Kingdom of Warri
The Kingdom Of Warri (Warri Kingdom) or Iwerre Kingdom is a part of the traditional state that is akin to the Itsekiri people based in the town of Warri in Delta State, Nigeria.
The Olu (King) of Warri kingdom is the head of only the Itsekiri people living in Warri
History
According to Bini and Itsekiri histories, Olu Ginuwa, a prince of Benin Kingdom founded the Warri kingdom about 1480. In the 15th century it was visited by Portuguese missionaries. At the beginning of the 17th century, a son of the reigning Olu was sent to Portugal and returned with a Portuguese wife. Their son Antonio Domingo was Olu of Warri in the 1640s.[1] Olu Erejuwa, who reigned from about 1720 to 1800, expanded the kingdom politically and commercially, using the Portuguese to further it's independence of Bini and to establish control over a wider area.[2]
Later Warri served as the base for Portuguese and Dutch slave traders. Warri became aw more important port city during the late 19th century, when it became a centre for the palm oil trade and other major items such as rubber, palm products, cocoa, groundnuts, hides, and skins.[3] Warri was established as a provincial headquarters by the British in the early 20th century.[4]
Recent events
In 1997, the Federal Government under General Sani Abacha created a Warri South-West Local Government Council, with headquarters at Ogidigben an Itsekiri community in Warri. Due to political pressure, the headquarters was relocated to Ogbe ijoh (an Ijaw settlement) by the State Government but still not recognized by the Federal Government. Riots ensued, hundreds died, and six Shell Nigeria installations were taken over by youths. The crisis is known as the "Warri Crisis".
Kings of Warri Kingdom, 1480 to present
The Kingdom of Warri has remained predominantly Christian since the coronation of its first Christian King Olu Atorongboye also known as King Sebastian I in 1570, within a century of the foundation of the iwere Kingdom. Below is a list of the rulers of the Warri Kingdom from inception. Note that written records began with the coronation of Olu Atorongboye Sebastian I in 1570.
- Olu Ginuwa - (1480 to 1510)
- Olu Ijijen - Ogbowuru (1510 - 1538)
- Olu Irame - (1538 - 1550)
- Olu Ojoluwa - (1550 - 1569)
- Olu Esigie - (1570 - 1597)
- Olu Atorongboye (Olu Sebastian) - (1597- 1625)
- Olu Atuwatse I (Olu Dom Domingos) - (1625–1643)
- Olu Oyenakpagha (Olu Obanighenren) - (1643–1653)
- Olu Omoluyiri - (1654 - 1674)
- Olu Abejoye - (1674 - 1700)
- Olu Akenjoye - Ludivico Domingo (1701 – 1709)
- Olu Omagboye (Miguel) - (1709 - 1730)
- Olu Akengboye - Agostinho Sabastiao Octobia (1730–1732)
- Olu Atogbuwa - Manuel Octobia (1734–1760)
- Olu Erejuwa I - Sebastiao Manuel Octobia (1760–1795)
- Olu Akengbuwa - Eyeolusan Joao (1795 – 14 June 1848)
- Olu Ginuwa II - Emiko Ikengbuwa (7 February 1936– 8 January 1949)
- Erejuwa II - A.K.A Wilson Ayoronmitsi Gbesimi Emiko (24 March 1951 – 17 December 1986)
- Olu Atuwatse II - A.K.A Godwin Toritseju Emiko (2 May 1987– 5 September 2015)
- Ikenwoli I A. K. A Godfery ikenwoli Emiko (12 December 2015–)
- Queen Iye Idolorusan ruled the kingdom for a time in the nineteenth century, but seems never to have been formally designated a monarch.[5]
References
- J.O.S Ayomike. "Edo people's renaissance". Edo Nation. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
- Gab Ejuwa (26 April 2009). "Olu of Warri Coronation – Focus On Itsekiri Cultural Heritage". Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
- http://www.greatestcities.com/Africa/Nigeria/Warri_city.htmlRetrieved 13 January 2008
- Ekeh, Peter Palmer (2005). Warri City and British Colonial Rule in Western Niger Delta. Urhobo Historical Society. p. 31. ISBN 978-064-924-7.
- Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr.; Professor Emmanuel Akyeampong; Mr. Steven J. Niven (2 February 2012). Dictionary of African Biography. OUP USA. pp. 1–. ISBN 978-0-19-538207-5.