A bit about the history of the Itsekiri
According to Bini and Itsekiri histories Ginuwa, a prince of Benin founded the Iwerre (Warri) Kingdom about 1480. In the 15th century Warri 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. Olu Erejuwa, who reigned from about 1720 to 1800, expanded Warri politically and commercially, using the Portuguese to further Warri's independence of Benin and to establish control over a wider area.
Later Warri served as the base for Portuguese and Dutch slave traders. Warri became a 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. Warri was established as a provincial headquarters by the British in the early 20th century.
THE OLUS (KINGS) OF WARRI KINGDOM
Ginuwa I (1480- 16th century)
Ogbowuru I (16th century)
Irame I (16th century)
Ojoluwa I (16th century)
Esigie I (16th century)
Atorongboye I A.K.A. Sabastian (1570- 1620 AD
Atuwatse I A.K.A Oyeomasan Don Domingos (1625-1643)
Oyenakpara I A.K.A Obanighenren Don Antonio Domingo (1643-1653)
Omoluyere I (17th century)
Abejoye I A.K.A matias (17th century)
Akenjoye I A.K.A Ludivico Domingo (1675-1709)
Omagboye I (18th century)
Akengboye I A.K.A Agostino Sabastiao Octobia (1730-1732)
Atogbuwa I A.K.A Manuel Octobia (1734-1760)
Erejuwa I A.K.A Sabastian Manuel Octobia (1760-1795)
Akengbuwa I A.K.A eyeolusan Joao (1808- 14th June 1848)
Ginuwine II A.K.A Emiko Ikengbuwa (7th February 1936- 8th January 1949)
Erejuwa II A.K.A Wilson Ayoronmitsi Gbesimi Emiko (24th march 1951-17th December 1986)
Atuwatse II A.K.A Godwin Toritseju Emiko (2nd May 1987- 5th September 2015)
Ikenwoli I A. K. A Godfery ikenwoli Emiko (12th December 2015-20th December 2020)
Atuwatse III A.K.A Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko (21st August 2021 - Present)
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