Hello Bros KIWI,

It's quite a while now, i have been offline, missed you all.
Permit me to comment on Killayut's recent post concerning descendants of Berepiki staying outside the Homestead, Berepiki's Compound.
First, I would want to point out that, it sound strange and worrisome for Killayut, TOM Alabraba; to accuse other Berepiki descendants for not living and growing up within the Berepiki homestaed, Because, the Tom i know if my memory still serves me well, Did not live and grow up in berepiki's compound in Bakana, rather he he lived in Iyalla's Compound, precisely Elder solomon iyalla's compound, popularly called abraham solo wari, besides the christ army Church.
Other well known friends and relatives in same compound with TOM are IGONIKONYE, IBISO YELLOWE, TARIBO YELLOWE, Dr. Bob Yellowe, Akonte Alabraba, Mr. Jene Braide just to mention a few.
So to acuse others like Bros Kiwi for their preference for Iyalla compound over Berepiki is really uncalled for.
The Tom i know, whose mother i only got to know recently is a Berepiki, introduced to me by my mum. I respected and admired TOM while he was in Bakana, not even knowing then, he was a relative.
If it is the same TOM, as described above, Then i say, " I bote" " I bolate ", because for a very long long time he was outside the country, precisely he left Bakana for America.
And if it's you, the same Tom, I would rather you Help and encourage Bros KIWI return and settle down to bring his wealth of experience to enhance the lives of fellow folks, just the WAY our Brother Ken Yellowe is doing by investing in GAS GATHERING PROJECTS, whereby many gain means of lively hood, Ken Yellowe is from the Bagshaw extraction, who left the shores whilse he was a baby. He is touching lives.
If i still have the chance to grow up in that environment i'll still choose to live in Iyalla's compound for many reasons, though some of the reasons may not hold water in today's Bakana. More because negative forces had polluted the entire landscape.

edlando

Hi Brother Kiwi,

I am so comfortable with your last piece, and greatly touched by the fact that, you had not returned home to Bakana ever since you travelled. As sad as it sounds, nobody will blame you for that, cos self preservation is one of the primary needs of man.
I'm sure you missed the chrismas season, when everybody returns from far and near. I can still remember Your Father, my Uncle arriving with his Kids and family in his personal Speed Boat with his name inscribed on it, C.I BEREPIKI, a Blue boat, That Berths at iyalla poku. Christmas is not complete without his kids such Dagogo, Odima, Lali etc and the Families of Gogo Apite and his kids Akins, Prefa, kasibo  and aunty Majoba kids Amama, labo, Furo, Ibiso and Dawari  all arriving at iyalla Poku. I missed all of them to this day. They were all relatives of mine.
The masqurades, EPO in Ngo POLO, OKI in Davies Compound, SEKI in IYALLA'S COMPOUND, OWUMA NUMBER 3 n 4, OKUKU by EKINE-SEKI-APU etc.
EREMINA OGBO from various compounds keeping the town lively.
Remember the fun during the xmas period, could deny you returning to resume work during the new year.Men! Bakana use to be fun. When we were there during our growing up days, our peers added another dimension to it that attracted visitors to Bakana; from Warri, Owerri, Buguma, Aba, Abonnema, Lagos etc.
By introducing Bakana Beach Party, which takes place at Igbekiri, an island belonging to iyalla, opposite Charlie Poku, on the 25th of every December.
We enjoyed Kukudam at iyalla compound, a dance play that attracted the whole town and beyond, with bangers exploding to compliment the mood. These experiences will for ever remain green in the memory of most of us.
My Big brother, all these thrills and frills were aborted when politicians and self centered leaders armed the youths with Guns and other dangerous ammunitions. So instead of bangers exploding we hear Guns and dynamite directed at different groups exploding and cutting short the lives of young upcoming personalities. We lost brothers and sisters in ten of hundred.
Notable among the Dead were, Alapakate Iyalla, shot dead in presence of his wife and children, Daa Iyalla and Opali Braide shot and killed while celebrating the appointment of Eldred Braide as Commissioner in P.H. The Death of Adokie Iyalla a young businessman with a commanding knowledge of the oil and gas industry, via rib riping bullets is still fresh in our memory.
So when you say your friend visited and could not return because he was charmed I really felt sorry, but I should let you know that at least he is alive and you can hope that he recovers. These days they eliminate outrightly and in broad day light.
You can see why nobody can blame the likes of you staying away; atleast somebody should be alive to record the history.

