Brief history of Kalabari Communities 2 (By ECBLOG)
Odum Ama/Bakana
Persistent disagreements over the kingship of Kalabari and eventual violence, led to the breaking apart of Elem Kalabari. A major opposing group to the ruling Amakiri house, the Odum Barboy group eventually left in 1881 and founded Odum Ama (translation Ama Odum; meaning Odum's town or lion's town, in Igbo). The town is known today as Bakana.
Another split headed by Dee Isiowu and supporting groups founded Isiowu Ama in 1881. In the following year, 1882, Isiowu was joined by other supporting groups. The current name of the town is Abonnema. The town was founded on land originally occupied by the Obonoma people. Hence the corruption of the original Obonoma to Abonnema.
The last group to leave Elem Kalabari was the Amakiri house and supporting groups in 1884. After traditional enquiries from Arochukwu, they migrated to their current location and founded Buguma (a new town on a land from the Bukuma people). Hence the corruption of the original Bukuma to Buguma. Buguma has retained its status as the capital of the Kalabari people and the seat of the Kalabari royal house.
Please Abonnema is ISOWU ama and not Isiowu Ama. The Isowu word is originally ISO-OWU meaning the wars you fought . He was a warrior and so he was nicked so. ISOWU was chief Young Briggs and my ancestor .
Ikoli Harcourt Whyte: Father of Igbo Church Music Ikoli Harcourt Whyte was a popular Igbo musician who hailed from Isiowu Ama (Abonnema). He recorded hundreds of hymns and compositions in his native Igbo dialect of Kalabari earning him the distinction of “father of Igbo ‘church’ music”.
Isiowu Ama Founding Fathers According to the linguist‘s research, most of the founding fathers of Isiowu Ama were Igbo men. Some of these founding fathers include:
* Isiowu Young Briggs (Dee Isiowu. Founder) * Obaji Manuel * Otaji Nta Georgewill * Odum Don Pedro * Nwokeocha Douglas Amachree etc etc
These names as well as their descendants are prominent members of Isiowu Ama community.
Unfortunately, since the advent of the civil war many now deny their Igbo ancestry. Several family and communal histories were retold, and native Igbo names replaced with Ijaw and English names. But a trip to those areas reveals the Igbo identity still clearly perceivable in those communities.
Not every native of Isiowu Ama (Abonnema) is Igbo but the ancestry of many families could be traced to the Igbo ethnicity, including the family of Ikoli Harcourt White.
*Additional information and minor corrections by ECBLOG
DuBLINGreenb: Kalabari is a kingdom of Ijaw people. Communities like Abonnema, Buguma and Bakana have few Igbo migrants anyway . Having such Igbos in those communities dont make Kalabari a bi ethinc kingdom. The Land is Ijaw land and th founding fathers were all Ijaw . -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am kalabari ijaw. Most dna data base does not have Ijaw but the more we take the test the more their database improves The test I took is 23&me they have igbo, edo & Ijaw dna as one which mine fell under, Yoruba and many other African tribes in their data base so it’s good
However some other dna companies lumps us all into southern Nigeria or just Nigeria I did my heritage and they don’t break it down as well as 23&me
Maybe in future I will do African Ancestry dna or Ancestry dna I’ve heard good things about these two. Especially for Africans.
Back to the talk I have heard igbos saying Kalabari’s are Igbo, they say Asari Dokubo is Igbo and all Kalabari’s, Opobo, Bonny, okrika, Ikwerre, basically all the local government in Rivers except Ogoni are Igbo. I have also heard them claim Bayelsa is Igbo.
Look I don’t expect you to understand after all the axe that chops down the tree doesn’t remember chopping down the tree but the tree that is chopped down will never forget being chopped down.
