombia, ke, Soku, Bille, Bukuma, Degema, Obonoma, Sama, Abalama, Ilelema and others. The general population were initially anglers before the happening to the Portugese toward the west African coastline. The Kalabari like most coastline clans were well off because of associations with Europeans.
The Kalabari comprise one of the biggest ethnic gatherings in Rivers State with 3 LGAs and they are the biggest Ijaws as far as populace in the state. They are nearly a million (90% of individuals situated in Akulga, Asalga and Degema are indigenes, so the 2006 populace enumeration results states.(AKULGA:156,006 , ASALGA:220,110 , DEGEMA:249,773)..626000 through and through barring the number of inhabitants in kalabaris situated in Phalga LGA, Obioakpor LGA, LGAs in the state, indigenes outside Rivers State and diaspora.. Larger part of Kalabari individuals remain at the PHALGA (Portharcourt old township, Borokiri, marine base, Dline, Diobu, Iwofe, Aggrey, Eagle island and so on.) pivot of Port Harcourt.
The kalabaris are profoundly taught and have the adoration for western instruction. They are known to have a high centralization of Professors, Lawyers and Doctors in Nigeria. As a result of their socialized conduct, the kalabaris were initially regarded as English men. Popular Kalabaris are Agbani Darego (First dark African to win miss world ), Asari Dokubo ( Human right dissident ) Dumo Lulu Briggs (government official), Taribo West (Ex footballer) and so many others.
The Owu-Aru-Sun Alali is the celebration of the most elevated social display that has ever been seen in the socio-cultural association of the Kalabari people. Where the dancing masquerades were said to speak to the water spirits, (Owu), to whom the Ekine served. The novel excellent scene of these masquerades in vivid outfits and moving in the uncommon advances and styles is an incredible sight after which the Owu is said to be come back to the Ocean where they are said to dwell.
This is a celebration of solidarity in Buguma and it draws guests from far and close to the Kalabari kingdom in Rivers State. It is performed by the Ekine Sekiapu society and it’s the celebrated and most remarkable disguise ever of kingdom. Past versions were held in 1908, 1927, 1973 and 1991 and 2009.
The typical Kalabari man favorite foods are TOMINA FULO and ONUNU. The former is a kalabari soup cooked with sea delicacies and fresh fish. Cocoyam is generally used to thicken the soup. The latter is another delicacy cooked by pounding plantain with yam. It is then completed off with palm oil.
For the individuals who don’t have any acquaintance with people fom this tribe, you may really confuse an okrika man with a kalabari due to their similarities. In any case, despite these similiarities, there are likewise a few contrasts between the two ethnic clans. So how would you separate one from the other? The dialect and their talking drums.
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