The Itsekiri (also called the, Isekiri, Ijekiri or Ishekiri) are a peculiar and unique riverine ethnic group currently numbering over 1 Million people. They were traditionally fishermen and skillful traders living in the Nigerian Niger Delta. They have inhabited their traditional homeland, which now constitutes three Local Government Areas of Delta State (Warri South, Warri North and Warri South-West) for centuries as well as parts of Edo and Ondo states. The Itsekiris also make up a considerable proportion of the modern towns of Sapele, Burutu, and Forcados in other local governments of Delta- as well as many large cities and towns in the country such as Lagos, Port harcourt, Benin City and Abuja. The Itsekiris traditionally refer to their land as the Kingdom of Warri or 'Iwerre' as its proper name.

Itsekiri people lived in communities like Ode Ugborodo, Ogidigben, Ureju, Koko, Mereje, Ode Itsekiri, Okerenkoko, Inorin, Eroghor, Jakpa, Okere, Omadino etc, in a Pre-Ginuwa era. Ginuwa is said to have been a Benin Prince, but the Olu and his people were quickly absorbed into Itsekiri (A Yoruba dialect akin to South-Eastern climes of the language) like the Romans who conquered the Greeks but were civilized by the Greeks.
In the 15th century (1400's), these early Itsekiris adopted prince Iginua (Ginuwa) from the Kingdom of Benin as a monarch, and quickly coalesced into a kingdom under his rule which birthed the Iwere kingdom in 1480.
Traditionally fishermen and traders, the Itsekiri were among the first in the region to make contact with Portuguese traders. The Itsekiri are a minority ethnic group in Niger-Delta but they were well-respected by the Europeans that met them during the pre-colonial and the colonial era. Dapper in 1668 had described the Itsekiri as being in many ways cleverer than the Bini (Roth H. Ling. Great Benin). Captain Leonard described the lsekiri thus: ‘on the Warri and Benin rivers we find the itsekiri middle men who are not only the most intelligent and tractable but quite the best mannered of all the tribes in the lower Niger’ (southern Nigeria) (Captain Leonard 1906).

The Itsekiri are a people of mixed ethnic origins who speak a language very closely related to the Yoruba and Igala languages of South Western and central Nigeria, but which has also borrowed some vocabulary, particularly loan words from the Edo (Benin) language in some court terminologies, Portuguese in trade terminologies and also more recently, English. Although linguistically related to the Yoruba and Igala ethnic groups, however, through centuries of intermingling modern day Itsekiris are of mixed ethnic origins. They are primarily of South-Eastern Yoruba groups (Ilaje, Ijebu, Akure, Ikale, Ondo and Owo), but also Edo, Urhobo, Ijo, some Anglo-Scottish and Portuguese descent) and are today mainly Christian (Protestant and Roman Catholic) by religion.

Thus having had six centuries of direct cultural exposure to Western Christianity and other African influences, contemporary Itsekiri language and culture has successfully evolved into a hybrid of the many cultures that have influenced its development. Similarly owing to the complex genetic mix of most Itsekiris over the centuries, many individuals self-identifying as Itsekiri would usually be a complex mix of any of the aforementioned ethnic and racial groups.

Itsekiri society traditionally has the following classes: (1) Oton Olu (Royals), (2) Oma jaja (king-makers), (3) Egungun (people with shady spiritual origin), (4) Ajoji (Strangers) and (5) Oton Eru (Slaves)
Itsekiri believe in Supreme Being and Creator God known as (Oritse). Their neighbours the Edo call God (Osanobua), The Ilaje call God him (Olorun) while smaller gods are called (Orisha). The deity Omalokun in Itsekiri, is the provider of sea foods. Ife oracle with its 256 literary corpus (Odu) is a compendium of the cultural practices of the people. It includes the metaphysical and psychic studies of the people, a source of ethics and discipline of the people. It must be sustained to raise the spiritual level of the people.