For some of you it may be cruise, it maybe fun and games, it may be just flexing ego or muscles but to us you are threatening our existence as a people. And if you know anything about us you would know that we don’t hate Igbo people, we don’t discriminate against anybody, everyone feels at home in Rivers state, Igbo, Yoruba everyone we don’t use language to insult people at their back if you don’t like you we tell you to your face. We don’t stop our people from marrying Igbos or Yoruba or anyone else, today there are so many Igbo girls from Imo state in Rivers state, I only realized when I was in university and the Governor was coming to inaugurate some stuff a news station was trying to interview people and the girls kept saying I am from imo, imo, imo I was like wtf Joy you too? How many of you and they laughed but from that day on I kept seeing state of origin: imo I even jokingly asked one are there women left in imo state this one that all of you are now in Port harcourt, if I had married in Rivers during my uni days the odds that I would marry an igbo girl would be very very high and if my child took a dna test and it shows Igbo would that mean his kalabari ancestors are Igbo? Absolutely NOT, it will not be prove that Kalabari’s are Igbo but prove that His mom is Igbo. we in PH sell land to everyone infact people used to use it to make fun of ikwerre’s especially. “Una done sell una village finish to outsiders finish now una wan do event na main road una dey use” 🤣 Pidgin english is our own state language, you can use standard normal English anywhere in the state and even our great grand parents will understand you. Especially those of us from the Riverine regions
I in particular My great grand father wrote letters in English, one of my grand fathers served the English military during one of the wars, one of my great grand fathers was traded with the English in English he also signed agreements on the Ship belonging to Queen Victoria so they knew English and were educated in English since before slavery started officially.
So History and DNA aside if you want our support in politics, education, Music, movies, business etc. Just tell us simple we will support you. There is no need in attacking, insulting, black mailing, ridiculing us or our ancestry.
I have lived in Kano, Enugu, Lagos, abuja, and many places. You know that thing you guys do where you speak your language to us assuming every Nigerian must speak your Yoruba or Igbo or Hausa we in PH dont do that to people we do not assume everyone must speak Ikwerre or Kalabari we speak in English or pidgin to you until you tell us or we find out that you can speak the language then we speak with you.
If I tell you my experience in Igbo land and Yoruba land you will pity me. But that’s story for another day. But that experience opened my eyes to the fact that we are different people (the way we see the world, the way we carry ourselves, our definitions of success, respect and more) and that’s why I make long comments like these hoping to educate people.
We don’t hate you, I don’t hate you I just want you to know and respect my identity and that of people like myself. That’s all. The fact that we do not share the same identity or history or culture or language does not mean we cannot work together. We must not be blood brothers before we can work together.
vanitybutiwanti: I'm in Rivers state, the problem with nitwits like you, when you're presented with superior arguments, you run away, you said wike did only fly overs and I provided proof to counter your claims, now you're running away? Wike built pleasure Park, mother and child hospital, and Odili cardiovascular center, are those flyovers? Why not list the projects flagged off and commisioned by fubara? If you are on ground you will even notice the snail like pace of the Ring Road and so called trans-kalabari road he claims to be building, when wike was governor, projects were done swiftly, what do you expect from fubara who is using projects as avenue to siphon funds? Off course the construction companies won't be steadfast in their jobs.
Wike developed on Obio Akpor in Rivers. He used Soku oil money to develop his LGA.
MossadAgent: They have no single sense in that their yeast.
Imagine burning down public property because of a rumour that the FG wanted to use it to house northern IDPs.
But these are the same idiots in every nook and cranny constituting nuisance on other peoples land.
They will be the first to cry loudest if any quit notice is served on them but here they are declaring their yeast as only for their Ibo people.
If any 0koro calls you a bigot and tribalists ,tell him to his face "thank you for the compliment".
You are a tout. Okoro deserves respect and good treatment if not let them find their own place . Enough is enough. You do not dump your rubbish in Igbo land.
I am 100% in support of the Igbos on this. You do not make Igbo land dumping ground of Naija rubbish. The federal govt should tell us how many Nigerian institutions are in Igbo land or how many federal roads and rail ways are in Igbo land before dumping such rubbish there .
ScamHunter: Wow.... guys, I read nearly every sentence of this post, especially those made by our Igbo people because they were backed with facts, documented factual history. This is phenomenal and the very best post I've seen on Nairaland. I generally stopped reading most of the Ijaw comments when I saw that they were mostly fluffy and without substance. Ndigbo una too much sha...
Scoreline: Ndigbo 100 - Jo Men 0
If you like call us or refer to us as Onitsha, Abia, and not just Igbo, you can not change the title of our kings from AMAYANABO to Eze or Obi. We wll continue to bear Ijaw names like Tonye, Prinye, Boma, Dabota, Data, Adagogo, Dakuku .
We have never been Okafor, Ngozi, Nkechi or Chiago.
Who do Kalabari refer to as OMONI ? The original omoni of Kalabari are the Igbos till tomorrow. Some Omoni become free during the slave trade and undergo some ritual to become members of the family . An Omoni simply means servant or slave . WARI BIO BE APU means members of the family .
