The Kalabari Tribe In Nigeria

Location and Economy of the Kalabari Tribe in Nigeria

The Kalabari tribe live in the mangrove belt of Nigeria’s eastern Niger Delta, primarily in Rivers State. Their territory spans many rivers and creeks (including branches of the Niger, New Calabar and Bonny rivers) and includes major towns such as Abonnema, Buguma, Bakana and Kula. 

The Kalabari traditionally live from the water, fishing, canoe-building and trade are central to the local economy. In pre-colonial times, they traded palm oil, salt (evaporated from coastal swamps) and even enslaved people with inland people. Today, Kalabari communities host lucrative oil fields. For example, Shell’s Soku fields in Kalabari land produce about 300,000 barrels of crude daily, even though many still earn income from fishing, trading and small-scale agriculture.

Origin of the Kalabari Tribe

The Kalabari are an Ijaw (Izon) ethnic subgroup. According to tradition, their ancestors migrated by water from upstream regions centuries ago. One story traces the name “Kalabari” to a 15th-century port settlement called “Calabar” (given by Portuguese traders to their landing spot), over time, this name became Kalabari. 

Historically, the Kalabari kingdom (Elem Kalabari) was founded in the 17th century by the war-leader Amachree I (from the Ogbia Ijaw clan). Linguistically and culturally, they remain part of the Eastern Ijaw cluster. The Kalabari language is one of the Ijaw tongue varieties, and the people share close ancestry with neighbouring Nembe and Ogbia groups. 

In short, the Kalabari tribe trace their roots to the Niger Delta’s riverine migrations, emerging over centuries as the distinct Kalabari kingdom under an Amachree dynasty.

Social and Political Institutions in the Kalabari Tribe

Kalabari society is traditionally organised into clan-based lineages. Each extended family (known locally as a “War Canoe House”) is led by a chief, these houses serve as political, economic and defensive units within the kingdom. At the top is the Amanyanabo (king) of the Kalabari, who rules by hereditary right. A council advises him of chiefs, most of whom are royal princes or heads of major houses. 

The Ekine Sekiapu society is an important institution, a male masquerade cult of water-spirits. The Ekine (literally “the dancing people”) historically enforced laws, performed justice, and presided over festivals. Women also form groups (wives’ associations) that organise communal labour and rituals. 

The Kalabari generally combine royal (monarchical) authority with age-sets and guilds, many young people pass through age-grade societies that undertake village duties and defence, as is common among Ijaw communities.

Institutions and governance:

• Amanyanabo (King): The Kalabari monarch resides in Buguma and is supported by a royal council of chiefs.
• War canoe houses: Clan lineages (each led by a chief) that manage local land/river rights and represent the people in council.
• Ekine (Sekiapu) society: A men’s secret society of masqueraders who uphold customs, conduct justice and lead religious festivals.
• Age-grade groups: Men and women are organised into age sets for communal work, defence, and cultural rites (similar to many Niger Delta traditions).

Kalabari Traditional Attire

Kalabari tribe traditional dress is rich and colourful, with elaborate beadwork. Women typically wear brightly coloured wrappers (often “George” or lace fabrics) with matching shawls or blouses, and tie their hair with a large head-tie or wear a cap. They also adorn themselves with layers of coral or glass bead necklaces, bracelets and earrings, both for everyday and especially for ceremonies. 

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Men wear a variant of formal wear, usually a well-tailored shirt or flowing gown in vibrant cloth, with a matching wrapper or trousers. A distinctive feature of Kalabari male attire is a round-brimmed hat (often a bowler or bowler-like cap) and a walking cane, symbols of dignity and rank. For royal or festive occasions, men and women may wear ornate coral-bead regalia (coral collars, armlets, crowns) and embroidered tunics. 

Kalabari Traditional Marriage Rite

Kalabari tribe weddings are elaborate, multi-step affairs combining negotiation and celebration. A couple first goes through a formal introduction or knocking ceremony (called “ware ogiga gbolo”, literally “to knock”), in which the groom and his family present gifts (often bottles of gin and small sums of money) to the bride’s parents as a prelude. 

Bride-price negotiations follow this, the bride’s family submits a traditional list (items like cloth, tobacco, nets, food and other tokens) that the groom must provide. 

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Kalabari recognise several marriage types, for example, the highest-status “Iya” marriage requires paying a substantial bride-price. It involves unique rituals like Bibife (buying the mouth of the bride, symbolically ensuring the husband will feed her for life). A simpler “Igwa” marriage is cheaper, while “Waribiobesime” is for a union within extended kin. In all cases, the final celebration is a feast of dances and food at the bride’s compound. During the day-long festivities, guests enjoy traditional Kalabari dishes (like onunu, pounded yam and plantain in palm oil, or spicy seafood soups).

Marriage highlights:

• Introduction (“Knocking”): The Groom’s family formally visits the bride’s home with gifts to announce the marriage intent.
• Bride-price negotiation: Families agree on a list of goods and money. Kalabari say marriage is cheap compared to some neighbours, but proper ceremonies (especially Iya) are quite solemn.
• Ceremonial feast: After rites are done, kin gather for drinking, dancing and feasting on local dishes (Onunu, seafood soup, etc.) to seal the union.
  