There have been 20 Olus of Warri, the latest being Ikenwole Abiloye Emiko, who took the throne after the death of Atuwatse II (Toritseju Emiko)

The Itsekiri are reputed to be the best dressed people in the Niger Delta, blessed with a beautiful culture and people, as well as the majority of Delta state's Oil wealth.
Mo ki Aghan oma Iwerre dede!























































cc: Lalasticlala
Dedicated to my Itsekiri friends in real life: Eyitemi, Tosan, Gbemiloye Fregene, Ayo Meyiwa, Tsola Obasuyi, Omagbemi Edema, Temisan Toritseju, Nana Shola Omasan, and not least Gbubemi 'Asiwaju'. Shalla to all of una if y'all see this.
And to my Itsekiri friends here on nairaland: Goodboiyy, Onuwaje, Setaje, Omagbemi20, Stinggy, Richiest, asamaigho, iceberryose, mop4, Others like fratermathy

Booked.

scholes0 how far with that babe in the second-to-the-last picture

Beautiful people, wonderful culture.
so if Itsekiris are 1 million, about one in every 5 Deltan is Itsekiri right?

stinggy:
scholes0 how far with that babe in the second-to-the-last picture

lool... she is a beauty.
Itseke beauty.

Beautiful....

I can see women tying 2 piece wrapper there.

Kestolovee95:
I can see women tying 2 piece wrapper there.

So? ...

scholes0:


lool... she is a beauty.
Itseke beauty.

Very adorable babes.

scholes0:


So? ...

According to the Biafrans (as pronounced by "Junior Moses" Elewon Kanu ), that makes them Biafrans.

scholes0:


cc: Lalasticlala
Dedicated to my Itsekiri friends in real life: Eyitemi, Tosan, Gbemiloye Fregene, Ayo Meyiwa, Tsola Obasuyi, Omagbemi Edema, Temisan Toritseju, Nana Shola Omasan, and not least Gbubemi 'Asiwaju'. Shalla to all of una if y'all see this.
And to my Itsekiri friends here on nairaland: Goodboiyy, Onuwaje, Setaje, Omagbemi20, Stinggy, Richiest, asamaigho, iceberryose, mop4, Others like fratermathy, freemanan, freeemanan

I love Itsekiris! They have one of the most beautiful culture in Nigeria! Itsekiris are elegant, stylish, beautiful, educated and well cultured. Hardly do you encounter any Itsekiri who is not well to do. I love Itsekiri food, the language itself, which I find sweet and sonorous to the ears, their songs and their dressing style. Some of the greatest and richest people from the Niger-Delta are of Itsekiri extraction. Itsekiri is just one tribe I would love to marry from if I have my way! Omi'Werre'Dede!!!!

One person that really made me love Itsekiris was Chief Okotie-Eboh who was actually an Urhobo by birth but was allowed acculturation into Itsekiri and was even made a Chief by the Olu of Warri. Most tribes will NOT do this but not Itsekiri! Their hospitality is beyond normal. When Awolowo came to Warri for the first time, he saw the Itsekiris and said, even though Itsekiris have lost most of their Yoruba effects over time, they have not lost one thing and in fact, they developed it beyond that of their ancestors and that thing was hospitality and respect! Itsekiri nation welcomes everyone who identifies with it. I am proud to be identified with the Itsekiris!!!

Beautiful culture, beautiful people.

I love their traditional wedding attire. Just gorgeous!

Edo people and Itsekiri people have iconic attires that are just unbeatable.

fratermathy:



I love Itsekiris! They have one of the most beautiful culture in Nigeria! Itsekiris are elegant, stylish, beautiful, educated and well cultured. Hardly do you encounter any Itsekiri who is not well to do. I love Itsekiri food, the language itself, which I find sweet and sonorous to the ears, their songs and their dressing style. Some of the greatest and richest people from the Niger-Delta are of Itsekiri extraction. Itsekiri is just one tribe I would love to marry from if I have my way! Omi'Werre'Dede!!!!

