About Us
Our HistoryA Brief History of the Itsekiri People
The Itsekiris are an ethnic group of Nigeria’s Niger Delta area, Delta State. The Itsekiri presently number under a million people and live mainly in the Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West local government area of Delta State, on the Atlantic Coast of Nigeria. Significant communities of Itsekiris can be found in parts of Edo and Ondo states and in various other Nigerian cities including Lagos, Sapele and Port-Harcourt. Many people of Itsekiri descent also reside in the United Kingdom, the USA and Canada.
Source: Pulse.ng
The Itsekiris traditionally refer to their land as the Kingdom of Warri or ‘Iwere’ as its proper name – which is geographically contiguous to the area covered by the three Warri local government areas and their monarch is known as the Olu of Warri
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Source: dailypost.ng
Traditionally, the Itsekiris are predominantly fishermen, living in the riverine areas of the Niger Delta in Nigeria. The Warri Kingdom is a key centre of Nigeria’s crude oil and natural gas production and petroleum refining and the main town Warri (a multi-ethnic metropolis) forms the industrial and commercial nucleus of the Delta State. The modern day Itsekiris are mainly Christian (Protestant and Roman Catholic) by religion.
Our Reigning Olu of Warri
Ogiame Atuwatse III, the 21st Olu of Warri Kingdom
Ogiame Atuwatse III is the 21st Olu of Warri and a supreme ruler of the Kingdom of Warri. In 1984, Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko, also known as Tsola Emiko, was born to Olu Atuwatse II, the 19th Olu of Warri, and Gladys Durorike Emiko in Warri. He is also a descendant of Olu Akengbuwa.
He succeeded his uncle, Ogiame Ikenwoli I, the 20th Olu of Warri, as the 21st Olu of Warri on Saturday, 21 August 2021 at Ode-Itsekiri.
The past Olus of Warri
May 1987 – Sept 2015 | 19th | Atuwatse II A.K.A Godwin Toritseju Emiko
Mar 1951 – Dec 1986 | 18th | Erejuwa II A.K.A Wilson Ayoronmitsi Gbesimi Emiko
Feb 1936 – Jan 1949 | 17th | Ginuwa II A.K.A Emiko Ikengbuwa
1808 – 1849 | 16th | Akengbuwa I A.K.A Eyeolusan Joao
1760 – 1795 | 15th | Erejuwa I A.K.A Sabastian Manuel Octobia
1734 – 1760 | 14th | Atogbuwa I A.K.A Manuel Octobia
1730 – 1732 | 13th | Akengboye I A.K.A Agostino Sabastiao Octobia
18th Century | 12th | Omagboye I
1675-1709 | 11th | Akenjoye I A.K.A Ludivico Domingo
17th century | 10th | Abejoye I A.K.A Matias
17th century | 9th | Omoluyere I
1643-1653 | 8th | Oyenakpara I A.K.A Obanighenren Don Antonio Domingo
1625-1643 | 7th | Atuwatse I A.K.A Oyeomasan Don Domingo
1570- 1620 AD | 6th | Atorongboye I A.K.A. Sabastian
16th century | 5th | Esigie I
16th century | 4th | Ojoluwa I
16th century | 3rd | Irame I
16th century | 2nd | Ogbowuru I
1480- 16th century | 1st | Ginuwa I