EDLANDO

Hello OWI1,

I'll like to say sorry, your version of dutch was not what i saw that ignited my attention. Do more findings, cos the difference in yours was too obvious.

Besides, mainstream Kalabari language does'nt start counting with "Gberiye" RATHER IT SAYS " INGEYI", BUT PREFER  USING "GBERIYE" TO DESCRIBE AN ITEM.

You can do better!

Edlando

*dakobu:

The Kalabari engaged in overland trade with other West Africans before their first European trading contacts with the seafaring Portuguese in the 1400's. Later, the Dutch, French and British also arrived by sea for trade and various attempts at missionary work.



The 1700's and 1800's were the heydey for the Kalabari as expert traders and middlemen (for men did the trading) with the Europeans. Among the items they chose in trade were cloth from India but also other commodities rare in their time, such as Venitian glass beads and coral.

My Brother Dakobu,

Your write up confirms, a finding i made in 1994 when i was researching the kalabari culture, to be specific our language. I discovered where it was mentioned that the Kalabari Numbering of 1-10 is the same with a Dutch language.
Obviously, a fall out of the early contact of these different cultures, as examplified by your PIECE.
I had forgotten the source to enable me quote it, but the book had to do with BUGUMA CENTINARY. It was an eye opener, and a measure of HOW exposed the language had being.

Can someone help verify or disproof this claim.

EDLANDO.

Hi Kiwi,

Yes i got it right, you are directly a relative, but truely had left home for a long time now. I am happy to know i have  a relative in you, thanks to our new found cyber world.
Sorry, if you ever thought i intend dragging you into a divide that is so unimportant. And also note, i have left the town ever since i completed my secondary school in Bakana, exactly OBAMA BOYS HOGH SCHOOL, since 1988, and presently, reside and work in Abuja. All i wanted to let you know is that, [our sweet home, Bakana, is no longer what it used to be.
And truth regarding history, rather be managed or else it be interpreted in certain circles as rude challenge of  somebody's authority. What i did was to raise the red flag, as a symbol of caution.
And this did not start at the moment, it had started long ago, but took a more deadly dimension only recently, prompting people like us, many, to abandon our cheerished homeland.
You surely, left Bakana when the TOWN CRIER goes about renting KPAIN KPOI, ODUM AMA PU A; Before delivering his message to the good people of Bakana. Now the slogan is KPAIN KPOI, IGBANIBO AMA PU A.
So when things degenerate to these level, caution and feigned indifference is called for. That is why i said, let us preoccupy ourselves with those things that bind us really good. ESPECIALLY, for people like you who live far from home.
A kalabari adage says, AMA NI MI ABO, DUN NAGAM.
Brother, of all the names of our Brothers and sister you mentioned i know them or atleast heard of them in the family; but sadly Lowell Berepiki died along time ago, when he went fishing. So we lost him.
All the Seniors you mention in iyalla are also my elder relatives that motivated and supported us to pursue education in order to hold our heads high in todays Nigeria. Senator Ibiapuye Martins Yellowe is a role model to many of us,in Kalabari land, haven succeeded in breaking the jinx to become a senator, the highest political office ever held by our people.
It will also interest you to know that the vice chariman of Degema Local Gov't is OSAKI BEREPIKI, I.E LOLO'S  SON.
Once again, i had no intentions to drag you into such a dirty politics, that i run away from; atleast not my brother.
Thanks for the response.

edlando

Hello KIWI,

May I thank u for your write up and expose'. It will serve as an elixir to many of us who are from that region.
Especially, me. From ur account of the history of Kalabari and by extention BAKANA, u missed little or nothing from from what i know and was told. From ur account of Bakana history, it was obvious from which of the divide in Bakana u are from, i.e between Braide and Iyalla.

I am very sure i have a blood relationship with you, strongly so when my grand mother is a direct daughter of Chief India John Yellowe, She is popuarlarly called INGBELE MAMA, in Iyalla's compound and beyond. And i feel u are getting the picture by now; you also mentioned that Dr. C.I BEREPIKI is a relative of yours, nothworthy is that he is my mother's elder brother and she remains the only surviving child of BEREPIKI today in Bakana.
I would want to bring to your knowledge that   the version of history of BAKANA our brothers from braide compound have is slightly different from what u know, which is the basis of most acrimony between these two MAJOR GROUPS of the Town.
What i want us to achieve is that if we are aware of these divide we would be tempted to guide our actions in such a way that, emphasis would be placed on those issues that bind us together rather than on issues that portray some people as owners of an heritage others as settlers. For long, people have carried themselves along these path and the result has being disharmaony that had even taken ugly dimension in past and i believe, you had witness one or more before your sojourn. A good example, is the activities of some recently, leaders that emerged you who insist that for anyone to claim to be a Bakana person he or she must bear the surname BRAIDE.
You will agree with me that,  this runs counter to ideals of the founders of KALABARI LAND, which regarded all irrespective of whether they are settlers or slaves as indigenes, this you rightly asserted.