If I burst your head en..u leave Urhobo girl to marry u say na Itsekiri, Abi them nor tell you say na 4000 wives I 1 marry ?.. And all na itsekiri, If people like u they eye itsekiri girls wenti u come expert me to marry ?.. u nor they fear bros abi ?

na joke I they oo.. Well if u marry itsekiri its Normal, Cous itsekiri and Urhobo are like bread and butter.. Op thanks for this post.

Good bless The Yoruba Nation
God bless The Itsekiri Nation
God bless the Urhobo Nation.

fratermathy:



I love Itsekiris! They have one of the most beautiful culture in Nigeria! Itsekiris are elegant, stylish, beautiful, educated and well cultured. Hardly do you encounter any Itsekiri who is not well to do. I love Itsekiri food, the language itself, which I find sweet and sonorous to the ears, their songs and their dressing style. Some of the greatest and richest people from the Niger-Delta are of Itsekiri extraction. Itsekiri is just one tribe I would love to marry from if I have my way! Omi'Werre'Dede!!!!

One person that really made me love Itsekiris was Chief Okotie-Eboh who was actually an Urhobo by birth but was allowed acculturation into Itsekiri and was even made a Chief by the Olu of Warri. Most tribes will NOT do this but not Itsekiri! Their hospitality is beyond normal. When Awolowo came to Warri for the first time, he saw the Itsekiris and said, even though Itsekiris have lost most of their Yoruba effects over time, they have not lost one thing and in fact, they developed it beyond that of their ancestors and that thing was hospitality and respect! Itsekiri nation welcomes everyone who identifies with it. I am proud to be identified with the Itsekiris!!!

Infact, you have done the actual tribute, what I did in the opening post is just Introduction
They are indeed wonderful people. The person who made me love Itsekiris (at first) was Richard Eyimofe Damijo (RMD) and his superior acting.

fratermathy:



I love Itsekiris! They have one of the most beautiful culture in Nigeria! Itsekiris are elegant, stylish, beautiful, educated and well cultured. Hardly do you encounter any Itsekiri who is not well to do. I love Itsekiri food, the language itself, which I find sweet and sonorous to the ears, their songs and their dressing style. Some of the greatest and richest people from the Niger-Delta are of Itsekiri extraction. Itsekiri is just one tribe I would love to marry from if I have my way! Omi'Werre'Dede!!!!

One person that really made me love Itsekiris was Chief Okotie-Eboh who was actually an Urhobo by birth but was allowed acculturation into Itsekiri and was even made a Chief by the Olu of Warri. Most tribes will NOT do this but not Itsekiri! Their hospitality is beyond normal. When Awolowo came to Warri for the first time, he saw the Itsekiris and said, even though Itsekiris have lost most of their Yoruba effects over time, they have not lost one thing and in fact, they developed it beyond that of their ancestors and that thing was hospitality and respect! Itsekiri nation welcomes everyone who identifies with it. I am proud to be identified with the Itsekiris!!!

@bolded.. .. Awolowo like itsekiri die.. The only similarities b/w itsekiri and Yoruba apart from there language is Hospitality and Intelligence .. An average Yoruba/Itsekiri person is brilliant..
it runs in there DNA..

stinggy:
scholes0 how far with that babe in the second-to-the-last picture

I swear Na Woman go kill this one...

Lalasticlala, Seun, I hail oo

Goodboiyy:


@bolded.. .. Awolowo like itsekiri die.. The only similarities b/w itsekiri and Yoruba apart from there language is Hospitality and Intelligence .. An average Yoruba/Itsekiri person is brilliant..
it runs in there DNA..

And very diplomatic. Knows when to talk and when to keep quiet.

