The Kingdom of Warri was founded around c.1480 by Prince Ginuwa, the eldest son of Oba Olua of the Kingdom of Benin (r. 1473–1480), himself a son of Oba Ewuare (r. 1440–1473).[5] Born around 1445 and raised in the Benin royal court, Ginuwa’s assertive nature, shown through his strong opposition to certain traditional practices of the Benin chiefs and people, created tensions with the chiefs, who feared that as Oba, he would threaten their cherished customs. To secure his son’s future Oba Olua consulted Ogifa, the Chief Oracle Diviner of Benin, who after consulting his oracle, advised that an Iroko wood ark be crafted to house Ginuwa, the firstborn sons of the seventy chiefs, their attendants, and possessions. Oba Olua summoned a council of seventy chiefs, announcing his intent to send a sacrifice in the Iroko box to the water via Ugharegin and requesting their firstborn sons to accompany it. The chiefs agreed, and the box was conveyed to Ugharegin over three days. There, Ginuwa emerged from the box in regalia, proclaiming his sovereignty, and drifted to the Warri region to establish his kingdom.[6]
The migration of Ginuwa began around 1470 with seventy Benin chiefs.[7] At Ugharegin, pursued by Benin warriors, Ginuwa prayed to Umalokun, God of the Sea, promising annual sacrifices. The waters rose, enabling his escape, marking the origin of the Umalokun Olaja festival, with its priest at Ureju.[7][8]
The party drifted to Efurokpe on the Jamieson River, where Ginuwa’s sister Oyeifo stayed due to impending childbirth.[9] They moved through Arun-owun to the Escravos River, settling at Amatu (Aleodiaja) for several years.[10] Due to sandy, infertile soil, Ginuwa relocated to Oruselemo, marrying Derumo, an Ijaw. During his prolonged stay at Oruselemo, a conflict arose between him and the Ijaws of Gulani, triggered by the death of Derumo. She was killed by him due to her sharp-tongued remarks against Ginuwa. This incident made the Ijaws to declare war on him, leading them to set up an ambush in preparation for the ensuing confrontation. Ginuwa had his people mourn her publicly, convincing the Ijaws her death was accidental, avoiding war.[7][11][12]
Prince Ginuwa decided to relocate due to the risk of renewed conflict with the Ijaws of Gulani, who might uncover his involvement in Derumo's death. By then, he was joined by Idibie, a renowned diviner. Guided by Idibie, Ginuwa migrated to Ijala, where he met Itsekiri people. Crowned the first Olu of Iwere, Ginuwa I ruled until his death around 1510 and was buried in Ijala. His son, Olu Ijijen (Ogbowuru), later moved the capital from ijala to Ode-Itsekiri and unified the indigenous Itsekiri communities, including Omadino, Ureju, Ugborodo, and Inorin, forming the Kingdom of Iwere, now known as Warri. Ijijen’s reign followed the itsekiri maxim Igbo mini, mini igbo (“the people belong to the king, and the king belongs to the people”). He was succeeded by his brother Olu Irame, who ruled until around 1570.[13][14]
European contact and Christianisation (c. 1506–1900)
The kingdom’s location in the Niger Delta made it a hub for early European contact. The first recorded interaction with Europeans occurred in 1475, with another documented encounter in 1500 by Duarte Pacheco Pereira, who noted in his work, Esmeraldo de Situ Orbis, that
there is a place of barter…. cotton cloths, with some panther skins, palm-oil and some blue shells with red stripes which they call ‘coris’ These and other things we buy there for brass and copper bracelets; they are all valuable at the castle of S. Jorze da Mina, where the King’s factor sells them to the negro merchants for gold. The inhabitants along this river are called Huela
This has been confirmed by multiple scholars and historians, including J. D. Fage, P. E. H. Hair, and A. F. C. Ryder, who noted that Pereira’s “Huela” was a variant of the native name of the kingdom, “Iwere,” which is known today as Warri.
