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Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Ibimina Kobiri: Preserving and Celebrating Kalabari Heritage in the UK.

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In the heart of the UK’s M25 corridor, a group of like-minded friends and family members came together with a shared vision—to establish a Kalabari-centric community that fosters friendship, strengthens cultural identity, and preserves the rich traditions of their people. This vision gave birth to Ibimina Ogbo, an initiative rooted in the desire to maintain and pass on the unique heritage of the Kalabari people, despite being far from their ancestral homeland.

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Kalabari culture is an intricate tapestry woven with distinct language, culinary traditions, clothing, folklore, and customs. However, for those living in the diaspora, especially the younger generation born or raised outside of Kalabari land, these cultural staples risk being diluted or lost over time. The challenge, therefore, is not only to preserve these traditions for ourselves but to actively pass them on to our children in ways that make them relevant and accessible.

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As sojourners far from the creeks and shores of Kalabari na ama, we are faced with an important question: How do we ensure that our children embrace their heritage and do not feel disconnected when interacting with their peers from other Nigerian, West African, or global cultures? The answer lies in collective effort—creating a supportive platform where cultural transmission happens organically through shared experiences, storytelling, traditional practices, and communal bonds.

From an initial fireside discussion, this idea grew into Ibimina Kobiri, an established and thriving Kalabari brotherhood in the UK.

The Ogbo comprises an all-male body of minapu (family), with their partners and children being integral members of the wider ogbo. Beyond being a social network, Ibimina Kobiri is a movement dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging, ensuring that Kalabari children grow up with pride in their roots, and strengthening the ties between Kalabari families in the diaspora.

Ibimina Kobiri acknowledges and respects the presence of existing umbrella organisations such as the Kalabari Central Organisation (KCO), Nyemoni Improvement Society (NIS), and Buguma Internal Affairs Society (BIAS)—all of which play vital roles in unifying the Kalabari community in the UK. However, Ibimina Kobiri takes a complementary approach, functioning as a smaller but dynamic collective, agile in its ability to execute targeted cultural and social initiatives.

Rather than operate in isolation, Ibimina Kobiri is committed to a symbiotic relationship with these larger bodies, aiming to contribute meaningfully while also benefiting from their broader reach. Through collaboration with similar cultural organisations across the UK and beyond, the group seeks to amplify the visibility of Kalabari heritage, ensuring that it thrives for generations to come.

Ibimina Kobiri is not just a local initiative confined to the M25 corridor of the UK—it is a global movement with a mission to reconnect Kalabari sons and daughters across continents. Our events and gatherings are not bound by geography; rather, we actively seek engagement with Kalabari people from Nigeria, Europe, the Americas, and beyond.

To enrich our programs and broaden our impact, we will invite distinguished Kalabari individuals and scholars from around the world to participate in our seminars, discussions, and cultural activities. These thought leaders will deliver keynote addresses, showcase historical and modern-day artifacts, and share insights that will propel the collective mission forward. By integrating knowledge from both traditional and contemporary perspectives, we aim to preserve Kalabari heritage in a way that resonates with the present while honoring the past.

The Ogbo is inspired by the success of cultural preservation efforts by the Yoruba, Igbo, and even communities as far-reaching as the Asian diaspora. Their ability to sustain their traditions across generations, despite being scattered across the globe, serves as a model for Ibimina Kobiri. By learning from their strategies, whether through cultural festivals, language immersion programs, or intergenerational storytelling, we can refine our approach and create a sustainable framework for Kalabari cultural preservation.

Our 2025 agenda is ambitious yet deeply rooted in our mission to preserve and promote Kalabari heritage.

Key Activities for 2025

– Formal launch of the ogbo (by mid-2025)

– Increasing our membership (headcount)

– Presentation on kidney care by Prof Ibi Erekosima an award winning renal specialist in the UK

– Procurement of basic books on Kalabari language for distribution to our children and grandchildren

– Celebration of Achievements by our sons and daughters in the diaspora and in Nigeria

– Address by visiting dignitaries of the Kalabari extraction

– Progress to the performing stage of group formation

All questions and enquiries concerning the Ogbo should be directed to Govena of Ibimina Kobiri (Soala Iyalla). via his personal email address -. S.Iyalla@outlook.com

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