Btw, respect yourself, only u nor fit corner 4000. Hw i wan tak fulfill my target wey I make to Gods

Thank you for the write up, but wait o, what of me, i did not see my name in the dedications. I have been representing Iwere here since 2008. Honestly, i did not know there are so many Itsekiris on Nairaland.

stinggy:

And very diplomatic. Knows when to talk and when to keep quiet.

Btw, respect yourself, only u nor fit corner 4000. Hw i wan tak fulfill my target wey I make to Gods

Make una see me see Gbegey oo.. shuoo.. Oboy na you get my Marrying spirit ? If I 1 marry 4000 Itsekiri girls na u get the Dick make I 1 use lash them..

Oboy as from today my Name na Solomon

Goodboiyy:


@bolded.. .. Awolowo like itsekiri die.. The only similarities b/w itsekiri and Yoruba apart from there language is Hospitality and Intelligence .. An average Yoruba/Itsekiri person is brilliant..
it runs in there DNA..

How Awolowo no go like Itsekiri, his first major political sponsor was an Itsekiri man in the person of Pa Alfred Rewane. Rewane was with Awo until he died in 1987.

You will be Amazed if i tell you people who has Itsekiri blood but not known. A good example is Diende Fernandez. It will amaze you that his mother was Itsekiri and in fact spoke good Itsekiri.

Goodboiyy:


@bolded.. Awolowo like itsekiri die...

lol, true.

wirinet:
Thank you for the write up, but wait o, what of me, i did not see my name in the dedications. I have been representing Iwere here since 2008. Honestly, i did not know there are so many Itsekiris on Nairaland.

Scholes0 You owe Bros an apology.. Na strong Itsekiri man..

Many itsekiri they NL o.. but my case different.. am more Urhobo than itsekiri..

Beautiful, educative piece. Learnt a couple of things about my tribe from it.

wirinet:


How Awolowo no go like Itsekiri, his first major political sponsor was an Itsekiri man in the person of Pa Alfred Rewane. Rewane was with Awo until he died in 1987.

You will be Amazed if i tell you people who has Itsekiri blood but not known. A good example is Diende Fernandez. It will amaze you that his mother was Itsekiri and in fact spoke good Itsekiri.

@Bolded re you serious ?.. omo fratermathy you get 1 job to do for me, Abeg Investigate this Fernandez issue. make we create thread put.

There is nothing to investigate. My Aunt who is a well know Itsekeri icon is a very good friend to him, infact they grew up together on Lagos Island. Whenever they meet when he came to Nigeria, they spoke fluent Itsekiri together.

God bless Itsekiri people.

Beautiful people, beautiful culture, beautiful language, and extremely intelligent folks. The early European missionaries described them as the most intelligent people in the Lower Niger.

Itsekiri folks, is Ifo Ekpre-Olomu an Itsekiri name or an Urhobo name? I know Nana Olomu was a great Itsekiri king or so.

Goodboiyy:


Scholes0 You owe Bros an apology.. Na strong Itsekiri man..

Many itsekiri they NL o.. but my case different.. am more Urhobo than itsekiri..

Who tell you say you be more Urhobo than Itsekiri? As long as you get Itsekiri blood (even if na small), you be Itsekiri. I know many people whos mother or grandmother is itsekiri but they are very passionate about Itsekiri matter. Besides, hardly would you find an Itsekiri person without some Urhobo connection. I for example, my maternal grandmother is Urhobo from Aladja.

Yes ooooo.

Rotimi47:
Why is it that oritsefemi's pic is not included?

Guy na wa for you oo.. see the way you quote full Topic.. Are you a Nigerian ?

Goodboiyy:


@bolded.. .. Awolowo like itsekiri die.. The only similarities b/w itsekiri and Yoruba apart from there language is Hospitality and Intelligence .. An average Yoruba/Itsekiri person is brilliant..
it runs in there DNA..

So so so true........Awolowo really loved them die......and I don't blame him sha......itsekiris are a peaceful beautiful and blessed people.....