Ode-Itsekiri Itsekiri-Olu | |
---|---|
Communities of Warri Kingdom | |
Capital Of Warri Kingdom | |
Nickname: Big Warri | |
Country | Nigeria |
State | Delta State |
LGA | Warri South |
Kingdom | Kingdom Of Warri |
Government | |
• Body | Warri South |
• Olu of Warri | Ogiame Atuwatse III |
• Council Chairman | Michael Tidi |
• Youth Chairman | Jonathan Ameye |
Website | www |
Ode-Itsekiri is a community in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. It is also called Itsekiri-Olu and Big Warri. It is the capital of the Itsekiri people and one of the first autonomous communities before the crowning of the Olu Ginuwa. It existed long before 1480, with exact data not known. The Olu's Palace in Ode-Itsekiri has always been used to crown the Olu of Warri Kingdom, while the Kings are buried at Ijala-Ikenren Community. [1] [2] [3] [4]
The Delta State government started a road project around 2006 to link Warri and Ode-Itsekiri. This project is expected to link Ode-Itsekiri and other Itsekiri communities close to it. [1]
The popular song Megbele by Omawumi showed when she arrived at Ode-Itsekiri with boat and went to visit the Olu's Palace. [5]
Ode-Itsekiri Community is located in Ode-Itsekiri ward of Warri South and under Warri Federal Constituency of the Nigerian Federal constituency. Ode-Itsekiri Community shares boundaries with Orugbo Community, Ajigba Community, Inorin Community and Odogene Community.
There are public and private infrastructures in Ode-Itsekiri Community.
Like other Itsekiri communities, Ode-Itsekiri Community is known widely for their very elaborate culture. One of the popular dances from Ode-Itsekiri community is the Ulu Oleretse which is danced by only the male indigenes of the community.
Ode-Itsekiri Community has a governance structure that mirrors most other Itsekiri communities. The Olu of Warri is the overall head of the communities. This is followed by a council of elders, a community trust and a youth body.
The city of Warri is an oil hub within South-South Nigeria and houses an annex of the Delta State Government House. Warri City is one of the major hubs of the petroleum industry in Nigeria. Warri, Udu, Okpe and Uvwie are the commercial capital of Delta State with a population of over 311,970 people in 2006. The city is the indigenous territory of Itsekiri, Urhobo and Ijaw people.
The Itsekiri are one of the fundamental Yoruba subgroups in Nigeria's Niger Delta area. They originate from Ile-Ife and speak a Yoruboid language and can be found in Ondo, Edo and Delta State. The Itsekiris presently transcends a population of over 1 million people and live mainly in parts of Ondo, Edo and majorly in the Warri South, Warri North and Warri South West local government districts of Delta State on the Atlantic coast of Nigeria.
Koko is the major town in and the headquarters of Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, South South Nigeria. Koko is one of the major towns in the Niger Delta region with a rich history and is known for its unique cultural heritage, natural resources, and vibrant economy.
The Warri Crisis was a series of conflicts in Delta State, Nigeria between 1997 and 2003 between the Itsekiri, the Ijaw ethnic groups. 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.
The Itsekiri language is a major branch of the Yoruboid group of languages, which as a group, is a key member of the Volta–Niger sub-family of the Niger–Congo family of African languages. Itsekiri is spoken by nearly 900,000 people in Nigeria as a first language and by many others as an additional language notably in the Niger Delta and in parts of Edo and Ondo states of Nigeria. The other key members of the Yoruboid group are Yoruba and Igala along with the various Yoruba dialects spoken in Benin and Togo.
The Kingdom of Warri, Warri Kingdom or Iwere Kingdom, was established in 1480, was part of the Nigerian traditional states its ancestral capital is based in Ode-Itsekiri, Warri South LGA, Delta State, Nigeria with a palace erected in 1950s in the heart of the city of Warri, Warri South LGA, Delta State, Nigeria.
Hussey College Warri is a secondary school located along Upper Erejuwa Road in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious colleges in Delta State and Nigeria, having produced many notable figures in the Nigerian professional and political scenery. The school has literally raised several generations of Nigerians from all tribes and backgrounds and schooled them in the best tradition of scholarship, athleticism, citizenship and morality. The 60th anniversary celebration of the foundation of Hussey College, Warri was organised by the Old Students Association in 2007.
Chief Ayiri Emami is a Nigerian businessman, politician, and philanthropist, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of A & E group, a company with investments in oil and gas, construction, haulage, entertainment and the hospitality industry.
