Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari Takes Royal Diplomacy To Ife, Seeks Historic Cultural And Economic Alliance With Ooni
From the Source of the Kalabari state to the cradle of Yoruba civilisation, Elem Kalabari monarch extends hand of friendship as SE DIYE coronation approaches; follows visits to Sultan of Sokoto and Etsu Nupe
In a growing campaign of royal diplomacy that is drawing Nigeria’s historic traditional institutions closer, Da Amakiri Tubo, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, the Amanyanabo of the Chiefdom and Principalities
of The Source, Elem Kalabari, Torusarama Piri of the Kingdom of Kalabari
has visited the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, seeking to establish stronger cultural, historical and economic ties between Elem Kalabari and Ile-Ife.
The visit, during which
Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari
extended a personal invitation to the Ooni to attend SE DIYE, his final coronation rites scheduled for December 19, 2026, in Buguma, Rivers State, carries a significance beyond the courtesies of a royal audience.
It brings together two traditional institutions whose identities are closely associated with origins, ancestral memory and the continuity of indigenous civilisation.
Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari said
“it is based on the cordial relationship that we have built that I am here today to invite His Imperial Majesty and his council to my Se Diye,The final rites of coronation on December 19,2026 in Buguma”
In his address the Ooni said welcome Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari and his encourage to his palace of Oduduwa.
He described Da Amakiri as fearlesss and said the fear of Asari Dokubo is the beginning of wisdom.
He also thanked Da Amakiri Tubo’s for the love and his relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He commended him for the wisdom he has been handling his affairs since he became Amanyanabo of Elem Kalabari. He thanked Da Amakiri Tubo for finally coming home to Ile Ife his home.
He later presented a bronze painting to Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari which he said sumbolizes that people are his strenght.
Ɖa Amakiri tubo was given the welcome usually accorded to a Head of state. It was indeed a State visit.
Different sets of chiefs and Priests from all over regions of Ile Ife came to pay obiesance to the Ooni, offering prayers to his continued good health, longevity and peaceful reign on the throne.
In a remarkable coincidence of historical symbolism, the Ooni occupies the throne of Ile-Ife, revered in Yoruba tradition as the cradle of Yoruba civilisation, while Da Amakiri Tubo bears the title of Amanyanabo of The Source, Elem Kalabari, Torusarama Piri — a royal institution associated with the ancestral origins and historical identity of the Kalabari people.
The meeting therefore presents an opportunity to connect two historic centres of cultural identity through a contemporary agenda of friendship, mutual recognition and economic cooperation.
A HISTORIC FIGURE, A ROYAL THRONE AND A NEW CHAPTER
The emergence of Da Amakiri Tubo as Amanyanabo of The Source is a defining chapter in the continuing story of Elem Kalabari traditional leadership. His journey to the throne places him within a historical institution whose identity is inseparable from the origins, traditions and political evolution of the Kalabari people.
His reign comes at a time when traditional institutions are increasingly being called upon to do more than preserve inherited customs. They are expected to serve as bridges between communities, custodians of historical knowledge and partners in the pursuit of cultural preservation, social cohesion and economic development.
By reaching out to the Ooni of Ife, Da Amakiri Tubo is extending the significance of his forthcoming coronation beyond the boundaries of the Kalabari Kingdom. The initiative seeks to establish relationships that can endure beyond ceremonial encounters and translate into practical collaboration.
The proposed engagement between The Source, Elem Kalabari and Ile-Ife could open avenues for cultural festivals, historical documentation, academic exchanges, heritage tourism, creative industries and commercial partnerships connecting the Niger Delta with southwestern Nigeria.
For a monarch whose final coronation rites are approaching, the outreach also offers an opportunity to situate his reign within a wider national conversation about the relevance of traditional authority in contemporary Nigeria.
FROM THE SOURCE TO THE CRADLE OF YORUBA CIVILISATION
Ile-Ife occupies a central place in Yoruba history, religion and cultural consciousness. Its standing as the ancestral cradle of Yoruba civilisation gives the Ooni a distinctive position among Nigeria’s traditional rulers and makes the ancient city an important centre for the preservation of Yoruba heritage.
Elem Kalabari, likewise, possesses a rich history shaped by maritime commerce, diplomacy, traditional governance and the canoe-house system that influenced the development of Kalabari political and economic life.
The title of Amanyanabo of The Source carries particular significance within the Kalabari traditional institution, connecting Da Amakiri Tubo’s throne to the historical identity and ancestral heritage of Elem Kalabari.