Putindbutt: Among the ijaws, there were trading ports both for slaves either merchants, where there were ibos and ibibio admixtures. The ijaws of Okrika, Bonny, Buguma, Abonnema, Bakanna, Nembe, Brass etc are ascriptive and assimilationist in their culture. Ibos were welcomed into the household and never referred to as slaves, instead they were" people of the house" (wari bio apu). The Kalabaris never referred to the ibos who were assimilated as slaves ( even though they were). They were members of the household who had rights as the biological children of the chiefs and in certain circumstances had more rights than the children of the chiefs or head of household. The riverine chiefs traded extensively with ibos. They have large plantations, special markets and even "colonies" within all parts of iboland, hence the " Kalabari beach" in Oguta, Imo state.
The Igbos that say Kalabari are not Ijaw are sick and useless. We Kalabari are 100% Ijaw
SaintBishop: So where is video of Kalabari saying that they are not ijaws? For all we know those people saying they are from kalabari and are not ijaws maybe igbo imposters. cause the kalabaris i know fought against igbo people durning the war, and they celebrate biafra defeat with their Go to abonnema celebration.
It's quite a while now, i have been offline, missed you all. Permit me to comment on Killayut's recent post concerning descendants of Berepiki staying outside the Homestead, Berepiki's Compound. First, I would want to point out that, it sound strange and worrisome for Killayut, TOM Alabraba; to accuse other Berepiki descendants for not living and growing up within the Berepiki homestaed, Because, the Tom i know if my memory still serves me well, Did not live and grow up in berepiki's compound in Bakana, rather he he lived in Iyalla's Compound, precisely Elder solomon iyalla's compound, popularly called abraham solo wari, besides the christ army Church. Other well known friends and relatives in same compound with TOM are IGONIKONYE, IBISO YELLOWE, TARIBO YELLOWE, Dr. Bob Yellowe, Akonte Alabraba, Mr. Jene Braide just to mention a few. So to acuse others like Bros Kiwi for their preference for Iyalla compound over Berepiki is really uncalled for. The Tom i know, whose mother i only got to know recently is a Berepiki, introduced to me by my mum. I respected and admired TOM while he was in Bakana, not even knowing then, he was a relative. If it is the same TOM, as described above, Then i say, " I bote" " I bolate ", because for a very long long time he was outside the country, precisely he left Bakana for America. And if it's you, the same Tom, I would rather you Help and encourage Bros KIWI return and settle down to bring his wealth of experience to enhance the lives of fellow folks, just the WAY our Brother Ken Yellowe is doing by investing in GAS GATHERING PROJECTS, whereby many gain means of lively hood, Ken Yellowe is from the Bagshaw extraction, who left the shores whilse he was a baby. He is touching lives. If i still have the chance to grow up in that environment i'll still choose to live in Iyalla's compound for many reasons, though some of the reasons may not hold water in today's Bakana. More because negative forces had polluted the entire landscape.
fujirice: How did it go OP? I just stumbled on this as this same idea dropped in me to help humanity. Just like some of the commenters have said, you need to measure their progress and that has to come with some kind of exam, test or quiz. Good luck.
Wike did not construct any ring road in Abonnema . That road is a 3 km long bypass that starts from the Bridge to the cemetery. It's not a ring road .
Murphy1998: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said the non-stop inauguration of completed projects in the State has silenced critics, and members of the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Wike stated this at the commissioning of Abonnema Ring Road in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers, by the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday.
He said instead of the opposition to address how they can encourage their APC governors to roll out projects for inauguration as done by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governors, they were hiding under the guise of speaking for local contracting firms.
Wike described allegation that his administration has refused to empower local contracting firms to handle project construction as sheer falsehood.
The governor said some of the projects that have been inaugurated this week like the Sime-Nonwa-Kira Road was handled by Rivers construction firm, Lubrik Construction Company, while the Abonnema Ring road was done by O.K Isokariari Construction Company.
According to him, his administration was mindful of empowering Rivers people, encouraging and trusting them to handle some critical projects because he believes in their capacity.
He said: “Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have said I should mention those whom, locally, we have empowered. O.K. Isokariari Company is a Rivers company. They did phase one of Okochiri road. They have also done this Abonnema Ring road.
