Jogging memories: Why some Nigerians in London set up their own running club

At London's famous Hyde Park at around 11:00 on a crisp Saturday morning, runners gather at some benches - some tall and lean, others broad and sturdy, a few logging into the Strava app, but one common thread unites them - most of them are Nigerians of Igbo extraction.

This is the Ozo running club, formed by Igbo people to celebrate the culture of one of the largest of Nigeria's more than 300 ethnic groups.

"We wanted to create a space where young Igbo people could connect and re-connect to their culture," said Chibueze Odoemene, who co-founded the club with Emeka Atumonyogo, and Chigo Ogbonna.

In less than three months, the Ozo running club already has more than 300 members.

This rapid growth speaks not only to the deep desire for community, but to the significant boom of social running clubs in recent years.

Strava, the popular running app, said there had been a 59% increase in running club participation globally this year.

But for the Ozo running club, the weekly Saturday meets aren't simply about running, pace or fitness - it's a place where strangers become family.

Even as the runners wait to join their respective speed groups - fast, medium, slow, and walking pace - a buzz and energy cuts through the calm of the park as Afrobeats music pulses from a nearby speaker.

“Igbo kwenu!” shouts Mr Odoemene, his voice booming across the park to gather everyone’s attention.

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

“Igbo kwezo!” he calls out again, his tone both commanding and warm.

Once more, a unified “Eyy” follows, resonating among the runners and setting the tone for the morning.

This traditional Igbo call-and-response is more than a greeting - it’s a moment of pride, a reminder of shared roots and identity that runs as deep as their commitment to each other and the weekly run.

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

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

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

“If people meet the love of their lives, that's amazing, but the most important part for us is to build a fun community,” said Mr Odoemene.

These words capture - in the view of many Igbos - a history of marginalisation that continues to resonate.

For them, this history underscores a deeper purpose - the desire to make their mark and amplify Igbo representation.

Uzoma Ehziem, 34, who moved to the UK almost two decades ago, said he does not feel Igbo culture gets the attention it deserves.

He is one of the club's pacers and believes that Yoruba culture dominates what many in the UK and, globally, think of as "Nigerian".

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

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

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

"If you tell someone you are Nigerian, the first thing someone will ask is: 'Are you Yoruba?'" Mr Ehziem said.

The club does not only organise running sessions. It has added monthly social outings for members of the community - from karaoke to dodgeball sessions and even an Igbo gala that will take place next year.

But for now the weekly running clubs have become a source of joy and camaraderie for members.

As the run winds down and all the group meet at the benches again, Mr Odoemene rounds up the runners with the same chant of unity.

Old friends catch up and new friends say hello.

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