As a way of reawakening, rebirth and a call to return home, Kalabari Kingdom in Rivers State, Nigeria celebrated her New Year with planting of economic trees to stabilise the environment and create employment opportunities for her indigenes.

Kristina Reports gathered this on Saturday, November 16, 2024 during the special day occasion that the annual event is part of the Kingdom’s calendar unlike the Gregorian calendar.

In an interview with Kristina Reports, the Chief Administrator of Kalabari Culture Clinic, Harry Awolayeofori affirmed that it is an agelong ceremony that has existed for more than 100 years, informing that this is the first official ceremony, positing that there is need for a rebirth.

“Culture is the people, our culture, language, dressing, dance tells of who you are and it cannot be washed away.”

“We’re planting 33 trees to represent the 33 major communities in Kalabari Kingdom. Although there are other communities but these are the major ones.”

In another session, a journalist and Managing Director of National Point Newspaper, Ibiba Don Pedro said that the culture of planting economic trees became necessary due to pollution and deforestation of mangroves, emphasizing the need to return all lost traditional heritage.

Don Pedro, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Kendor TV and Magazine, stated that the significance of the tree planting in celebration of Kalabari Culture is germane so as to have a good environment and also provide sustainable means of income within the Kalabari territory.

“Environment is at the centre of our lives and the future. The environment is what is going to sustain generations, thousands of years to come. We have our mangroves that has been destroyed but we’re going to plant economic trees today as a way of empowering our women and youths.”

Also speaking to Kristina Reports, a lecturer of History and International Diplomacy at the Rivers State University, Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Dr. Tonye Benebo explained that culture is something that keeps the memory of people, expressing his pain over the erosion of African culture by Westerners who claim they are obnoxious by nature.

“In every five black people, one is a Nigerian. We must return to our history and take our people back. Our brothers in diaspora are waiting for African in the mother land to tell them their history, and if we lose every part of our history, we’re taking their umbilical cord from them.”

Dr. Benebo emphasized the need to correct aspects of African history, describing such as mistakes made by successive governments as a result of European influence in policy making.

“Our people need to know our history. In a civilised world, you can’t be a president or head of state without having a background in history. If I find myself abroad, the white man will want to know about my history because that’s what makes it authentic.”

In another chat, a native of Teinma Community in Buguma, Asari-Toru LGA, Ibitoru Black-George complained of the climate condition as a result of deforestation.

“Sun dey hot, no water, no light, heat don finish me. As tree no dey dey again wey person fit go relax and no light to say make I on fan. We dey suffer well well. Our mangroves sef don go, na periwinkle we dey pick. Our culture don go, our dance, music and club sef no dey again.