Abonnema, originally known as Nyemoni (which means "covet your own" in the Kalabari dialect of the

Ijaw language The Izon languages (), otherwise known as the Ịjọ languages, are the languages spoken by the Izon people in southern Nigeria. Classification The Ijo languages were traditionally considered a distinct branch of the Niger–Congo family (pe ...

), is a large town in the

Kalabari Kingdom The Kalabari Kingdom, also called Elem Kalabari ( Kalabari: ''New Shipping Port''), is the independent traditional state of the Kalabari people, an Ijaw ethnic group, in the Niger River Delta. It is recognized as a traditional state in what i ...

that was founded in 1882. Its territory was discovered by an expedition of four independent chieftaincy houses from the Kalabari city-state (Elem Kalabari).

History

The founders included Chief Ekine Bob-Manuel who sat on the Owukori Manuel stool and served as the first (Amanyanabo), Chief Young Briggs who sat on the Oruwari Briggs stool, Chief Akpana Georgewill who sat on the Otaji stool, Chief Kaladokubo Standfast Jack who sat on the Iju-Jack stool. These are the four founding houses of Abonnema. Accompanied by these four founding fathers were Chief Opu-Benibo Granville, Chief Orubibi Douglas, Chief Ngbula Blackduke Oweredaba, Chief Ajumogobia Bestman, Chief Young-Jack, Chief Kala-Akpana Don-Pedro and Chief Aribimeari Membere . The Abonnema Kingdom is currently made up of the four various founding houses. The houses are headed by head chiefs, and the entire Abonnema Kingdom is headed by the Amanyanabo and head chief of the Owukori Manuel House, which was chosen based on his chieftaincy stool being the oldest of all the stools upon landing in Abonnema. The incumbent chief on the Owukori Manuel stool is therefore the Amanyanabo and

primus inter pares ''Primus inter pares'' is a Latin phrase meaning first among equals. It is typically used as an honorary title for someone who is formally equal to other members of their group but is accorded unofficial respect, traditionally owing to their sen ...

of the head chiefs. Various titles have been used to describe the ruler of Abonnema, such as"Amanyanabo", "Chairman of the Council of Chiefs" and "Amadabo". The head chief from the Bob-Manuel (Owukori) house has always served as the Amanyanabo of Abonnema. If by reason of his absence due to travel, illness, or death, he is unable to reign, the mantle passes to the next most senior chief. Seniority in Kalabari chieftaincy is only dependent on the date of the chieftaincy stool creation and installation. No amount of wealth or fame can elevate a younger chieftaincy to take precedence over a chieftaincy of an earlier creation. Today, Abonnema's Amanyanabo is Chief Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel, Owukori IX.

Abonnema today

Abonnema grew to become a flourishing major Nigerian seaport during the colonial era. It was host to many European companies. One such company was the

Royal Niger Company The Royal Niger Company was a mercantile company chartered by the British government in the nineteenth century. It was formed in 1879 as the ''United African Company '' and renamed to ''National African Company'' in 1881 and to ''Royal Niger Co ...

, which later metamorphosed into U.A.C. Abonnema is the headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of

Rivers State Rivers State, also known as Rivers, is a state in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria (Old Eastern Region). Formed in 1967, when it was split from the former Eastern Region, Rivers State borders include: Imo to the north, Abia and Akwa Ib ...

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

Notable people

Chief Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel, Owukori IX, Lawyer, Amayanabo of Abonnnema * Henry Odein Ajumogobia, federal minister of Nigeria * Tammy Danagogo, De-General E-Processing Center * A. Igoni Barrett, writer * O.B. Lulu Briggs, philanthropist, statesman and business mogul * Nimi Briggs, academic *

Roseberry Briggs Roseberry Robinson Briggs (1925–2013), sometimes spelled Rosebery, was a Nigerian politician of the National Party of Nigeria. He was the first Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly is th ...

, politician * Disreal Bobmanuel, King of Abonnema * Patrick Dele Cole, ambassador to Brazil * Dumo Lulu-Briggs, business magnate, Philanthropist and politician * Tonye Cole, business magnate and politician * Reynolds Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, politician *

Sumner Dagogo-Jack Chief Sumner Karibi Dagogo-Jack (born 1930) was chairman of the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) appointed by President Sani Abacha, holding office from 1994 to 1998. Dagogo-Jack served as a member of the Humphrey Nwosu electoral ...

* Rowland Sekibo, Politician and philanthropist *

Agbani Darego Chief Ibiagbanidokibubo Asenite 'Agbani' Darego, MFR (born 22 December 1982) is a Nigerian model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss World in 2001. She was the first black African to win Miss World. Early life Abonnema-native Darego was bo ...

, first native African to win

Miss World Miss World is the oldest existing international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Along with Miss Universe, Miss Int ...

* Ibife Alufohai, winner, Miss Valentine International 2010 and Founder of Miss Polo International * Alabo Graham-Douglas, politician *

Bikiya Graham-Douglas Bikiya Graham-Douglas is a Nigerian-born British trained actress and performing artist. She is the daughter of Nigerian politicians Alabo Graham-Douglas and Bolere Elizabeth Ketebu. Graham-Douglas has attended and taken courses at the London Aca ...

Nabo Graham-Douglas Nabo Bekinbo Graham-Douglas, ( 15 July 1926 – 18 December 1983) was a Nigerian Lawyer who became Federal Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in 1972. Early life Graham-Douglas was born on 15 July 1926 in Abonnema in Rivers State. ...

, SAN, Federal Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice

History

Abonnema today

Notable people

References

Further reading