Kalabari tribe

History

The Kalabari people are Ijaw speaking settlers who came from the lineage of a man called Mein Owei. The people were originally fishermen before the coming of the Portuguese to the West African coastline.

The Kalabari, like most Nigerian coastline tribes, were wealthy as a result of their interactions with the Europeans. There are some Ijaw who consider the Kalabari as a different ethnic group and vice versa.

Historically Kalabari settlements have always been close to a river, this is because they believed their powers came from deities in the water.

Food

There are a variety of traditional dishes (or native food) of the Kalabari, the three popular dishes are Onunu (pounded yam, ripe plantain and palm oil), Tominafulo (fresh fish, prawns, periwinkle and oyster and other local ingredients), Odo’fulo (aka Native Soup made with fresh seafood and other local ingredients).

Marriage

Kalabari people have one of the cheapest forms of legal marriage in the south-south region of Nigeria, their marriage is cheap compared to the neighbouring cites such as the Ikwerre, Okrika, Ahoada, Ogoni, Bonny, and Opobo. The cheapest form of marriage which is recognized in Kalabari is called "Ari Ibara emi" (meaning she is with me). As the name implies, her parents should not look for her elsewhere, for she is with me. Kalabari tribe has about three types of marriages, the Iya, Igwa, and Waribiobesime. The Iya marriage is said to be the highest and most expensive form of marriage in the Kalabari culture. The Iya is the most expensive form of marriage in Kalabari land. The special thing about this type of marriage ceremony is that, at first, there are some catchy traditions that may seem weird for other cultures or tribes, but all of them are respected and they must be honored in the ceremony. For instance, the marriage cannot be complete until the ceremony of BIBIFE (buying the mouth) is being done. BIBIFE signifies that the potential wife can not eat any food until her “mouth is bought”. There must be a rite in order to “buy her mouth” and only after that, she is able to eat in her husband's house. This BIBIFE signifies the responsibility and role of the man towards his wife that shows his willingness to care and feed her for the rest of her life.

List of towns, villages and fishing settlement in Kalabari

Abonnema, Abalama, Abisse, Angulama, Aleleama, Atuka, Angalabio, Adumama, Amosama, Buguma, Bukuma, Bakana, Captain kiri, Cawthrone Channel, Dialafiari ama, Elem Tombia, Elem Kalabari, Elem Ido, Elem Ifoko, Elem Bekinama, Elem Abalama, Elem Sangama, Horsefall ama, Harrison ama, Ido, Idama, Ilelema, Ifoko, Ipokuma, Kula, krakrama, ke, Kien ama, Minama, Mbiakafiama, Ngeribarama, Oporoama, Obonoma, Oguruama, Okpo, Owoko, Obuama, Omekweama, Omekwetariama, Ogo ama, Opubenibo ama, Soku, Sama, Sangama, Tema, Tombia, Usokun, Ipokuma Degema consulate, Arugbana, Ekweoboko.

References

References

1. "Spirits in Steel: The Kalabari". [[American Museum of Natural History]].
2. (2020-04-30). "10 Interesting Facts About the Kalabari People".
3. (2020-04-30). "10 Interesting Facts About the Kalabari People".
4. G. I. Jones. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=G_Q0IBdHSP8C&dq=niger+delta+trading+states+jones&pg=PR21 The trading states of the oil rivers: a study of political development in Eastern Nigeria]''. LIT Verlag Berlin-Hamburg-Münster, 2000.
5. (18 June 2023). "Kalabari King, Tonye Princewill's Father, Passes Away – THISDAYLIVE".
6. (30 July 2023). "King Amachree, Kalabari Monarch for Burial November 30 – THISDAYLIVE".
7. Tide, The. (2024-03-27). "New Kalabari Monarch To Emerge Soon -Regent".
8. Contributor, Pulse. (2022-02-07). "Ijaw Culture: A brief walk into the lives of one of the world's most ancient people".
9. Oral Tradition from the people
10. Jackreece, Nimi. "KALABARI TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE (IGWA SIME) DRINKS/MONEY REQUIREMENTS".
11. (2018-10-16). "Culture Spotlight: Kalabari Weddings are such a Beauty and Here's Why".
12. (15 January 2019). "What makes Kalabari weddings unique?".