Leaders of the Kalabari kingdom in Rivers State have warned that certain government policies could lead to the gradual extinction of indigenous languages and cultures.
They urged governments at all levels to intervene urgently by reviewing such policies to preserve the nation’s cultural heritage.
The Amayanabo (king) of Elem-Kalabari, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, was represented by Da Ala-me of Elem-Kalabari and Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, Alabo Okiye WillBraide, during an exhibition of Kalabari arts at Moriri Arts Gallery in Port Harcourt on Friday.
The event is part of activities preceding the Kalabari New Year, which the kingdom aims to give a national dimension.
WillBraide described the ancient festival as the strongest symbol of Kalabari identity, celebrated annually on November 16. He explained that it coincides with a natural oceanic phenomenon occurring at midnight on November 15, when saltwater from the Atlantic pushes back freshwater from inland rivers.
“Our water from the ocean pushes back the water that comes from upland. We are entirely saltwater people. This reversal purifies the land and marks our new year. It has been there from time immemorial, and our history spans over 700 years,” he said.
He added that this year’s celebration is historic, marking the first time in 144 years that festivities return to the ancient Kalabari city, which was abandoned between 1879 and 1884, leading to the founding of Buguma, Abonnema, Bakana, and Obuama.
“Today, our ancient city is being re-enlivened. People have returned to reconnect with ancestors buried there. It belongs to every Kalabari person, dead or alive. This year is significant because it is the first New Year celebrated in that ancient town in 144 years,” he said.
WillBraide praised the Amayanabo for introducing Kalabari language learning in primary schools.
“A committee has been set up to implement it. A new life is taking shape that will spread to all Kalabari lands, preserving our culture in every child,” he said.
However, he warned that government policies are threatening indigenous languages.
“Recently, I heard that the National Policy on Language has cancelled every native language, insisting that all official communication must be in English. That is a disservice to Africa. If we continue this way, our languages will go extinct,” he said.
He stressed that the government has a duty to preserve communities’ cultural identity.
“We are not Europeans or Americans. The government cannot govern us to wipe away our culture. Preserving it is part of their responsibility,” he added.
His warning follows the Federal Government’s recent decision to scrap the mother-tongue teaching policy, which had mandated that children in pre-primary and primary schools be taught in their first language or the language of their community.
PUNCH Online reports that Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa justified the move, saying students taught primarily in indigenous languages were performing poorly in national exams and struggling with English comprehension.
Secretary of the Elem-Kalabari Council of Chiefs, Kingsley Young-Jack, highlighted the environmental and spiritual significance of the New Year festival, describing it as a unifying event for all Kalabari communities.
“Freshwater intrusion contaminates our environment, disrupts fishing, and affects our deities. But at midnight on the 15th, ocean water flushes it out. That breaking day is our new year. Nobody knows why—it is nature,” he said.
Young-Jack added that the celebration will strengthen unity, revive forgotten traditions, and promote tourism across Kalabari communities.
“We don’t have a common festival that brings everyone together. This one binds us. It will rotate across Kalabari towns each year to showcase the tourism potential of Ifoko, Abalama, Ekulama, Krakama, and others,” he said.
Art historian Prof. Charles Omuaru of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education lamented the absence of museums in Rivers State despite the richness of Kalabari arts.
“Rivers State Museum has nothing. Kalabari does not even have a museum. There is a necessity to open one to preserve our arts and culture,” he said.
Prof. Omuaru argued that instead of demanding the immediate return of colonial-era looted artefacts, Nigeria should first build preservation infrastructure.
“If they return them now, where will we keep them? Let them continue to preserve them abroad but pay us royalties every year. Meanwhile, we must establish our own museums,” he said.
With the 2023 Kalabari New Year set to become a national showcase, the chiefs say the celebration is no longer just a festival—it is a cultural reclamation movement for the survival of the Kalabari identity.