Erejuwa II was a Nigerian traditional title holder and paramount leader of the Itsekiri who was Olu of Warri from 1951 to 1964 and from 1966 to 1986. He was the 18th Olu of Warri Kingdom with the title Ogiame Erejuwa II. He succeeded his father Ginuwa II as Olu. Ginuwa II was a great grandson of Olu Akengbuwa the last Olu who died in 1848, he was crowned in 1936 after an interregnum that lasted 88 years when Warri's political leadership was dominated by merchant princes.
Ikenwoli Godfrey Emiko was a Nigerian traditional ruler.
Olu Ginuwa was an Itsekiri king who was the first Olu of Warri. He was the eldest son of Oba Olua, the 14th Oba of Benin and Heir Apparent to the throne of the Great Benin Kingdom. He migrated from Benin Kingdom and was crowned the first Olu of Warri. He reigned for a period of 30 years. He reigned from 1480 to 1510. He was succeeded by his son, Olu Ijijen (Ogbowuru). Another of his sons, Olu Irame took over as king after Olu Ijijen joined his ancestors.
Olu Ijijen (Ogbowuru) was born to Olu Ginuwa. He is the 2nd Olu of Warri. He succeeded his father Ogiame Olu Ginuwa. He was the first King to reach Ode-Itsekiri as his father settled down at Ijala community which is the burial place for all future Olu's. He reigned from 1510 to 1538. He was succeeded by his brother Olu Irame.
Olu Irame was a Nigerian traditional ruler who was the 3rd Olu of Warri. He was the second son to Olu Ginuwa and succeeded his brother Olu Ogbowuru as the 3rd Olu of Warri. It is stated that he banished the three gods and their worshipers from Ode-Itsekiri-Olu because of their incessant "noise-making". The gods and their worshipers moved to Orugbo, a community about 2 miles from Ode-Itsekiri-olu.
Olu Atuwatse II was a Nigerian traditional title holder and paramount leader of the Itsekiri who was Olu of Warri from 1987 to 2015. He was the 19th Olu of Warri Kingdom with the title Ogiame Atuwatse II. He was born Godwin Toritseju Emiko. He succeeded his father Erejuwa II as the Olu of Warri. He was a lawyer by profession and was a recipient of the Commander of the Niger (CON) award from the Nigerian Government. He died in 2015 and was succeeded by his brother Ikenwoli.
Ogiame Atuwatse III is a Nigerian traditional king of the Kingdom of Warri in the Delta State. He was born Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko, also known as Tsola Emiko, on April 2, 1984 to Olu Atuwatse II, the 19th Olu of Warri, and Gladys Durorike Emiko. He is also a descendant of Olu Akengbuwa.
Utonlila Community is an Itsekiri community located in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State. Utonlila is based in Nigeria. The community is a twin community with Oboghoro Community. As a result of this, they both share Odokun secondary school and the two primary schools; Ijala primary school and Edo primary school. It also uses the same jetty.
Ubeji Community is an Urhobo community located in the Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Ubeji community is near the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company in Ekpan, Uvwie and as such, suffers huge environmental pollution. It is home to a large number of Itsekiris, it is a Suburb of the City of Warri It shares boundaries with Ifie Community, Aja-Etan Community, Ijala-Ikenren Community, Ekpan Community, etc.
Ureju Community is an indigenous Itsekiri rural community in the Warri Kingdom. Ureju Community is one of the aboriginal five communities that make up the Warri Kingdom before the coming of Olu Ginuwa I alongside other Itsekiri communities like Ugborodo, Ode-Itsekiri (Okotomu-Irigbo), Inorin and Omadino. It is located in the Benin River axis of Warri North Local Government Area of present-day Delta State, Nigeria. Ureju Community has two main families - Olero and Kokolo.
Omadino Community is an indigenous Itsekiri urban community in Warri Kingdom. The people of Omadino are the descendants of Nenuwa, the legendary ancestor and founder of the Omadino community who migrated with his followers from Ode in the Ijebu kingdom following their unsuccessful bid for the throne of the Ijebu kingdom. Omadino Community is one of the oldest communities in the Warri Kingdom having existed before the formation of the Warri Kingdom in 1480. Omadino Community is one of the biggest communities in the Warri Kingdom as it falls under Warri South with extensions to Warri North and Warri South-West. It is located in Warri South Local Government Area of present-day Delta State, Nigeria.
Warri State is a proposed state intended to be formed for the Itsekiri people, who inhabit the regions of Warri South, Warri South West, Warri North, and itsekiri parts of Edo State in Nigeria. The movement for the creation of Warri State stems from concerns regarding the marginalization of the Itsekiri people by the Delta State Government and the pursuit of lasting peace in the Niger Delta region.