In the rolling woodlands near Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders, a peculiar legal case unfolded that has drawn both fascination and controversy. A self-styled “African tribe,” calling themselves the Kingdom of Kubala, had set up camp on privately-owned land, declaring it their ancestral right.
Their claim? That the territory was “stolen” from their forebears centuries ago and that, by reclaiming it, they were restoring a spiritual and cultural legacy some 400 years in the making.
But their occupation quickly ran into conflict with Scottish law and local governance. The council insisted the group was trespassing and breaking the law by camping without permission. Despite being instructed to leave, the group refused. The standoff eventually reached the courts, where Sheriff Peter Paterson issued a formal eviction order.
The Kingdom That Never Was?
The “Kingdom of Kubala” was described by its members as more than a camp — it was a sovereign entity with its own cultural identity, rules, and symbolism. Intent on making a statement about dispossession and indigenous rights, the group saw their presence in Jedburgh as not merely physical but symbolic of a centuries-long struggle against colonial displacements.
To some onlookers, their claims seemed troublingly disconnected from Scottish history. To others, it was a radical, if unconventional, reminder of how deeply questions of land, ancestry, and ownership can resonate in today’s world.
The Court’s Verdict
The sheriff court cut through the philosophy with stark clarity: private land is subject to Scottish law, and the council’s responsibility is to enforce it. With the eviction order, the group was required to immediately vacate the woodland, formalising what the council had already demanded.
In handing down his decision, Sheriff Paterson underscored that rights to historical grievance, however heartfelt, cannot override property laws in a modern state.
Wider Conversation: Land and Belonging
While the eviction itself may look like a small, isolated incident, it taps into broader debates:
- Who has the right to claim land, and on what basis?
- How do historical narratives of dispossession — whether in Africa, Scotland, or elsewhere — find relevance in today’s societies?
- What does sovereignty mean in a world where borders are legally rigid, but ancestral and cultural identities remain fluid?
The Aftermath
For the Kingdom of Kubala, eviction may mark the end of their physical stand in Jedburgh — but perhaps not their struggle to be heard. Their unusual act of defiance, though unsuccessful in practice, has sparked conversations about land justice and cultural identity that stretch far beyond the Scottish Borders.
As for the locals in Jedburgh, the sight of a self-proclaimed African monarchy setting up camp in their woodlands may fade into memory. Yet the questions it raised — of belonging, legitimacy, and history — are unlikely to disappear so quickly.
✨ Takeaway: The “Kingdom of Kubala” eviction shows how land is never just soil or property. It’s a mirror of history, culture, and contested meanings — even, sometimes, in the most unexpected corners of rural Scotland.