Economic Activities of the Kalabari Tribe

• Fishing and boat-building: Kalabari are expert fishermen and canoe makers, reflecting their riverine environment.
• Trading and farming: Coastal trade in fish, palm oil, salt and other goods has long been important.
• Petroleum industry: Several Kalabari communities lie atop oil reserves. Shell and other companies operate in Kalabari towns like Kula and Soku, generating significant (and sometimes controversial) oil revenue

 

Kalabari Tribe Festivals

Kalabari tribe is famous for its masquerade festivals. The grandest is the Owu-Aru-Sun Alali festival, held only every 15–20 years in Buguma (the kingdom’s capital). This multispectral event is led by the Ekine (masquerade) society and involves dozens of richly costumed dancers. Masked performers represent water spirits (“Owu”) and ancestors, parading through town with drums and chants. 

The climax is a vibrant dance honouring these spirits, after which the Owu are ritually returned to the sea. Anthropologists note that Kalabari see creeks and swamps as homes of powerful spirit-beings, and their masquerade plays (which cycle over about 17 years) invite these spirits to dance in the town through possessed performers. Besides Owu-Aru-Sun, Kalabari tribe celebrations often include boat regattas and communal thanksgiving ceremonies. Festivals generally mix music, dance, feasting and masquerade to honour ancestors and pray for community well‑being.

Notable features:

• Owu-Aru-Sun Alali: The great Kalabari masquerade festival in Buguma (last held in 1991), featuring Ekine dancers and water‑spirit masks.
• Masquerade plays: Many smaller celebrations feature Ekine masques (e.g. the Alagba female spirit, Peri-gbo, etc.) dancing to drums and flutes. These can mark harvests, royal anniversaries or personal rites of passage.
• Canoe regattas: Colourful canoe parades and river races, celebrating the community’s connection to water (often linked to festivals or important civic days). 

Religion

Traditionally, the Kalabari tribe practised a rich animist belief system centred on water spirits and ancestors. They revered a major river-goddess (Awoamenakaso), called mother of all deities, and maintained shrines to local water spirits and ancestors. Key rituals (often performed by the Ekine society) involved libations to the sea and masquerade dances to honour these supernatural beings. 

With colonialism and missionaries, most Kalabari embraced Christianity by the 20th century. Indeed, about 90% of Ijaw people (including Kalabari) now identify as Christian. Today, many Kalabari are active in churches (Anglican, Catholic or Pentecostal), and public life follows Christian calendars. 

However, elements of the old faith persist in custom: for example, many attend New Year prayers at river shrines, observe Ekine masquerades as sacred, and still pour liquor for ancestors. In short, Kalabari religion today is often syncretic, outwardly Christian, but with ancestral and water-spirit traditions woven into social and cultural practices.

FAQs

• What is Kalabari Traditional Dance?

Kalabari tribe traditional dance usually refers to the Ekine masquerade performances. These are masked ritual dances led by men of the Ekine society, who impersonate water‑spirits (Owu) and ancestors. During festivals, Ekine dancers wear ornate headdresses (often depicting antelopes, elephants or leopards) and perform vigorous drumming and dance steps. As one observer notes, Kalabari see river swamps as the home of spirits and periodically invite water spirits to take possession of performers and dance in the town. Thus, Kalabari traditional dance is the highly symbolic Ekine masquerade display.

 

• What is Kalabari Traditional Food?

Coastal ingredients dominate Kalabari tribe cuisine. A signature dish is onunu, a pounded mix of yam and ripe plantain mashed with palm oil and smoked fish. Other staples include fishermen’s soup or peppery seafood stews loaded with fresh fish, prawns and periwinkles, often served with fufu or rice. Coconut, plantains, cassava and local greens are common side ingredients. Palm-oil soups and spicy meat pepper soups are also featured at feasts. In short, Kalabari food is hearty and seafood-rich, reflecting their riverine environment.

 

• Who is the Traditional Ruler in Kalabari Land?

The Kalabari tribe traditional ruler bears the Amanyanabo of Kalabari, meaning owner of the land. Historically, the Amanyanabo was from the Amachree dynasty. After the passing of King (Amachree) Theophilus Princewill in 2021, the kingdom was overseen by a regent. As of 2024, Chief Dr. C.I.T. Numbere serves as Regent of the Kalabari monarchy, pending the selection of a new crowned king.

 

• What is the Burial Rite in Kalabari?

Kalabari funeral customs are elaborate and vary by status. Generally, a deceased person is honoured with multi-day ceremonies. There is a wake-night (dinkoru) of songs, drumming, dancing and libations to honour the dead. The body is usually dressed in special garments and placed in a coffin (sometimes decorated with traditional symbols). A dinkrama rite follows a week after burial, a final ceremony (on the 7th and 8th day) reinforcing clan ties and sending the soul to the ancestors. For prominent or royal individuals, additional rites may be performed, and sometimes canoe processions or masquerade displays accompany the burial. In all cases, Kalabari funerals blend mourning with music and ritual, reflecting their belief that death is a journey to join one’s forebears.