“Lubrik Construction Company Limited is a local company too. As we go on, we will begin to mention them. Our own is not to develop others without developing our own people. I am happy with the contractor. We will continue to engage you, so that you will employ Rivers sons and daughters.
“You see how we have silenced them in the state. We commissioned projects until the 24th of December, 2020 . We have started this year since 4th January, 2021. Let them tell their people to roll out their projects and call people”.
The governor said the PDP is different from APC because it always keeps its promises to the people; delivers good governance and quality projects that satisfy the yearnings of the people.
Wike stated: “For us, as a party and government, whatever promises we make we must fulfil them. We are not a party that promises and fails or gives excuses.
“We are a party that when we make a promise, we must fulfil the promise because we owe it to the people. That is why I have told our people, we have no choice, that the only hope this country has today is the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)”.
Rivers governor said it was not the length of the ring road that matters, but its importance to the people.
He stated that the ring road now serves as an alternative route in and out of Abonnema and Obonoma towns.
He announced that the adjoining mangrove would be dredged to provide land to the people of Abonnema and Obonoma that they can use for future development.
He said: “Having done this, the next thing for us to do is sand-filling, so that they can have land to build on. I know how important land is to them.
“I, therefore, direct the Special Adviser on Special Projects to meet with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to make sure we award a contract of sand-filling of Abonnema-Obonoma areas”.
Former Deputy Senate President, Ekweremadu, said by executing projects in the hinterland land other than the city, the Wike-led administration has demonstrated equity and justice to Rivers people.
He noted that the lessons to be Home Politics We’ve silenced APC – Wike ...Flays critics 7th January 2021 wike 0 SHARES
From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said the non-stop inauguration of completed projects in the State has silenced critics, and members of the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Wike stated this at the commissioning of Abonnema Ring Road in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers, by the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday.
He said instead of the opposition to address how they can encourage their APC governors to roll out projects for inauguration as done by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governors, they were hiding under the guise of speaking for local contracting firms.
Wike described allegation that his administration has refused to empower local contracting firms to handle project construction as sheer falsehood.
The governor said some of the projects that have been inaugurated this week like the Sime-Nonwa-Kira Road was handled by Rivers construction firm, Lubrik Construction Company, while the Abonnema Ring road was done by O.K Isokariari Construction Company.
According to him, his administration was mindful of empowering Rivers people, encouraging and trusting them to handle some critical projects because he believes in their capacity.
He said: “Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have said I should mention those whom, locally, we have empowered. O.K. Isokariari Company is a Rivers company. They did phase one of Okochiri road. They have also done this Abonnema Ring road.
“Lubrik Construction Company Limited is a local company too. As we go on, we will begin to mention them. Our own is not to develop others without developing our own people. I am happy with the contractor. We will continue to engage you, so that you will employ Rivers sons and daughters.
“You see how we have silenced them in the state. We commissioned projects until the 24th of December, 2020 . We have started this year since 4th January, 2021. Let them tell their people to roll out their projects and call people”.
The governor said the PDP is different from APC because it always keeps its promises to the people; delivers good governance and quality projects that satisfy the yearnings of the people.
Wike stated: “For us, as a party and government, whatever promises we make we must fulfil them. We are not a party that promises and fails or gives excuses.
“We are a party that when we make a promise, we must fulfil the promise because we owe it to the people. That is why I have told our people, we have no choice, that the only hope this country has today is the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)”.
Rivers governor said it was not the length of the ring road that matters, but its importance to the people.
He stated that the ring road now serves as an alternative route in and out of Abonnema and Obonoma towns.
He announced that the adjoining mangrove would be dredged to provide land to the people of Abonnema and Obonoma that they can use for future development.
He said: “Having done this, the next thing for us to do is sand-filling, so that they can have land to build on. I know how important land is to them.
“I, therefore, direct the Special Adviser on Special Projects to meet with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to make sure we award a contract of sand-filling of Abonnema-Obonoma areas”.
Former Deputy Senate President, Ekweremadu, said by executing projects in the hinterland land other than the city, the Wike-led administration has demonstrated equity and justice to Rivers people.
He noted that the lessons to be learnt from the series of project inauguration in Rivers by governors and other political leaders, should be for them to get inspired and replicate such development in their various States and at the national level.
Ekweremadu said: “I believe it when I said that we should not be ashamed to say we are learning from our colleague on what to do. If we need help, we must seek help from whoever we can get help from and that’s the only way we can develop”.
