𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗯𝗼-𝗜𝗷𝗮𝘄 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗯𝗼-𝗜𝗯𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻---𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺. 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗦.𝗘 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀-------- 𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐬, 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐛𝐨-𝐈𝐣𝐚𝐰 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮, 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮.

Pharmacist and public Affairs commentator, Seiosuwowei Ebimagba Allen, has appealed to the organisers of the forthcoming Arogbo-Ibe Day Celebration to include a dedicated session for oral storytelling and historical narration in the official programme of events.

Allen made the appeal in an open letter addressed to the organisers and committee members of the annual cultural festival, stressing that preserving the authentic history of the Arogbo-Ijaw Kingdom is essential to safeguarding the identity and heritage of future generations.

According to him, while the annual celebration has continued to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Arogbo-Ijaw people through traditional attire, dances, music, cuisine, Ogele, Ibisou, Aku Tinghin and other cultural displays, it has consistently failed to provide a platform for elders—the custodians of the kingdom's history and traditions—to pass down authentic historical accounts to younger generations.

Allen lamented that many young Arogbo sons and daughters are becoming increasingly unaware of the struggles, migrations, sacrifices, victories, heroes, traditions and defining moments that shaped the kingdom, warning that such a gap could expose the community's history to distortion and misinformation.

He noted that this was not his first appeal, revealing that he had made a similar public recommendation during preparations for last year's celebration, but it was not implemented.

The pharmacist maintained that oral tradition remains one of the oldest and most reliable methods of preserving history across civilizations, urging the organising committee to allocate a session where respected elders, historians, traditional rulers and custodians of Arogbo heritage would recount the authentic story of the kingdom.

Allen argued that such an initiative would educate children and youths, inspire researchers and writers, and encourage the documentation of the kingdom's history in books, journals and documentaries.

He further warned that the increasing spread of misleading narratives and false claims about the history and identity of the Arogbo-Ijaw people on social media underscores the need for authentic historical education during the annual celebration.

The open letter reads in full:

An Open Letter to the Organisers and Committee Members of the Forthcoming Arogbo Ijaw Ibe Day Celebration

Dear Esteemed Organisers and Committee Members,

I write this open letter to you as a proud son of the Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom, one whose heart is deeply rooted in, and profoundly devoted to, the preservation, promotion, and celebration of our rich Ijaw heritage, customs, and traditions. I was born and raised within this great kingdom, and from my earliest years until this present moment, I have remained among the many passionate sons of Arogbo who have consistently dedicated themselves to showcasing, promoting, and defending our cultural identity wherever the opportunity presents itself.

First and foremost, I wish to sincerely appreciate your unwavering commitment and the countless sacrifices you continue to make in ensuring the successful organisation of the annual Arogbo Ijaw Ibe Day celebration. Over the years, this festival has grown into one of the most significant cultural gatherings within our kingdom, bringing together sons and daughters of Arogbo from across Nigeria and overseas. It has become a remarkable platform for displaying our colourful traditional attire, cultural dances, music, cuisine, Ogele, Ibisou, Aku Tinghin, and other cherished aspects of our identity.

However, despite these commendable achievements, I believe there remains one indispensable component that has been consistently overlooked since the inception of this great celebration. While we have diligently organised traditional displays, cultural processions, masquerade performances, and numerous entertaining activities, we have unfortunately failed to create a dedicated programme through which our elders—the custodians of our history, wisdom, and collective memory—can narrate the authentic story of our kingdom to the younger generation.

Across every great civilisation, tribe, and culture throughout the world, oral tradition remains one of the most sacred instruments for preserving history and identity. Before books were written and archives established, history was preserved through storytelling. Elders gathered the younger generation around them and recounted the victories, struggles, migrations, sacrifices, heroes, traditions, and defining moments that shaped their people. That timeless tradition should never be allowed to disappear within the Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom.

Perhaps this is my second public appeal on this very subject. Last year, I wrote an extensive open letter passionately advocating that storytelling and historical enlightenment be incorporated into the official programme of the Arogbo Ijaw Ibe Day celebration. Unfortunately, that recommendation was not implemented. Nevertheless, because I sincerely believe this matter concerns the preservation of our identity rather than personal opinion, I consider it necessary to respectfully make this appeal once again.

No matter how modernised we become, no matter how sophisticated our celebrations appear, and no matter how much we seek to popularise this annual festival before the outside world, we cannot erase or diminish the historical foundation upon which the Arogbo Ijaw Ibe Day celebration was established. This celebration is, fundamentally, a commemoration of victory. It is a celebration of our resilience, our survival, our courage, and the triumphs of our people. That historical truth must continue to be preserved and transmitted from one generation to another exactly as it happened.

Whether certain historical narratives may make some individuals uncomfortable or not should never determine whether they are told. History is not written to satisfy emotions; it is preserved to safeguard truth. Every people possess the legitimate right to preserve and recount their own history authentically, honestly, and without unnecessary alteration. Our responsibility is not to rewrite history to suit contemporary sentiments but to preserve it faithfully for posterity.

I strongly believe that allocating even a single session during the celebration for our respected elders, historians, traditional rulers, and knowledgeable custodians of our heritage to narrate the story of the Arogbo Kingdom would become one of the most valuable additions to the festival. Such a session would educate our children, enlighten our youths, inspire future researchers, and encourage writers among us to document these invaluable narratives in books, journals, documentaries, and other permanent records. That is precisely how enduring civilisations preserve their heritage and ensure that their identity is never lost.

As preparations continue for this year's Arogbo Ijaw Ibe Day celebration, I humbly and passionately appeal to the organising committee to give serious consideration to incorporating this historical storytelling session into the official programme. Our history is far too precious to be neglected. Our heritage is far too valuable to be forgotten. Our younger generation deserves to understand where they came from, the sacrifices made by their ancestors, and the significance of the celebration they proudly participate in each year.

Today, we witness countless misleading narratives, distortions, and unfounded claims circulating across various social media platforms concerning our history and identity. If our authentic history were consistently taught and shared during every Arogbo Ijaw Ibe Day celebration, many of these misconceptions would naturally lose credibility because our people would already possess a sound understanding of the truth.

History preserved becomes identity protected. History forgotten becomes identity endangered. Let us, therefore, seize this opportunity to strengthen the intellectual and cultural foundation of future generations by ensuring that the story of Arogbo is told by those who know it best.

May Almighty God grant every member of this organising committee the wisdom, understanding, strength, and divine guidance to organise an even more memorable, impactful, and historically significant Arogbo Ijaw Ibe Day celebration this year.

May God continue to bless the Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom, preserve our cherished heritage, and unite all her sons and daughters in peace, progress, and prosperity.

God bless the Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom.

Yours faithfully,

Pharm. Allen S.E.

A Proud Son of the Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom