By; Al Humphrey Onyanabo
The rich customs and time-honoured traditions of the ancient Kalabari kingdom came alive in Buguma, Rivers State today, February 28, 2026 as Da Amakiri Tubo, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakar Dokubo-Asari, Dabaye Amakiri 1, Amanyanabo of Elem Kalabari ( The Source) formally presented his son, Briebibo Dienyefa, to the Kalabari nation as a chief.
The ceremony marked the culmination of over two months of meticulous traditional processes — a demanding journey rooted in ancestry, honour and communal validation. In Kalabari land, chieftaincy is neither symbolic nor automatic. It is earned through a rigorous rite of passage that requires the candidate to be presented before chiefs of various houses and families with which he has paternal affiliation.
At each stage, Briebibo Dienyefa was introduced,scrutinised and affirmed. The chiefs examined not only his lineage but also his character, reputation and conduct. In keeping with tradition, he had to be accepted as worthy and without blemish — fit to lead, represent and uphold the dignity of his people.
With the traditional requirements satisfied, he was formally put forward by his father, the Amanyanabo of Elem Kalabari, to sit on his personal stool as Dokubo-Asari II — a title that carries both heritage and responsibility.
The presentation ceremony drew traditional rulers, chiefs, elders and well-wishers from across Kalabari land, underscoring the cultural weight of the moment. It was not merely a family milestone but a reaffirmation of Kalabari’s enduring governance structure — one that blends ancestry, moral authority and communal consensus.
The chieftaincy journey of Alabo Briebibo Dienyefa Dokubo-Asari began on January 17, 2026, with a colourful outing in Buguma.(He is taking over the personal chieftaincy stool initiated by his father since 2004).
On that day, he was formally presented to the Edi Polo family at the Edi Polo Memorial Hall, marking the first step in a process deeply rooted in Kalabari custom.
A week later, on January 24, 2026, the second stage — Polo Diye, the traditional compound presentation — took place at the Omubo Birinaomoni Memorial Hall. Close to one hundred chiefs were in attendance, underscoring the seriousness of the rite and the weight of communal endorsement required for the path he had chosen.
On Saturday, February 27, 2026, he advanced further in consolidating his chieftaincy as he was presented at the Kariboye-Abi Princewill Memorial Hall, Buguma. The day carried historic significance. His father, the Amanyanabo of Elem Kalabari, was also presented to the Abi Royal Family in fulfilment of custom ahead of his coronation — a reminder that in Kalabari land, even a king must submit to ancestral protocol.
