Interesting facts about the Itsekiri tribe in Delta State

In this piece, News360 Nigeria archives a brief documentary about the culture and traditions of the Itsekiri tribe in Delta State.

The Itsekiri people are an ethnic group in Nigeria, primarily located in the Niger Delta region of the country.

They are native fishermen and skilled traders who live in the riverine regions of Warri South and Warri North. They speak a language related to the Yoruboid language.

They are regarded as one of the special and unusual people in Nigeria because they have a dignified sense of culture and tradition.

The Itsekiri region, also known as the Warri Kingdom or Iwere in the past, is a significant hub for the production of natural gas, crude oil, and petroleum refinement in Nigeria as well as an industrial center.

The Itsekiri ethnic group’s history, culture, and traditions reflect a deep connection to their environment and a rich heritage that continues to be celebrated and preserved within their communities.

Origin

According to history, Ginuwa, a prince of Benin, founded the Warri Kingdom long ago.

The Portuguese missionaries traveled there in the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries, and in the seventeenth century, a Warri prince returned home with a Portuguese wife, whose son Antonio Domingo went on to become the Olu of Warri in the sixteenth century.

The Roman Catholic Church came to dominate Itsekiri land as a result of these interactions between the Itsekiri and the Portuguese missionaries.

The Itsekiri are renowned for their pre-colonial encounters with European explorers and traders as well as their historical ties to the Benin Kingdom.

Location

The Itsekiri people primarily inhabit the Warri South, Warri North, and Warri South West Local Government Areas of Delta State in Nigeria.

The region’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and waterways has historically influenced the Itsekiri way of life and cultural practices.

Language

It is believed that the Itsekiri language is a Yoruba dialect.

Because of its centuries-long contact with speakers of the Portuguese, English, Igala, and Bini languages, it has also been influenced by those languages.

Population

The Itsekiris, who number around 2.7 million, are primarily residents of Delta State, Nigeria’s Warri South, Warri North, and Warri South West local government districts.

Occupation

Historically, because of their location in the Niger Delta, the Itsekiri people have engaged in farming, fishing, and trading. Due to their closeness to the coast and waterways, many Itsekiri communities have historically relied on fishing as their primary source of income.

Beliefs

The Itsekiri people’s traditional religion is based on the veneration of numerous gods and ancestor spirits.

The community’s spiritual life is greatly influenced by these beliefs, which are frequently combined with rites, festivals, and ceremonies.

With time, the Itsekiri people have also adopted Christianity, with many of them adhering to various Christian denominations.

Traditions

The Itsekiri people have a gerontocratic political structure in which priests are held in great regard and elders are selected as leaders.

They are subordinate to a monarch, the Olu, and the political class that he leads through his council of chiefs.

The Oloyes and Olareajas, who comprise the royal class, are part of the leadership hierarchy of the Itsekiri people.

Group of Itsekiri chiefs

The Omajaja, considered to be the free-born offspring of Itsekiri, and the Oton-Eru, considered to be servants and slaves.

Regardless of social class, modern Itsekiris regard their elders with reverence.

The Itsekiri people also have a rich tradition of storytelling, folklore, and oral history that is passed down through generations.

Culture

Vibrant festivals, music, dance, and traditions define Itsekiri culture.

Men’s traditional clothing consists of brightly colored wrappers, a long-sleeved shirt called a Kemeje, and a hat with a feather glued on it.

The women encircle their waists with a George wrapper in addition to a blouse.

They adorn their heads with vibrant coral beads and scarves.

These attires are commonly worn during cultural events and ceremonies.

Food

The Itsekiri cuisine features a variety of traditional dishes that are influenced by their proximity to water bodies.

Seafood, such as fish, crab, and prawns, is a significant part of their diet.

Traditional dishes include pepper soup, banga soup (palm nut soup), starch, Owo soup made from palm oil and various cassava-based dishes.

The Itsekiris enjoy palm fruits and seafood as their food.

Marriage

Typically, in an Itsekiri traditional marriage, two families plan the day the bride price or dowry will be paid, as opposed to two individuals making such a decision.

The marriage union is sealed when the groom’s family pays the dowry