Former Deputy Senate President also enjoined the federal government to explore the possibility of getting assistance from foreign countries that have such capacity in order to protect the sovereignty of the country, its people and democracy.
He noted: “Today, we are challenged as a country in terms of security. Out of sheer national pride, we have not been able to accept help and assistance from those who know better, who can help us to secure this country.
“This is an opportunity for me to call on our leaders, just like I am saying that other States should learn from Rivers State, we in Nigeria must also accept assistance from other countries in order to secure our boarders, secure our democracy, secure our place and secure the citizens of this country. That is the only way to go. We must learn from those who have done better than us”.
The Commissioner of Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi, said prior to the construction of the phase two of the ring road, there was only one entry route into Abonnema.
He explained that the phase of the project, which was initiated by Governor Wike-led administration now serves as alternate route
Parisian: In this thread I'll be posting some pictures of PH which are in contrast with what we've been seeing here. In the past few days, we've been inundated with "gory" images of ph here on this forum with some people thinking those pictures represent the entirety of the city.
So, in this thread, you'll be seeing the other side of the city.
peacekante: It was a sight to behold as white men celebrate the Egugun culture in London Streets. The men were seen wearing an Egugun costume . The video was captured by a woman. This is lovely.
However, the city has expanded into other areas that fall within Urbobo and Ijaw territories but the original Warri town was built on Itsekiri land. The colonial masters recognized the Itshekiri king as the Lord of Warri.
Olu of Itshekiri was the recognized title and at the time , Olu was at Ode Itshekiri.
Bonny people are not the only IBANI IJAW . IBANI is a corruption of IBENI . Finima and ABALAMA BIE were the aboriginals of the place . Finima were at a place called NYAMKPO before they crossed the river to where they are now. At their earliest place which is Present day CAWTHRON channel where KALA IBIAMA, FIBIRI and KURUAMA are located, they were together with the TOMBIANS OF KALABARI . The Tombians moved to BREGEDE and crossed the river to Young Town close to OLD KALABARI town while the Finima went Eastward .
While Tombia was at their new place , Alagbariya and his friend NDOLI arrived after staying at ORUPIRI for some times. ORUPIRI is at the NORTH OF CAWTHORN CHANNEL not too far from where BAKANA ( Kalabari ) is today . Conflict between Alagbari and Finima people ensued and finally Alagbariya established OKOLOMA separate from FINIMA. ( NOTE: No name here is IGBO except perhaps NDOLI .. History is revealing that NDOLI actuall was an Ikwere man and that he followed ALAGBARAIYA to migrate from thei IKWERE MARKET where the IJAWS were trading with the IKwere near RUMUOLUMENI in Ogbakiri . The Ijaw market was called OBUAMAFA. It was at the same market that some parts of KALABARI also left .. Alagbariya struggled to unite the various Ijaw settlements around him but failed. It was PEREKULE who succeeded but under Perekule many of the people ran away .. section of Sangama left to KALABARI under King Amakiri and became SANAGAMA in Kalabari. Section of Abalama bie Left to king Amakiri to become ABALAMA in Kalabari . Perekule tried to seize Ifoko in Kalabari to expand his rule but fail. He never gave up which led to the Bonny incessant invasion of Kalabari . Ndoki came to the history during the slave days era when Bonny people controlled the Imo river slave trade .. Ndoki was the market base where Arochukwu slaves were brought and bought by Ijaw merchants enroute to waiting ships at Bonny . Ndoki never got near Bonny as they never had canoes or boats during the slave days. It was Bonny Ijaws who settled at Ndoki that gave Ndoki the Ijaw blend . The Igbos of Ndoki are Ngwa and Arochukwu . Bony lost the market cos of the Bonny civil war when Jaja blocked the route but Jaja established IGWEANGA and abandoned Ndoki market . Igweanga is present day IKOT ABASI.. Jaja was the founder of Ikot Abasi . It was called Opobo back then . Ikot Abasi is a new name to the place . Ndoki link in Opobo was due to Ndoki migrants who were settled there and Ndoki traders who after thye slave trade traded on Palm kernel at Opobo and Bonny .
Culture › Re: Ijaw Originating As European Ship Servants From Ghana, India , Indonesia Etc. by dogheart: 9:26am On Mar 22, 2025
