PEREBO-KALA-IBARI
The Correct Name and its Meaning:
It is important to point out just at this early stage of the history that the original name of the founder and first ancestor of Kalabari was “PEREBO-KALA-IBARI” NOT “PEREBO-KELE-KE-IBARI”.
“Perebo-kele-ke-Ibari” is the full translation of the original Ijaw name into the modern dialect now spoken by the Kalabari, and so it is a name given by the modern Kalabari and not that which the ancestor had from his parents.
The original name, “Perebo-kala-ibari”, for purposes of easy and quick pronunciation, dropped its first part. “Perebo” and retained the second, “Kala-Ibari” which was straightened to KALABARI as we have it today.
“Perebo” – means a wealthy person
“Kala” – means small, little; a bit
“Ibari” – give me (giving, as it relates to the small quantity or the bit).
“Perebo-kala-ibari”, therefore, means “May the wealthy person give me a small or little portion or a bit, of his wealth.”
1. THE WORD, “KALA” – It is well known among the Ijaw speaking clans that “KALA” was the word originally used as an adjective to denote “small” or “little. As an abstract noun of quality to denote “smallness” or “littleness in relation to status or position in life, and as a word for asking or making requests for a small or little part or portion, or a bit of anything. “KALA” fulfilled all its functions in the past. Examples of its old usage are as follows:
As an adjective:
- Kala bele — small pot.
- Kala ikasie — small stool
As an abstract noun of quality
“Ike i kala nimi bara, piki ani bara ke i opu so nimi”. (A historic quotation of the nineteen century, meaning – “The way you knew my smallness should be the way you should also know my greatness”).
In asking or making a request
- kala ke ipiri — Give me small, or a little. Give me some
- kala soma mu a legi — Shift down a little bit
- kala legi — Sit down for a while or for some time
2. THE WORD, “KELE” – In the modern dialect spoken by the Kalabari “kala” still fulfils its functions as a descriptive adjective used attributively and as a noun of quality as illustrated in examples 1 and 2 or the old Usage shown above, but its usage in example 3 is now obsolete. In modern Kalabari therefore, in asking or making a request for a small or a little portion of a thing, “kala” is inflected to “kele”, hence we now speak “kele ke ipiri” instead of the “kala ke ipiri” “kele soma mu” instead of the old form “kala soma mu” “kele legi”
As it has now been clearly seen that “kele” is, comparatively, a new word, it cannot be associated with the ancient name of the founder and first ancestor of Kalabari and, obviously, the word indicating “small” or “little” in his name is “kala,” not “kele”, and so his name was “PEREBO-KALA-IBARI” abridged to KALABARI.”
“Perebo-kala-ibari” is a name with a greater meaning. Broadly speaking, it means that while the privileged live in the society and satisfy their numerous needs with their greater fortunes, and exercise their fundamental human rights – freedom of person, speech and movement – they should not lose sight of the fact that the less privileged also live in the society and, as a matter of necessity. have also to satisfy their needs according to their ‘size’ and enjoy their various freedoms and should therefore, be given the opportunity to find the means to do so. The name, “Perebo-kala-ibari“, thus, inculcates the doctrine of “live, and let us live” – a great doctrine of all times, admonishing men to shun greed, avarice and selfishness with a view to building up a society characterised by love, mutual understanding, unity, peace and harmony.
Doubtless, if kings, governors, commissioners and ministers of this world would only enjoy their shares and leave for others their own, there would be no need for coup d’états to humiliate them or civil disobedience to paralyse their administrations. Similarly, if the paramount chief would only eat his lions share and give to his junior chiefs their meagre shares, there would be no fracas between the head and the subordinate chiefs. This holds good in every organisation. Indeed, it is the disregard of this doctrine which the name of Perebo-kala-ibari teaches that has broken asunder the families, scattered the towns and removed the cloak of respectability from kings and governors and fanned the embers of separatism in assemblies of the clans and nations
KALABARI FLED OGOBIRI FOR OKUGBA-UDU.
Abiake, the first son of Ogo (sometimes called Oge or Uge) died before his father and so Kalabari, the second son, became the first surviving son of Ogo or Oge or Uge and succeeded his father as King of Ogobiri. Like his father, Kalabari was very hard working and successful and, consequently, became even more prosperous than the father. In spite of his wealth, he was humble and modest and always approached his brothers with the respect due to them, but these virtues did not prevent them from envying him and conspiring to undo him. He felt he was very unsafe at Ogobiri and so fled the town for Okugba-Udu
At Okugba-Udu, too, Kalabari’s keen sense of duty earned for him greater affluence than what he had ever acquired, and this prosperity also sparked up against him an equally greater envy that what he had ever experienced. Finally, Kalabari decided to leave Okugba-Udu also to where he hoped that he would be free to go about his daily business and enjoy its yields without envy or molestation. But where could such an Eldorado be found ? Men and matters are the same everywhere. Let us journey with him further to his next destination and see whether he achieved this rare result.
KALABARI IN OBU-AMAFA
Kalabari soon thought of Kengema. He knew that several years ago Kengema moved to the Eastern Delta away from his home to live in abundance, peace and harmony. He thought of what comradeship and neighbourliness his group would have in such a strange region if he could only see Kengema. With this in mind, Kalabari departed with his group from Okugba-Udu overland through the Northern Delta Fringes to the head of what is now known as the New Calabar River and moved behind the Ikwerre town of Amafa. Here Kalabari and his followers founded their town at the deserted village of Kengema. As the land is situated behind Amafa, the Kalabari called the area, “Obu-Amafa“. “Obu” means “at the back of” or behind, hence “Obu-Amafa” means “At the back of Amafa” or “Behind Amafa“. The site is known by this name up to this day. The Kalabari site was also near to the present towns of Sama and Tombia and stood on the bank of a creek very much frequented in those days by travellers as a result of the foodstuffs produced mainly by the Ikwerre neighbours.