When commenting on it;
JD Fage wrote
Kimble did not identify the "Huela;" Mauny's note 289 reads "Les Huela modernes, "which may not be very helpful. In fact, "Huela" is a variant spelling of "Ouere" or warri, whose people are the Itsekiri, and the state of warri became a major trading. and missionary center for the Portuguese when they became disenchanted with Benin and abandoned their factory at Ughoton in 1506.
—J. D. Fage, A Commentary on Duarte Pacheco Pereira's Account of the Lower Guinea Coastlands in His "Esmeraldo de Situ Orbis," and on Some Other Early Accounts
To the south of Benin, Pacheco Pereira around 1500 knew two peoples on the Forcados River, the Huela on the lower part, the Subou farther inland: these we take to be the Iwere/Itsekiri and Sobo/urhobo who occupy roughly these positions today. The Iwere kingdom of Oeri/Overo/Overy/Ouwerre or WARRI on the Forcados was well known from the 1590s on: but its exact limits were never described and no vocabularies were collected
—P. E. H. Hair, Ethnolinguistic Continuity on the Guinea Coast
Huela—a word which may be related to Iwere, the name by which the Itsekiri know themselves; the area indicated corresponds to what is believed to be the early centre of Itsekiri settlement.
—A. F. C. Ryder, Benin and the Europeans, 1485-1897
A major turning point came in 1570 with the coronation of Olu Atorongboye (Sebastian I), the first Christian Olu, who cultivated ties with Portuguese missionaries and traders. This connection deepened under Olu Atuwatse I (Dom Domingos), the 7th Olu, who was educated in Portugal and returned in 1611 as one of the earliest university educated African monarchs. He married a Portuguese woman and strengthened Warri’s Christian identity and access to European firearms.[19]
Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, Warri prospered as an intermediary in the trans-Atlantic trade, exporting palm oil, ivory, and slaves, and extending influence over surrounding creeks and islands. Under Olu Erejuwa (c. 1760–1795), the kingdom expanded its commercial and political reach, leveraging Portuguese alliances to reinforce its hold on the region.[20]
Warri became a more important port city during the late 19th century,[21] when it became a centre for the palm oil trade and other major items such as rubber, palm products, cocoa, groundnuts, hides, and skins.[22] Warri was established as a provincial headquarters by the British in the early 20th century.[23]
Independence
From its foundation until the late 19th century, the Kingdom of Warri remained sovereign, never under the direct rule of another kingdom or empire before British colonisation. Contemporary European observers consistently described Warri as independent.
In 1705, Willem Bosman noted that
the Portuguese have a lodge and church at the Town of Awerri which is governed by its particular and independent king, who doth not treat the king of Great Benin any otherwise than as his neighbour and ally
—Willem Bosman, A New and Accurate Description of the Coast of Guinea
A mid-19th-century traveller likewise reported that
Wari—also called Warri, Owari, Owerree, Awerri, Owheyre, and many other names—is known to the people as ‘Jakri.’ The town, once the capital of a powerful kingdom, has ever claimed independence.