EDLANDO

lol

DEAR READERS KINDLY PARTAKE IN THIS GREEDY POSE.

My position on the Amanyana
bo stool and Tonye Princewill’s 40th birthday
By Prof. Tam David West
Monday, February 02, 2009


David West
Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section

Tonye, I thank you for the invitation to your 4oth Birthday. However, I was unable to attend because the invitation was issued by your father, my cousin, who signed as "King (Prof) T.J.T Princewill Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom. Amachree XI" I would like to believe that as a responsible and highly educated young man you are aware that there is no "King" or "Amanyanabo" of the Kalabari Kingdom as of today. The law of Nigeria is blind to the existence of your father as "Amanyanabo" because he was not properly installed in accordance with our 300 years old tradition and custom. He is accordingly not recognised by the Federal Government of Nigeria as Amanyanabo (King) of the Kalabari kingdom.

The Federal Government's non-recognition is also planked on the not mutually exclusive ground that there is an existing INTERIM (INTERLOCUTORY) ORDER handed down by the Honourable Justice A.A. Wodu on April 12, 2002 RESTRAINING him from parading himself (or be so paraded) as "Amanyanabo of Kalabari, Amachree XI" until the final resolution of the CHALLENGE to his purported and clandestine 'installation' as 'Amanyanabo' in SUIT NO: PH/624/2002 instituted by four other princess (all professionals) who also have no encumbrance whatsoever to the Patriarch King Amachree Throne.

Interim Court Order is both Interlocutory and Prohibitive (In: “Injunctions and Enforcement of Orders” by Afe Babalola, SAN).

Thus, by 'parading' himself as 'Amanyanabo of Kalabari' in the invitation letter, your father, my cousin, is palpably CONTUMACIOUS to the Court of the Land or CONTEMPTUOUS of it. And this is most embarrassing and dangerous especially in the contemporary President Yar'Adua's administration whose mantra is the "Rule of Law," especially OBEDIENCE to court orders.

A categorical rock-solid proof that the Federal Government did not recognise him was provided by the fact that when he was awarded the National Honour, CON, as 'Amanyanabo of Kalabari' two years ago, the President Olusegun Obasanjo government later realized that there is nobody like that by law, and so he most advisedly and responsibly withdrew the award from him. This is why he did not use "CON" after his name in the invitation letter.

He was ONLY recognised by the former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili on June 06, 2002 for political purpose. 'Recognition for Votes.' Trade by Barter of sorts. And that even surreptitiously and criminally contemptuous of the April 12, 2002 interim court order by The Honourable Justice A.A.Wodu.
Please, cousin Tonye, read the details in my 40-page Open Letter No.3 to Governor Odili, "ODILI: LEGALITY, MORALITY, INTEGRITY" serialized by the Independent Monitor in December 2002. I wrote it from London. The issues raised were that grave to the King Amachree's Dynasty

Also read: "Royal Battle Continues As Odili Makes Princewill Kalabari Monarch, , Government Shuns Court Order. Recognise Princewill as Monarch" (Independent Monitor June 29, 2002). And, "Amanyanabo of Kalabari Issue: Judge Worried Over Non-Enforcement of Order" (Independent Monitor October 14-16, 2002 Back page).

A number of leading Kalabari communities have issued statements in the newspaper that they don't recognise as their King or Amanyanabo. This has never happened in our history as proud Kalabari people throughout the 300 years of the King Amachree Dynasty.

In short, your father is a soi-distant, self-styled, titular, nominal 'Amanyanabo' or 'King'. Putting it epigrammatically, our father is to all intents and purposes a 'Government House Amanyanabo' and not Amanyanabo of the Kalabari Kingdom by the law of Nigeria. Because the law is blind to his existence. Since his purported 'installation' corrupted our age-long tradition and custom.

