London’s Ozo Running Club: Fostering Igbo Culture and Community

On a clear Saturday morning, around 11:00, individuals gather at benches in London’s renowned Hyde Park. Among these runners, who vary in build and some of whom are logging into the Strava app, a shared characteristic is evident: most are Nigerians of Igbo heritage. This assembly represents the Ozo running club, established by Igbo people with the aim of celebrating the culture of one of Nigeria’s more than 300 major ethnic groups. Chibueze Odoemene, who co-founded the club alongside Emeka Atumonyogo and Chigo Ogbonna, stated, “We wanted to create a space where young Igbo people could connect and re-connect to their culture.” In under three months, the Ozo running club has already attracted over 300 members. This rapid expansion highlights not only a strong desire for community but also the significant rise of social running clubs in recent years. Strava, a widely used running application, reported a 59% increase in global running club participation this year. However, for the Ozo running club, the weekly Saturday gatherings extend beyond running, pace, or physical fitness, serving as a venue where acquaintances develop into a close-knit group. As participants await their respective speed groups—fast, medium, slow, and walking pace—a vibrant atmosphere permeates the park, with Afrobeats music emanating from a nearby speaker. “Igbo kwenu!” Mr Odoemene exclaims, his voice resonating across the park to capture everyone’s attention. The group collectively responds with a deep, echoing “Eyy.” “Igbo kwezo!” he calls out once more, his tone both authoritative and welcoming. Again, a unified “Eyy” follows, reverberating among the runners and establishing the mood for the morning. This traditional Igbo call-and-response is more than a simple greeting; it signifies a moment of pride, a reminder of shared origins and identity that is as profound as their dedication to one another and to the weekly run. Mr Odoemene explained, “The chant is used as a call of unity, community, and love among all Igbo peoples.” Running clubs such as Ozo, which are frequently free, have become venues for individuals to forge new friendships, build a community, and potentially encounter future partners. The co-founders, who met at other Igbo social gatherings, find humor in the idea of romantic relationships flourishing within their club. Mr Odoemene remarked, “If people meet the love of their lives, that’s amazing, but the most important part for us is to build a fun community.” For Francesca Ngozi Ezennolim, 21, the prospect of romance was not the reason she traveled approximately 64km (40 miles) from Reading to London on a Saturday morning, but rather the promise of community. She mentioned, “I don’t have a lot of Igbo friends,” adding, “I do have a lot of Nigerian friends – but it’s hard to find Igbo friends.” Dressed in black athletic attire, she conveyed to the BBC her hope that the running club would address this void in her life. She is not alone in this sentiment. Jennifer Iwuamadi, 23, a newcomer to the club, expressed similar feelings. She stated, “It’s so important to come to an Igbo run club because we get to socialise with our brothers and sisters. It’s a great way to get fit and network.” Although the Igbos constitute one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups and are prominent in the diaspora, many perceive their culture as being endangered. In 2006, the United Nations cultural organisation (Unesco) projected that the Igbo language would become extinct by 2025. However, in the UK, their population has increased over the past decade, rising from approximately 8,000 to 11,000, according to the Office for National Statistics. In contrast, the number of Yoruba speakers, another primary language in southern Nigeria, decreased from 15,000 to 10,000 during the same period. Nevertheless, some young Igbo individuals informed the BBC that they have found it challenging to form friendships outside their parents’ community. Ms Ezennolim told the BBC, “I have so many Yoruba friends, but I want to meet people from my tribe.” Mr Odoemene commented, “When people think about Nigerians, they don’t really think about Igbo. Nigeria is not just one piece, it’s multiple pieces.” Is it divisive, however, to operate a running club centered on Igbo culture? The founders emphatically disagree. Mr Atumonyogo stated, “You don’t have to be Igbo to come to the run club.” He further noted that individuals from Iran, Italy, and the Caribbean have participated in their sessions, and they encourage others to join, learn about Igbo culture, ask questions, and immerse themselves in the lively atmosphere. Yet, beneath the joy and fellowship, a more somber aspect of the Igbo narrative exists. In Nigeria, many still associate the Igbos with the 1967-70 Biafran war, which resulted in an estimated one million fatalities after Igbo leaders in the south-east initiated a movement to secede from the rest of the nation. Decades later, the repercussions of the war persist, influencing to some extent how Igbo people are perceived, both domestically and internationally. In his book The Trouble with Nigeria, the late Chinua Achebe, a renowned Nigerian author of Igbo descent, wrote: “Nigerians will probably achieve consensus on no other matter than their common resentment of the Igbo.” These remarks, in the opinion of many Igbos, encapsulate a history of marginalization that continues to resonate. For them, this history underscores a deeper objective: the ambition to leave their mark and enhance Igbo representation. Uzoma Ehziem, 34, who relocated to the UK nearly two decades ago, expressed that he believes Igbo culture does not receive adequate attention. As one of the club’s pacers, he contends that Yoruba culture predominantly shapes what many in the UK, and globally, consider “Nigerian.” From the iconic Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti to the first African Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, and contemporary artists like Davido, Ayra Starr, and Tems, numerous prominent figures in Nigerian pop culture are Yoruba. Literature stands as an exception, where Achebe, along with contemporary Igbo authors such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Akwaeke Emezi, have achieved international acclaim. Many members of the running club feel that the world should be more informed about the Igbo people. Mr Ehziem remarked, “If you tell someone you are Nigerian, the first thing someone will ask is: ‘Are you Yoruba?'” The club’s activities extend beyond running sessions. It has introduced monthly social gatherings for community members, ranging from karaoke and dodgeball sessions to an Igbo gala scheduled for next year. For now, however, the weekly running clubs serve as a source of happiness and camaraderie for participants. As the run concludes and all groups reconvene at the benches, Mr Odoemene gathers the runners with the same unifying chant. Old acquaintances reconnect, and new friendships begin. People exchange contact information, and as they depart, the commitment to meet again next Saturday serves as a reminder that this is not merely a fleeting encounter but the genesis of enduring relationships founded on community and cultural pride. Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.