—Richard Francis Burton, Wanderings in West Africa from Liverpool to Fernando Po
The death of Olu Akengbuwa in 1848, followed shortly by the deaths of his designated successors, Prince Omateye and Prince Ejo, triggered an 88-year interregnum in the Warri Kingdom. During this period, merchant-governors (’‘Gofine’’) administered the affairs of the kingdom:
Nana’s tenure coincided with the kingdom’s final years of independence. On 16 July 1884, Warri chiefs signed a protectorate treaty aboard HMS Flirt with British officials, supplemented by an addendum on 6 August, granting British traders and missionaries access to Itsekiri territory, including the Benin, Warri, and Escravos rivers.[27] In 1894, a dispute with the British led to Nana’s defeat by the Royal Navy, ending Warri’s autonomy and integrating it into the Lagos Colony.[28] By 1900, Chief Dore Numa was appointed paramount chief under the Southern Nigeria Protectorate, marking full colonial incorporation.[29]
The Size Of The Kingdom Of Warri
In the work of Jean-François Landolphe published from his diary described the size of Warri Kingdom:
The sovereign of this state owns not only both banks of the Benin river but also all the rivers of these parts as far as the tributaries of the Calabar or are near to it.[30]
Military
In 1656, the equipment of the Warri military was dominated by arrows and javelins with the use of few muskets.[31] By the following century, Warri forces became accustomed to firearms.[32] In the late 18th century, the naval vessels of Warri were equipped with simple sails and primary sources documented that such vessels could carry some personnel of about 100. According to historian Thornton, the Warri navy was unfamiliar with tacking. Shields were built onto the vessels to provide protection for the personnel.[33] Warri vessels may have utilized artillery. Jean-François Landolphe provided a description of the King's canoes in the early 19th century which he mentions to have mounted 7 blunderbusses arranged in series on a swivel. As a result, these guns could fire simultaneously and Landolphe states they were rarely used.[34] Warri's military was largely naval as its armed forces seldom fought on land. A traveller estimated its naval and marine forces to number 60,000.[35]
The Crowns
There are multiple crowns of the Warri Kingdom, many of which hold significant historical importance, with origins tied to the Kingdom of Benin and the empire of ife. The primary crown, introduced by Ginuwa I from udo, resembles the Yoruba "𝗔𝗱é-Ń𝗹á". Historical accounts by European visitors provide detailed descriptions of its appearance.
Crown of Ginuwa I, resembling the Yoruba Ade, as described by Lieutenant John King.
Lieutenant John King of the Royal Navy, who visited the Warri Kingdom between 1815 and 1820, described the original crown as:
"At Warri the actual crown of the sovereign is a sort of large cap in the shape of a cone three feet high, covered with coral beads and with a couple of birds' heads on top."[36]
A later crown was documented during the reign of Olu Akengbuwa. Another European observer described this crown as follows:
Crown of Olu Akengbuwa, adorned with coral beads and leopard skins.
"Coral beads were sometimes threaded in the hair or attached to the hat; the 'crown' of the King of Warri was of the latter kind, and 3 feet high. In the manufacture of caps, the skins of leopards and other animals were used, and leopards' skins were also worn on the body."[37]
The ancient crown, originally brought by Ginuwa, was used by seven Olu monarchs of the Warri Kingdom until it was replaced during the reigns of Christian Olu monarchs. Starting with Olu Atuwatse I in 1611, a European-style silver crown from Portugal was introduced to the royal jewels. His son, Olu Oyenakpagha, further added a European diamond crown adorned with a cross in 1645.[38][39][40][41]
Introduced by Olu Atuwatse I a gift from PortugalIntroduced by Olu Oyenakpagha (Olu Obanighenren)
Both crowns, along with other royal jewels, were stolen by two princes of Olu Ikenwoli during a succession dispute in 2021 over the next Olu to the throne of Warri.[42][43][44]
Silver Crown introduced by Olu Atuwatse III 2021Gold Crown introduced by Olu Atuwatse III 2021
Despite the theft, the coronation of the subsequent Olu proceeded without disruption. On August 21, 2021, Olu Atuwatse III CFR, the current Olu of Warri, introduced new Crown Jewels, including silver and pure gold crowns, to replace those that were stolen.[47][48][49]
The Warri Crisis was a series of conflicts in Delta State, Nigeria between 1997 and 2003 between the Itsekiri and the Ijaw ethnic groups.[50] Over 200,000 people were displaced by the Warri conflict between 1999 and 2006. Over 700,000 people were displaced during this period by violence in Delta State overall.[51][52]
The conflict broke out following the Ijaws refusal to accept the location of the Headquarters of the Warri South West Local Government Council (LGA) in Ogidigben, an Itsekiri community.[53][54] The Council headquarters was eventually moved to Ogbe Ijoh, an Ijaw community by the State Govt; however it remains Ogidigben in Nigeria’s constitution.
Scholars have warned that the conflict is complex and not amenable to "quick fixes".[57]
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.
1st Olu. He was the eldest son of Oba Olua, the 14th Oba of Benin (r.1473–1480) and heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of Benin until he migrated from Benin to Warri, where he was later crowned.