I will plead with you, my dear cousin Tonye, please let us save the Amachree Dynasty and the sanctity of Kalabari tradition and custom from further corruption, prostitution and desecration. This is a sacred duty we owe the Ancestors, History, Present Generation and Posterity.

MANY MORE HAPPY RETURNS OF YOUR BIRTHDAY
I am sincerely proud of you. I do. Outside your parents nobody in the Family can ever dare to claim to know you more than me. For instance, I’ve followed you up from pampers in 1971 in Leeds, UK. Your father was doing his PhD Bacteriology. I was post-Doctoral Commonwealth Fellow, and also Commonwealth Tropical Medicine Fellow (in tandem) in London. And being very close cousins, your father and I, we exchanged visits (your mother of blessed memory was very much around).

Your father was so close and so dear to me I christened my first son, “Theophilus,” after him. We were so close he stayed with me at my father’s house (David-West Compound) when we were in Kalabari National College. Forget about all the nonsensical excuse that my father’s house is nearer to the College. Didn’t students attend from George’s Compound? Which is at least 4-times farther off. We were so close we called each other with the sobriquet, “De Bro.”

But I cannot allow these to drown my constructive stubbornness on things PRINCIPLES, I will continue to fight against any attempts to prostitute our Kalabari culture, tradition, and custom. The veritable glues that define us and hold us together. Let me say emphatically that I have neither regrets nor any apologies for the two major issues I have against him.

(1) I opposed his "Regency." Because it gave him an unfair advantage over the other four princes interested to be King (Amanyanabo). The Military Administrator, Group Captain Ewang, later removed him on April 20, 1999 (4 Month Regency) by a special Government Announcement. (Ref: "The Sack of Prof. Theo Princewill" In: "Musing in a Kalabari Cab" by Fitzallen A. Briggs (2001).

(2) I remain (and will remain) implacably and inexorably opposed to his purportd 'installation' as 'Amanyanabo' in flagrant corruption of the revered Amanyanabo Institution of the Kalabari Kingdom.

It is a fight not for me a matrilineal prince. But for some patrineal princess among whom you are one, Tonye. Kalabari operates a sort of SALIC LAW.

Nobody with any shred of grey matter can ever claim a monopoly to arms or to desecreating criminal rascality. It is a time-honoured Kalabari aphorism that when someone falls to the ground in a fit of laughter it is not the laughing that makes him fall down. But he chose to fall down.

Asari Dokubo (Formerly Melford Goodhead) openly confessed: "Prof. T.J.T Princewill cannot deny the role I played to make a King(sic), This was my plot, I did what I did because I and the king(sic) are from Ogo House." The Hard Truth March 3-9, 2005 Page 9. Part of his CONFESSIONS.
PLOT":
"A secret plan to achieve some purpose, especially one that is illegal or underhand" (Collins Concise Dictionary 21st Century, (2001).

"A plan forming the basis of a conspiracy" (Black's Law Dictionary Seventh ed. 1999).

It is clear that your father, my cousin was NOT properly installed as King or "Amanyanabo." It was all clandestine plot by Asari Dokubo and his militia. Becuase other more responsible, more disciplined, more circumspective and clearly more law abiding chose to 'fall' at the time confident that the BOGUS 'installation' will burn out.
YES indeed.

And when "Things Fell Apart" between them, your father and Asari Dokubo, he and his men attacked your father at a public function at the Integrated Cultural Centre, Aba Road, Port Harcourt. Your father was smuggled out. Is this edifying?

Next, he disrespectfully told your father: "The gun I used to make you King I will Use it to remove you." Is this a threat that should make any one happy? After all, without prejudice, he was talking to the "Throne."

But don't ever blame Asari Dokubo. Your father invited the INSULTS to himself. Because if your father was properly installed as Amanyanabo and if Asari Dokubo ever dare to insult him, the whole of Kalabari Kingdom will fight him and even ostracize him.

Tonye, my dear cousin, the ancestors are clearly outraged. Remember, my "De Bro," your father, told the Hard Truth reporters how lightening struck his residence (or one of them) when they decapitated the statue of our Legendary King Abbi, Amachree IV and took it to his residence. King Abbi a celebrated mystic. I kept the copy of the popular journal; indeed like lots of other documents. More terrible things are recounted. More perhaps may visit us. No superstition. Cosmic imperatives. I'm concerned. I'm worried.
“PLATO IS DEAR TO ME BUT DEARER STILL IS TRUTH.” ARISTOTLE.

RELEASED BY EDLANDO