Nigerian Igbos form a running club in the UK to strengthen ties

In London's famous Hyde Park at around 11:00 on a sweltering Saturday morning, runners gather at some benches – some tall and lean, others broad and strong. A few are logged into the Strava app, but there is one common thread that unites them – Most of them are Nigerians of Igbo origin.

This is the Ozo Running Club, created by the Igbo people to celebrate the culture of one of Nigeria's largest ethnic groups of over 300.

“We wanted to create a space where Igbo youth can connect and reconnect with their culture,” said Chibueze Odumeni, who co-founded the club with Emeka Atomunyogo and Chigo Ogbonna.

In less than three months, the Ozo Running Club had more than 300 members.

This is fast The growth indicates not only a deep desire for community, but also the huge boom in social running clubs in recent years.

Stravaa popular running app, reported that there was a 59% increase in participation in running clubs globally this year.

But for the Ozo Running Club, weekly Saturday meetings aren't just about running, speed or fitness — they're a place where strangers become family.

Even as runners wait to join their speed groups—fast, medium, slow, and walking speed—the buzz and energy pierce the quiet of the park while Afrobeats music pulsates from a nearby speaker.

“Igbo kweno!” Mr. Odumeni shouts, his voice rising through the garden attracting everyone's attention.

The group responds in unison with a low, quiet “Eyy.”

“Igbo kwezo!” He calls again, his tone commanding and warm.

Once again, this is followed by the unified “Eyy” sound, which resonates among the runners and sets the tone for the morning.

This traditional Igbo call and response is more than just a greeting – it's a proud moment, a reminder of roots and a shared identity that runs as deep as their commitment to each other and the weekly race.

“The chant is being used as a call for unity, community and love among all Igbo peoples,” Mr. Odumeni said.

Running clubs like Ozo, which are often free, have become spaces for people to make new friends, create community, and maybe even meet future partners.

The co-founders, who have met at other Igbo social events, laugh at the prospect of a romance blossoming in their club.

“If people meet the love of their life, that's amazing, but the most important part for us is building a fun community,” Mr Odumeni said.

to Francesca Ngozi Ezenoleme, 21 It wasn't the prospect of romance that prompted her to come all the way from Reading, about 64 kilometers (40 miles) from London, on Saturday morning, but the promise of community.

“I don't have a lot of Igbo friends,” she said. “I have a lot of Nigerian friends — but Igbo friends are hard to find.”

Wearing a black tracksuit, she told the BBC that she hopes the running club will fill this gap in her life.

And she is not alone.

Jennifer Iwamadi, 23, who joined the club for the first time, expressed similar sentiments.

“It is very important that we come to an Igbo-run club because we socialize with our brothers and sisters. It is a great way to get fit and socialize,” she said.

Although the Igbo are one of Nigeria's largest ethnic groups and have a prominent status in the diaspora, many feel their culture is under threat. In 2006, the United Nations Cultural Organization (UNESCO) predicted that the Igbo language would become extinct by 2025.

However, in the UK, their numbers have risen over the past decade – from around 8,000 to 11,000, according to the Office for National Statistics.

In contrast, the number of speakers of Yoruba, the other major language in southern Nigeria, declined from 15,000 to 10,000 over the same period.

However, some Igbo youth told the BBC that they find it difficult to make friends outside their parents' community.

“I have a lot of Yoruba friends, but I want to meet people from my tribe,” Ezenoleme told the BBC.

“When people think of Nigerians, they don't really think of Igbo. Nigeria is not just one piece, it is many pieces,” Mr Odumeni said.

But isn't it controversial to have a running club that focuses on Igbo culture?

The founders shake their heads vigorously.

“You don't have to be Igbo to come to the running club,” Mr Atomunyogu said.

He adds that people from Iran, Italy and the Caribbean have attended their sessions – and they encourage others to join in, learn about Igbo culture, ask questions and immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere.

However, beneath the joy and camaraderie, there is a dark side to the Igbo story.

In Nigeria, many people still link the Igbo tribe to the 1967-1970 Biafran War, which left about a million people dead after Igbo leaders in the southeast led a campaign to secede from the rest of the country.

Decades later, the wounds of war are still raw, and to some extent still affect how the Igbo people are viewed, both at home and abroad.

In his book The Trouble with Nigeria, the late Chinua Achebe, one of Nigeria's most famous authors, an Igbo, said: “It is likely that Nigerians will never reach a consensus on any matter other than their shared dissatisfaction with the Igbo.”

These words embody – in the eyes of many Igbo – a history of marginalization that continues to resonate.

For them, this history highlights a deeper purpose: the desire to make their mark and promote Igbo representation.

Uzoma Ehzeem, 34, who moved to the UK nearly two decades ago, said he did not feel Igbo culture was getting the attention it deserved.

He is a club goer and believes Yoruba culture dominates what many in the UK and globally think of as “Nigerian”.

From legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti to the first African Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, and contemporary stars like Davido, Aira Star and Tems, many of the most prominent figures in Nigerian popular culture are Yoruba.

The exception is literature, where Achebe and contemporary Igbo authors such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Akwike Emezi have gained international fame.

Many in the running club feel that the world should know more about the Igbo people.

“If you tell someone you are Nigerian, the first thing they will ask is: ‘Are you Yoruba?’” Ehzeem said.

The club doesn't just organize running sessions. She has added monthly social outings for community members — from karaoke to dodgeball sessions and even an Igbo party that will be held next year.

But for now, the weekly running clubs are a source of joy and camaraderie for members.

As the race ended and the entire group gathered on the benches once again, Mr. Odomin gathered the runners together with the same hymn of unity.

Old friends are catching up and new friends are saying hello.

People exchange phone numbers, and when they part, the promise to meet again next Saturday serves as a reminder that this is not just a fleeting encounter but the beginning of lasting relationships rooted in community and cultural pride.