The kalabari is a tribe of the Ijaw people of Rivers state living in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. They migrated from the Benin fringes of Ijaw land and became a large kingdom of about 35 communities/settlements including Buguma, Bakana, Tombia, ke, Soku, Bille, Bukuma, Degema, Obonoma, Sama, Abalama, Ilelema and others. The people were originally fishermen before the coming of the Portugese to the west African coastline. The Kalabari like most coastline tribes were wealthy as a result of interactions with Europeans.

The kalabaris share similar culture/language to the Okrikas, Bonny, Opobo, Bayelsa Ijaws (Nembe in particular as the language is almost the same), Delta Ijaws, Ondo Ijaws and some parts of Edo state. It was discovered that in the 1980s, that a nearly extinct Berbice Dutch/KALABARI LANGUAGE was spoken in Central America. Guyana to be precise (click on the link to watch).

The kalabaris do bear European names (Briggs, Horsfall, Jack, Harry, West, Braide etc) due to their inter- racial relations with their slave masters. Kalabari, Opobo and Bonny were the first to trade with the whites in Rivers state alongside Okrika and Andoni. Many of them do have light skin due to European mixtures.. They engaged in overland trade with the Portugese in the 1400s, later Dutch, then British whom arrived by sea for trade and missionary work. They also traded clothes from India. Since the early 1800s, The Europeans noted that the Kalabaris refused to trade their goods on credit. Their industrial prowess coupled with their lovable demenor has won the admirations from surrounding communities of the Niger delta.

The Kalabari constitute one of the largest ethnic groups in Rivers State with 3 LGAs and they are the largest Ijaws in terms of population in the state.. They constitute almost a million (90% of people based in Akulga, Asalga and Degema are indigenes, so the 2006 population census results states..(AKULGA:156,006 , ASALGA:220,110 , DEGEMA:249,773)..626000 altogether excluding the population of kalabaris based in Phalga LGA, Obioakpor LGA, LGAs in the state, indigenes outside Rivers State and diaspora.. Majority of Kalabari people stay at the PHALGA (Portharcourt old township, Borokiri, marine base, Dline, Diobu, Iwofe, Aggrey, Eagle island etc.) axis of Port Harcourt.

The kalabaris are highly educated and have the love for western education. They are known to have a high concentration of Professors, Lawyers and Doctors in Nigeria.. Because of their civilized and generally peaceful behaviour, the kalabaris were called English men in the past..

NOTABLE PEOPLE
Agbani Darego… First black African to win miss world

Jimi Rex Lawson… High life musician.

Dabota Lawson... Ex beauty queen(Miss Nigeria UK)

Asari Dokubo.. Human right activist

Tonye Graham Douglas… Politician

Albert Horsfall… Former SSS Boss

Dumo Lulu Briggs.. politician

Chief Dr Hutton.. Antropologist

Taribo West… Ex footballer

Prof. Tam David West… politician and many others..

KALABARI TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE:
This occurs in 3 forms namely; IYA, IGWA and WARRIBIOBESIME. The IYA is the most lawful and highest form of kalabari marriages. In this marriage, divorce is not permitted and the offspring belongs to the man’s house. An IYA marriage is not complete until the BIBIFE ceremony(buying the mouth) is undertaken. The BIBIFE signifies 3 things. First, a stage in a lawful marriage which gives the bride the right to eat in the husband’s house. Second, it signifies the man’s responsibility towards the wife and his willingness to feed her for the rest of her life.

Finally, it signifies and crowns the new communion between the 2 families. It involves serving the bride with innumerable courses of food., usually in the evenings. Thus, the bride is dressed with coral accessories, crown and chunky coral beads.

THE OWU ARU SUN FESTIVALS OF THE KALABARI KINGDOM:
This is a festival of unity in Buguma and it draws visitors from far and near to the Kalabari kingdom in Rivers State. It is performed by the Ekine Sekiapu society and it’s the famous and most outstanding masquerade in the history of the kingdom. Previous editions were held in 1908, 1927, 1973 and 1991 and 2009.

KALABARI DELICACIES:

TOMINA FULO: This is a kalabari soup prepared using fresh fish and sea food. Cocoyam is usually used to thicken the soup.

ONUNU: This is another delicacy prepared by pounding boiled plantain with yam. It is then finished off with palm oil.

Their ladies are very pretty, use to like one back in those day in school, still searching for her till date

Insert pictures.. Jimi Rex Lawson, Asari Dokubo, Taribo West

Traditional wedding pictures

I don't usually comment but when I do

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The Owu Aru Sun festival

Blakjewelry:
Their ladies are very pretty, use to like one back in those day in school, still searching for her till date

kalabari girls are attractive, intelligent but people do say they flirt a lot and are arrogant.. Wonder how true that is.. Meanwhile good luck on ur search.. U can try facebook

Kalabari delicacies

In Guyana(Central America), It was discovered that a nearly extinct Berbice Creole Dutch Language was spoken.. And its closely related to the Kalabari language. Click the link to watch the video m.youtube.com/watch?v=5PH1TvEE8Vw

ibiso1986:
kalabari girls are attractive, intelligent but people do say they flirt a lot and are arrogant.. Wonder how true that is.. Meanwhile good luck on ur search.. U can try facebook

On the issue of flirting I don't like to generalize, I think it's an individual thing.

Blakjewelry:

On the issue of flirting I don't like to generalize, I think it's an individual thing.

that's true though

I never knew Taribo West was Ijaw. Always thought he was Yoruba.

Ehn Ehn

Na their Soup i dey like pass.

#SeaFoodThings.

#FisherManSoup

Ok...they are indeed minorities in Ijaw Kingdom.

After Otuokeans rule Nigeria 2011-2015, I suggest that it is time for the real Ijaw Nation to produce a President in Nigeria. The real Ijaw leader would be great in my thinking. My thoughts though!

nnnaa mehhn dat soup na die!!! chai!!! #salivating

Don't forget one thing. A lot of Ijaw people & Kalabaris lived (and still live) along the coastal areas of Nigeria. These were the areas that first had contact with the Europeans, during the slave trade & during colonialism. One should expect that there were probably a large number of inter-racial relationships between the Caucasian colonial masters and some of the Ijaw women. Such early contact with the foreigners also probably explains why a lot of Ijaw & Kalabari people bear European names. That may explain why there are such unusual genetic features among some Ijaw families.

The Ben-Murray Bruce clan is a good example. Their great-grandfather was a Scotsman who came to Nigeria to trade & first settled in whatis now called Bayelsa state. Their great grandmum was a Kalabari woman. The man met her fell in love & married her and decided to make Nigeria his home, permanently.

Are they going to a funeral?

How come the men are always dressed like figures from Edgar Allen Poe's stories, but the women are dressed in beautiful native attires?

www.nairaland.com/attachments/2236050_kalabarichiefsprotetstmatechinph2_jpeg4f13cd2774c82b97554d40d88580a9da

Rich culture and history. Wonderful people.

Much respect.

OK, now I see......Gordons no dey lie at all

Most u involve thief's terrorist/militant in ur writeup u messup the whole script
Scrab
Meant for the Wast bin out of the tread... Next.

K..

Ilekeh:
Are they going to a funeral?


www.nairaland.com/attachments/2236050_kalabarichiefsprotetstmatechinph2_jpeg4f13cd2774c82b97554d40d88580a9da

Cult members

Are they acting a COWBOY film?

Colourful people



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I like their food all the way...

love my kalabari sisters and brothers

their native soup is one of best in the world

ASARI IS NOT A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST! HE IS A THUG!!!

those ladies look beautiful.... I love the beauty of Nigerians