AMANYANABO DOKUBO-ASARI SEEKS CLOSER TIES WITH ETSU NUPE, OLUWO OF IWOLAND | Blissful Affairs Online
By; Al Humphrey Onyanabo
Old friendships, cherished memories and mutual admiration underpin Elem Kalabari monarch’s drive to build stronger cultural and economic relationships ahead of SE DIYE
As preparations gather momentum for SE DIYE, the final coronation rites of Da Amakiri Tubo, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, Dabaye Amakiri 1, Amakiri Ekpeke, Sebromabo. The Amanyanabo of The Chiefdom and Principalities of The Source, Elem Kalabari, Torusarama Piri, the monarch is strengthening relationships with traditional rulers whose friendships and shared histories transcend geographical and cultural boundaries.
Among these relationships are his longstanding friendship with
His Royal Majesty Alhaji (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar, CFR, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers.
and his mutual respect and admiration for His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwoland.
The engagements form part of a wider effort to deepen cultural understanding, preserve historical connections and explore opportunities for economic cooperation between Elem Kalabari and other historic traditional institutions in Nigeria.
SE DIYE, scheduled for Saturday, December 19, 2026, at King Amachree Memorial Hall, Buguma, Rivers State, will mark the final coronation and ascension ceremony associated with Da Amakiri Tubo’s reign as Amanyanabo of The Chiefdom and Principalities of The Source, Elem Kalabari, Torusarama Piri
A FRIENDSHIP WITH ROOTS IN SHARED MEMORIES
For Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari and the Etsu Nupe, the relationship is built on an established personal friendship and memories accumulated over the years.
The two men share a history of friendship that gives their engagement a personal dimension beyond the formal relationship between traditional institutions. Their connection provides a foundation for renewed interaction between Elem Kalabari and the Nupe Kingdom, with opportunities to strengthen cultural ties and explore areas of common interest.
As SE DIYE approaches, the invitation to the Etsu Nupe represents an opportunity to celebrate that friendship while bringing greater attention to the heritage of The Source, Elem Kalabari, Torusarama Piri.
The relationship also highlights the enduring value of personal connections between traditional rulers. Such friendships can create avenues for dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation between communities whose histories and cultural experiences differ but whose interests may converge in areas such as heritage preservation, education, tourism and economic development.
For Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari, the forthcoming coronation provides an appropriate occasion to renew these bonds and welcome longstanding friends to Buguma for a defining moment in the history of his reign.
DA AMAKIRI TUBO AND THE OLUWO: MUTUAL RESPECT AND ADMIRATION
His relationship with the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, carries another important dimension: mutual respect and admiration between two natural leaders.
The relationship is reinforced by Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari’s personal connection with Iwo, where he spent time among Muslim families during his growing-up years. Those formative experiences left him with fond memories of the people, their hospitality and the relationships he developed within the community.
His connection to Iwo is therefore not merely an association between a Niger Delta monarch and a Yoruba traditional ruler. It also reflects personal memories and experiences that have remained meaningful to him over the years.
That background provides a human dimension to the relationship between the Amanyanabo of The Source and the Oluwo of Iwoland. It reflects the ways in which friendships, childhood experiences and relationships across cultural and religious communities can endure long after the circumstances in which they were formed.
The mutual respect between the two monarchs offers a basis for stronger engagement between Elem Kalabari and Iwo, particularly in cultural exchange, historical documentation, community relations and opportunities for economic cooperation.
As the final coronation rites approach, the invitation to the Oluwo to attend SE DIYE would provide an opportunity to celebrate their relationship and explore ways to translate their mutual admiration into a broader connection between their respective communities.
FROM PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP TO KINGDOM-TO-KINGDOM RELATIONS
The relationships with the Etsu Nupe and the Oluwo of Iwoland illustrate an important aspect of Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari’s engagement with Nigeria’s traditional institutions: the recognition that enduring cooperation often begins with personal trust and mutual respect.
Traditional institutions are custodians of cultural identity, historical memory and inherited systems of leadership. Their relationships can support the preservation of indigenous knowledge while creating opportunities for dialogue and collaboration across geographical, ethnic and religious boundaries.
SE DIYE: A GATHERING OF FRIENDS AND TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS
The forthcoming SE DIYE ceremony provides the immediate platform for this renewed engagement.
Scheduled for December 19, 2026, at King Amachree Memorial Hall, Buguma, the event will mark the final coronation and ascension ceremony associated with Da Amakiri Tubo’s reign as Amanyanabo of The Source, Elem Kalabari, Torusarama Piri.
The monarch has also extended his outreach to other historic royal institutions, including the Sultan of Sokoto, the Ooni of Ife as part of efforts to build stronger relationships across Nigeria.
These engagements are bringing wider attention to Elem Kalabari’s royal heritage and the significance of The Source within the history and identity of the Kalabari people.
The expected gathering of traditional rulers, government representatives, cultural leaders and other distinguished guests will provide an opportunity to celebrate that heritage and encourage further interaction among Nigeria’s traditional institutions.
For Amanyanabo Dokubo-Asari , the ceremony is both a defining moment in his royal journey and an opportunity to welcome friends whose relationships with him have been shaped by years of personal interaction, shared experiences and mutual regard.
A LEGACY THAT LOOKS BEYOND THE THRONE
The importance of these relationships extends beyond the immediate preparations for SE DIYE.
At a time when cultural preservation and economic development are important concerns for communities across Nigeria, stronger relationships between traditional institutions can create opportunities to connect heritage with tourism, education, investment and enterprise.
Elem Kalabari’s maritime history and present day status as a major energy hub offers a distinctive foundation for engagement with communities across the country. Nupe and Iwo, with their own histories and cultural institutions, provide opportunities for meaningful exchange and cooperation.
SE DIYE holds on Saturday, December 19, 2026, at King Amachree Memorial Hall, Buguma, Rivers State.
