Kalabari Kingdom

Kalabari
Elem Kalabari
Traditional state
Kalabari Kingdom
Ijaw States, including Kalabari
Ijaw States, including Kalabari
Coordinates: 4°34′6″N 6°58′34″E / 4.56833°N 6.97611°E / 4.56833; 6.97611
CountryNigeria
StateRivers State
Founded byKing Amachree I
CapitalBuguma
Government
 • TypeTraditional Monarchy
 • BodyKalabari Royal Court (Council of Chiefs)
 • AmanayanaboChief (Dr.) C.I.T. Numbere (Regent)
Population
 • Estimate 
(2022)
558,000[1]
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)

The Kalabari Kingdom, also called Elem Kalabari (Kalabari: New Shipping Port), is the independent traditional state of the Kalabari people, a sub-group of the Ijaw tribe, eastern ijo, in the Niger River Delta. It is recognized as a traditional state in what is now Rivers State, in southern region of Nigeria.

The Kingdom was founded by the great Amachree I,[2] forefather of the Amachree dynasty, which is now headed by the Princewill family.

According to Alagoa (2009) King Amachree I, the first king of modern Kalabari kingdom (1669-1757) came from Emakalakala[3] in Ogbia.

King Amachree XI (Professor Theophilus Princewill CFR), passed on[4] and was buried[5] in November 2003. The Kingdom is currently being overseen by a Regent[6] Chief (Dr.) C.I.T. Numbere, till a new king is crowned.

The King along with his Council of Chiefs, most of whom are royal princes, make up the Kalabari royal court.

  1. ^ "People Groups - Kalabari – Joshua Project". www.joshuaproject.net. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  2. ^ Alagoa, Ebiegberi Joe (1966). "Oral Tradition among the Ijo of the Niger Delta". The Journal of African History. 7 (3): 405–419. doi:10.1017/S0021853700006496. ISSN 0021-8537 – via Cambridge Journals.
  3. ^ Alagoa, Ebiegberi Joe (1966). "Oral Tradition among the Ijo of the Niger Delta". The Journal of African History. 7 (3): 405–419. doi:10.1017/S0021853700006496. ISSN 0021-8537 – via Cambridge Journals.
  4. ^ "Kalabari King, Tonye Princewill's Father, Passes Away – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  5. ^ "King Amachree, Kalabari Monarch for Burial November 30 – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  6. ^ Tide, The (27 March 2024). "New Kalabari Monarch To Emerge Soon -Regent". :::...The Tide News Online:::... Retrieved 12 November 2024.