Paramount Ruler of Torusaramapiri in the Kalabari ethnic nationality of Rivers State, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, has urged Nigerians particularly the Kalabari people to embrace a reorientation of their cultural values and heritage.
Dokubo made the call during the second edition of the Kalabari New Year Festival held at Elem, Kalabari, in Degema Local Government Area.
He said the celebration symbolised a deliberate return to the traditional principles that define the Kalabari identity.
Describing the festival as more than a cultural ceremony, Dokubo said it offered an opportunity for collective renewal.
“This is not just about celebration; it’s about recreating ourselves and bringing us back from death,” he said.
He commended the Kalabari Renaissance Foundation the organisers, for championing efforts to revive cultural consciousness.
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According to him, reorientation must extend beyond Kalabari land to all citizens who must rethink their values and protect their ancestral identity.
Chairman of the Kalabari Renaissance Foundation, Mr Harry MacMorrison, explained that the festival marks the start of the Kalabari calendar year.
He noted that the annual event follows the natural purification of the Sombrero River after November 15, which locals regard as the end of the year, with November 16 signalling a new one.
MacMorrison said the Foundation’s involvement had strengthened unity and deepened the cultural significance of the event.
Also speaking, President of the Tourism Association of Nigeria (EFTAN), Mr Badaki Aliyu, praised the community for preserving its age-long traditions.
He expressed optimism that the festival’s cultural and natural attractions would be developed to boost local tourism and economic growth.
