How an Igbo Run Club Built Community in London

Making my way through Hyde Park in London, I spot clusters of runners on their Saturday morning workouts. I look for theOzo Run Club — an Igbo-centred running community that has obtained a space within the 350-acre land — until a familiar banner catches my attention at the Speakers' Corner Cafe. I've found them.

Founded in July 2024, the Ozo Run Club is a U.K.-based community created to unite Igbo people, an ethnic group native to Southeastern Nigeria. "The main thing for us was consistency," co-founder Emeka Atumonyogo tells OkayAfrica. "We realized there weren't opportunities for young Igbo people in London to connect and build lasting bonds."

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Beyond a run club

When Odoemene lifts the megaphone to welcome new members and celebrate individual progress, it becomes clear this is more than just a fitness group. It's a space where culture and identity flourish, lifelong friendships take root, and members maintain a vital connection to their Nigerian heritage.

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"We try different ways to incorporate our culture into all our sessions," Odoemene tells OkayAfrica. "During warm-ups and cool-downs, we count in Igbo instead of English. We play Igbo music throughout the day and take dancing breaks during our runs. Beyond running, we host Igbo quiz nights, dance-offs, and karaoke sessions – giving people opportunities to connect, build friendships, and step closer to their culture."

"Since starting the run club, many people have picked up Igbo lessons," Atumonyogo adds. "Members are brushing up on the language, and it's sparked further interest in the culture. People want to know more about our traditions as Igbo people."

While running forms the core of their activities, the community extends far beyond their Saturday sessions. The group organizes regular social events to help members connect in a more relaxed setting. "We have monthly socials where people come together for games nights or quiz nights," Atumonyogo says. "One of our first gatherings was karaoke and bowling, which was amazing. Everyone sang — it wasn't expected. Loads of beautiful voices."

A typical Saturday for the run-club

Each weekend, members gather at Hyde Park, where they split into four pace groups: fast, medium, slow and walking. These groups trace different routes around the park's perimeter, with the faster groups covering a full 5k (3.1 miles) while the slower groups complete a more modest 3.45k (2.14 miles).

Even in the 5-degree weather, the runners sweat and gasp for air after an hour-long run, returning to the cafe in pairs and small groups and then grabbing water before settling on the grass for mobility exercises to cool down. The session culminates in a moment that captures the club's essence: everyone gathers for photos while Atumonyogo leads their traditional salute – "Igbo kwenu!" – met with an enthusiastic "eh!" from the group.

Embracing diversity beyond the Igbo community

Though rooted in Igbo culture, the club welcomes members from all backgrounds. Their weekly runs draw a diverse crowd, including Yoruba, Caribbean, Congolese, Ghanaian, Irish, Iranian and Italian participants. This inclusivity has created powerful moments of connection.

"We had a member from the U.S. who arrived knowing no one in the U.K. She found friends to celebrate her birthday with through our community," Odoemene shares. "A woman from Jamaica who came by herself, and after feeling that strong sense of community, she started attending regularly and felt like she'd found a place to belong."

A community like this enables the non-British population to feel a sense of belonging outside their home country, especially migrants who seek social connections and friendships in a new environment. According toresearch by the University of Oxford in 2020, African migrants are more likely to experience social isolation compared to those born in the U.K.

"One member had just moved from Nigeria and struggled to meet other Africans, but joining Ozo made him feel like he was back home," Odoemene says. "We're proud and humbled by stories like these. It feels so good to know that Ozo isn't just about running — it's a space where people connect and feel seen. It's not just the Igbo community in the U.K. or the Nigerian community in the U.K., but the Black community here."

Building connections in the UK for membership growth

For the co-founders, expanding the club's reach through networking is crucial for the growth of their community. "There are different Igbo organizations in the U.K., so we try to connect with them," Odoemene explains."We find out who runs those organizations, spread the word through their memberships there, and use our social media heavily. We also have runners who travel from Hull, Windsor, Liverpool, the USA, Ireland and the Netherlands."

At the end of each run, prospective members can scan a QR code to join. Additionally, there is a WhatsApp group with over 300 participants, and anyone interested in joining can fill out a form. Donations, sponsorships and partnerships are also ways the community receives support from its members.

Challenges of hosting an ethnic run club in London 

While it is exciting to attend culturally-focused events free of charge, the hosts sustain the community through expenses from their income. "We have full-time jobs, and investing in this out of our pockets has been challenging. But we have a dedicated team that is fully committed and does everything it can to make things happen," Odoemene says.

One of their goals is to attract more sponsorships and partners to increase investment in their community. This will allow them to continue their mission of preserving a cultural space for Igbo people in the U.K. and the wider African diaspora.

Advice for other culturally focused fitness groups

The co-founders at Ozo Run Club believe that putting the community at the core of everything makes it easy to lose focus on what matters. "Don't lose focus," Atumonyogo advises. "There'll be a lot of people management, and you'll encounter a variety of people — different characters — so you just have to be prepared for that."

"It's always important to ask, 'Why did we start this? Who does this benefit?'" Odoemene adds. "We see this as a duty to our heritage – to keep our language and culture alive.