2nd Olu. He succeeded his father. He was the first King to reach Ode-Itsekiri (Big Warri) as his father settled down at Ijala community which became the burial place for all future Olu's.
3rd Olu. He succeeded his brother. It is stated that he banished the three gods (Ibirikimo, Otueke, and Ike) and their worshipers from Ode-Itsekiri-Olu (Big Warri) because of their incessant "noise-making". The gods and their worshipers moved to Orugbo which is a community about 3 km from Ode-Itsekiri-Olu.
4th Olu. He succeeded his father. During his reign, he commenced the process of integration of the Ekpen's/Ekpenede, descendants of Okere with the local population in the kingdom.
6th Olu. He succeeded his father. He was born Prince Eyomasan. He was the first Catholic Olu, in fact every king after him until 1848 was so. He had a strong tie with King Philip II of Spain, who ruled Portugal at the time. This relation led to him sending his son to study in Coimbra, Portugal from 1600 to 1611. He and all future kings were awarded the title of Dom (D.).
7th Olu. He succeeded his father. He was initially home schooled by his father and the Bishop in Ode-Itsekiri, which resulted in him being able to read and write in Portuguese. He was later educated in Coimbra, Portugal from 1600 to 1611. He returned as a graduate, making him the first graduate in Sub Saharan Africa. Olu Dom Domingos was the first to marry a noble Portuguese lady, that came with him in 1611.
8th Olu. He succeeded his father. On ascension to the throne he was named Obanighenren which translates to "Prince/King with the golden skin". He wrote a letter to Pope Clement X in 1652 which was delivered to the Pope successfully. He was educated at home and at an institute in Angola. Like his father, he married a Portuguese lady.
After the death of Olu Dom Eyeolusan João Akengbuwa there was a dynastic crisis following the death of all the potential successors which was followed by a period of political Interregnum. His son Prince Oritsemone left Ode-Itsekiri during the period of the crisis to form the Usele Community. Queen Iye Idolorusan ruled the kingdom for a time in the nineteenth century, but seems to have never been formally designated a monarch.[58]
17th Olu. He was a Nigerian traditional title holder and paramount leader of the Itsekiri. He was born Emiko Ikengbuwa. He succeeded his grandfather Olu Akengbuwa as Olu of Warri after an interregnum that lasted 88 years when Warri's political leadership was dominated by merchant princes.
18th Olu. He succeeded his father. He attended a CMS missionary school at Ogbesse, thereafter he did business with United African Company rising to become a provincial cooperatives president. As Olu of Warri, he was appointed regional Minister without portfolio and president of the Warri Divisional Traditional Council.
19th Olu. He was born Godwin Toritseju Emiko. He succeeded his father. He was a lawyer by profession and was a recipient of the Commander of the Niger (CON) award from the Nigerian Government. Atuwatse II died in a hospital in Lagos in early September 2015, after suffering a domestic accident. He was 70 years old, and was preparing to fly abroad to receive intensive medical care before his condition worsened.
20th Olu. Ikenwoli Godfrey Emiko born to Olu Erejuwa II and Olori Eyinagboluwade Emiko. He succeeded his elder brother and was married to Olori Mary Emiko. They had three children.
21st Olu. Tsola Emiko born to Olu Atuwatse II and Olori Gladys Durorike Emiko on 2 April 1984. He succeeded his uncle and is married to Olori Ivie Emiko (née Okunbo). They have three children.
↑ Talbot, Percy Amaury (1926). The Peoples of Southern Nigeria. Vol.3. p.522.
↑ Pereira, Duarte Pacheco (1937). Esmeraldo de situ orbis. Translated by Kimble, George H. T. London: Hakluyt Society. pp.128–129. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
↑ Landolphe, Jean François, and Jaques Salbigoton Quesne. Mémoires du Capitaine Landolphe, contenant l'histoire de ses voyages pendant trente-six ans, aux côtes d'Afrique et aux deux Amériques. Paris: A. Bertrand, 1823.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
