History of the Itsekiris
HISTORY OF ITSEKIRI, WARRI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, DELTA STATE
The Itsekiris are a peculiar and unique people in the Nigerian Niger Delta. They have inhabited their homeland, which now constitutes the Warri Local Government Areas of Delta State, Nigeria, for centuries. The Itsekiris have rich traditional and cultural practices. In the 15th century, the early Itsekiris adopted a prince (Ginuwa) from the kingdom of Benin as a monarch, and quickly united into a kingdom under his rule. Prior to this time, the Itsekiris lived independently in different communities that included Irigbo, Ureju, Omadino and Ugborodo. Traditionally fishermen and traders, the Itsekiris were the first in the region to make contact with the Portuguese traders. These interactions in the 16th century led to the Itsekiris becoming primarily Roman Catholic. The Itsekiris primarily lived in a society that was governed by a monarch (the Olu) and council of chiefs who form the nobility or aristocracy. The current is Ogiame Atuwase II, who was crowned at an impressive ceremony in 1987. Itsekiri itself was organised along the lines of an upper class made up of the royal family and aristocracy.
Various Perspectives on the History of Itsekiri.
There are various perspectives on the history of Itsekiri. One version says that they descended from the most easterly of the Yoruba Kings’ subjects, made up of runaway slaves, law breakers, etc. Inter-married with adjoining tribes; they sometimes say Jekri means a coward, a man who would not fight and therefore who was expelled from their tribe…’’.Another perspective is that when the Portuguese came to Benin City, one of the leaders’ sons, a half-caste, was sent to Warri, or as the people themselves name the town, Jekri, and there a house was built for him. By means of the Juju of the King of Benin, he was declared King of that part of delta; he brought Yoruba wives with him and was the founder of the Itsekiri nation. A third perspective is like a mixture of
The Itsekiris are a peculiar and unique people in the Nigerian Niger Delta. They have inhabited their homeland, which now constitutes the Warri Local Government Areas of Delta State, Nigeria, for centuries. The Itsekiris have rich traditional and cultural practices. In the 15th century, the early Itsekiris adopted a prince (Ginuwa) from the kingdom of Benin as a monarch, and quickly united into a kingdom under his rule. Prior to this time, the Itsekiris lived independently in different communities that included Irigbo, Ureju, Omadino and Ugborodo. Traditionally fishermen and traders, the Itsekiris were the first in the region to make contact with the Portuguese traders. These interactions in the 16th century led to the Itsekiris becoming primarily Roman Catholic. The Itsekiris primarily lived in a society that was governed by a monarch (the Olu) and council of chiefs who form the nobility or aristocracy. The current is Ogiame Atuwase II, who was crowned at an impressive ceremony in 1987. Itsekiri itself was organised along the lines of an upper class made up of the royal family and aristocracy.
Various Perspectives on the History of Itsekiri.
There are various perspectives on the history of Itsekiri. One version says that they descended from the most easterly of the Yoruba Kings’ subjects, made up of runaway slaves, law breakers, etc. Inter-married with adjoining tribes; they sometimes say Jekri means a coward, a man who would not fight and therefore who was expelled from their tribe…’’.Another perspective is that when the Portuguese came to Benin City, one of the leaders’ sons, a half-caste, was sent to Warri, or as the people themselves name the town, Jekri, and there a house was built for him. By means of the Juju of the King of Benin, he was declared King of that part of delta; he brought Yoruba wives with him and was the founder of the Itsekiri nation. A third perspective is like a mixture of
References: 1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itsekiri_People/ last accessed 16th April, 2013 19:30pm 2) http://www.nigerianppeoplesandculture.com/Itsekiri_nation/ last accessed 18th April, 2013 14:56pm 3) http://www.UgbajoItsekiriUsa,Inc.com/one/Itsekiri_culture/ last accessed 18th April,2013 11:30pm 4) http://www.UgbajoItsekiriUsa,Inc.com/one/Itsekiri_culture_Dishes/ last accessed 18th April, 2013, 1:00pm 5) http://www.UgbajoItsekiriUsa,Inc.com/one/Itsekiri_culture_Names/ last accessed 18th April,2013 1:06pm 6) http://www.nigerianpeoplesandculture.com/The_Itsekiri_Awankere_Festival/ last accessed 3rd May, 2013 20:30pm 7) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itsekiri_Language last accessed 3rd May 2013 20:50pm