CELEBRATING THE DEAD IN KALABARI LAND
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Celebrating the Dead is intended not only to bring to the world’s attention the way the Kalabari people honor their dead, but also to unearth the origin of the Kalabari nation, which is lost to nearly all of the citizens – old and young - who are ignorant of their origin. The foundation of this great people, like many other African tribes, is lacking in written form, and so, almost all sons and daughters of their community do not know their ancestral history. In Kalabari land, here and there in songs, expressions, and folk-tales, one hears of some strange names, whose identities are hidden away in very few written forms in university archives; or mere expressions from elderly people and names of living persons. Celebrating The Dead is intended to share this information with the new generation of the Kalabari people, many of whom will love to understand the true meaning of the names of their fore-fathers, and where they came from.
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About the Book
Celebrating the Dead is intended not only to bring to the world’s attention the way the Kalabari people honor their dead, but also to unearth the origin of the Kalabari nation, which is lost to nearly all of the citizens – old and young - who are ignorant of their origin. The foundation of this great people, like many other African tribes, is lacking in written form, and so, almost all sons and daughters of their community do not know their ancestral history. In Kalabari land, here and there in songs, expressions, and folk-tales, one hears of some strange names, whose identities are hidden away in very few written forms in university archives; or mere expressions from elderly people and names of living persons. Celebrating The Dead is intended to share this information with the new generation of the Kalabari people, many of whom will love to understand the true meaning of the names of their fore-fathers, and where they came from.
About the Author
Sonny O. Braide is an avid lover of culture and writing, and has been in these two professions for over 50 years. He was born into culture, but has only just now decided, in answer to many prompting from loved ones and friends, to publish some of his writings in book form. He retired from the Diplomatic Service, after serving the Nigerian government in North America, Europe, Africa, and South-East-Asia, for over 20 years, and moving to the United Nations field service for about four years, in civil-war-torn Liberia. Mr. Braide hailed from Bakana, Kalabari in the present-day Rivers State of Nigeria. He tasted Western education in that town’s Christ Army Church Primary School, and worked his way up. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science. In addition, he holds several professional certificates and diplomas in Computer Science, Secretarial Science, Sales, Customer Care, and Clinical Medical Care. Before joining the Foreign Service, he was a very active performing artiste in the Kalabari tradition, and participated fully in the cultural activities of his native land – and Ijaw ethnic tradition. Bringing this culture to the limelight in the Nigerian stage since 1958, Mr. Braide was part of the delegation to the First All African Festival of Arts and Culture which took place in Algiers, Algeria in 1969, winning for the country it’s only title – a bronze medal. He now lives in El Paso, Texas with his family. Mr. Braide can be reached by email at: Sobraide@yahoo.com.