The convergence of these two institutions offers a compelling basis for cultural diplomacy: Ile-Ife, revered as the source of Yoruba civilisation, and The Source, Elem Kalabari, with its own traditions of origin and royal heritage.
While their histories are distinct, both institutions demonstrate how ancestral narratives, cultural identity and traditional authority continue to shape the lives of their peoples.
A closer relationship could encourage both communities to document their histories, exchange cultural knowledge and introduce younger generations to the traditions that have sustained their identities across generations.
ROYAL DIPLOMACY GAINS MOMENTUM: SULTAN OF SOKOTO, ETSU NUPE VISITED
The visit to the Ooni of Ife follows a series of royal engagements by Da Amakiri Tubo earlier in the week, including visits to His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, and the Etsu Nupe.
The engagements point to a deliberate effort to build relationships between Elem Kalabari and traditional institutions across Nigeria’s major cultural regions as SE DIYE approaches.
At Sokoto, Da Amakiri Tubo personally invited the Sultan to attend the December 19 ceremony in Buguma. The meeting highlighted their longstanding personal relationship, including their shared experiences performing the Hajj pilgrimage, and the importance of friendship between traditional institutions in promoting national cohesion.
The outreach to the Etsu Nupe further extends this effort to strengthen connections with another historic traditional institution.
Taken together, the visits to the Sultan of Sokoto, the Etsu Nupe and Ile-Ife place the forthcoming coronation within a wider framework of inter-kingdom engagement. Rather than treating SE DIYE solely as a local royal celebration, Da Amakiri Tubo is using the occasion to create opportunities for dialogue and lasting relationships across Nigeria.
The initiative also underscores the potential of traditional rulers to promote cooperation across geographical, cultural and religious boundaries without diminishing the distinctive identities of their respective peoples.
SE DIYE: BUGUMA PREPARES FOR A LANDMARK ROYAL CEREMONY
The Ooni’s invitation is part of preparations for SE DIYE, the final coronation and ascension ceremony marking Da Amakiri Tubo’s reign as Amanyanabo of The Source, Torusarama Piri, Elem Kalabari.
Scheduled for Saturday, December 19, 2026, at King Amachree Memorial Hall, Buguma, Rivers State, the ceremony is expected to bring together traditional rulers, political leaders, public officials, cultural figures and other distinguished guests.
For Elem Kalabari, SE DIYE represents an opportunity to reaffirm its royal heritage, celebrate its cultural identity and draw renewed attention to its historical contributions to the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
The participation of monarchs from other parts of the country would also give the ceremony a broader national dimension, demonstrating the value of relationships between traditional institutions in a diverse federation.
Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari’s outreach to the Ooni of Ife, the Sultan of Sokoto and the Etsu Nupe signals an ambition to make the coronation an occasion not only for the celebration of a royal ascension but also for strengthening inter-kingdom relations.
BEYOND CEREMONY: BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS THAT LAST
The next challenge is to translate royal goodwill into sustained engagement.
For Elem Kalabari and Ile-Ife, potential areas of cooperation include cultural and educational exchanges, heritage tourism, historical research, creative enterprise and opportunities for business relationships between their communities.
The significance of the visit, therefore, lies not only in the invitation extended to the Ooni but in the possibilities that may emerge from a closer relationship between the two historic centres.
As the final coronation rites approach, Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari is taking the story of The Source beyond the waterways of the Niger Delta, reaching towards Nigeria’s other historic institutions in pursuit of friendship, cultural recognition and economic cooperation.
From Ile-Ife, revered as the cradle of Yoruba civilisation, to The Source, Elem Kalabari, the royal outreach carries a clear message: Nigeria’s ancient institutions can preserve their distinct histories while building new relationships that contribute to a shared national future.
SE DIYE holds on Saturday, December 19, 2026, at King Amachree Memorial Hall, Buguma, Rivers State.
In the royal encourage of Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari were,
Prince Tonye T.J T. Princewill, Paramount Head of the Queen Elebabene Da Ogo group of houses and satellite communities of Kalabari Kingdom,
Hajia Ramat Dokubo-Asari,
Hajia Halima Dokubo-Asari, Mallam Mustapha Wakama,
Flora Ezeoko, Al Humphrey Onyanabo, The Storyteller,
Prince Melford Princewill, Engr Bashir Lawal and Alhaji Sanni kazeem Adebayo.
By Al Humphrey Onyanabo
