Europeans Visited Elem Kalabari Before Anywhere Else – Asari Dokubo Says at Kalabari New Year Festival

The Amanyanabo of Torusarama Piri, Da Amakiri Tubo, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari says the early Europeans who visited the Niger Delta first arrived at Elem Kalabari, thus putting the community ahead of others across the region.

Alhaji Dokubo-Asari said this on Sunday, November 16, 2025 during the Kalabari New Year Festival at the Torusarama Piri in Elem Kalabari in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The occasion, which was sponsored by the Kalabari Renaissance, with the theme: “Celebrating Our Heritage, Honouring Our Waters and Renewing Our Spirit” showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Kalabari ethnic nationality which is a subset of the larger Ijaw ethnic nationality.

Speaking at the event, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari gave a brief history of the Kalabari people, noting that the year’s event is timely and of great significance as the Elem Kalabari was the source of the origin of the people.

He admonished that the celebration is a call for renewing of the Kalabari spirit, as well as creates “an avenue for recreation and resurrection from the dead, and enhancing our values and cultural heritage”.

“This place was evacuated 141 years ago, by our fathers and we’re making a comeback. We have extracted so many artifacts from the earth.”

The Amanyanabo advised the Kalabari race to cherish their heritage, calling for a review of the Kalabari calendar, while charging its intellectuals, geographers and astronomers to calculate the calendar by the movement of the water, as it will be archived.

“We should see our own as part of us. Not something demonic. We have other countries that are celebrating their new year like Russia, China, European”

In his speech, the Chief Administrator of the Kalabari Renaissance Foundation, Harry MacMorrison explained that the choice of the venue for the celebration is divine and of immense significance as this is the source of the Kalabari people, emphasizing that rotating the yearly event would strengthen the bonds and belongingness.

“Beyond our waters, our true wealth lies in our unity, peace and the shared will to develop. We must continue to play and grow together in ways that will produce trust and mutual respect.”

“There’s no limit to what Kalabari can achieve in education, youth empowerment, economic advancement, environment care and cultural revival.”

Speaking with Kristina Reports, Chief Ibinabo Genesis said the event is historical as people from the different areas are here in the source.

“This is a show of our cultural heritage, different dance steps, masquerade display and others. This is the day that the tide flows, we call it Egede mengi. It flows up to the land and later goes back.”

The event hosted traditional dignitaries across Kalabari kingdom, tourists, media personals and other high-profile individuals.

Highlights of the event were dances by different masquerade group, Iria dances, tree planting and launching of the blue print on Economic Empowerment and youth Development and Education.