ABSTRACT
The study looked at the origins, problems, and present circumstances surrounding the coronation of Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko as the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III. The study will look at the origin stories of the Itsekiri people, the history of Olu of Warri's reign, the events surrounding Ogiame Atuwatse III's coronation, as well as the problems and contemporary circumstances surrounding the coronation. The Itsekiri is a riverine ethnic group in the western Niger Delta of Nigeria, with a language closely related to Yoruba, Igala, Nupe, and Edo. The Itsekiri people have multiple origins, but they are descendants of different groups of migrants who settled in Nigeria before 53 Ginuwa, the Prince from Benin, became king. The five indigenous communities, known as aborigines, include Ugborodo, Omadino, Ureju, Inorin, and Okotomu. The Itsekiri people, a region in Nigeria, have a rich history of migration and connection to the Benin kingdom. Before the arrival of the royals from Benin, the Itsekiri people practiced a gerontocratic system of governance where the eldest was chosen as the leader surrounded by other elders. Prince Ginuwa, the eldest son of the fourteenth Oba of Benin, was urged to become the Ogiame (lord of the seas) and was supported by 70 noblemen. Prince Ginuwa met with the migrating royals from Benin, who were amazed by their large entourage and proclaimed that his people should be called "Itsekiri" and the capital of the kingdom, Ode-Itsekiri. The prince also conceded political leadership to the Prince and acknowledged the traditional ownership right of the people over the land. The Olu dynasty began with Olu Ginuwa I who led his people to Ijala and then his son who took over. Since the 1480s, the dynasty provided the rallying point for all aboriginal communities, weaving them into a single political, linguistic, and cultural entity known as the Iwerre kingdom. The Itsekiri gentleman is known for his regal carriage and comportment, which is attributed to a blend of Benin customs and traditions. The Itsekiri man has accumulated a distinct personality in his dress code, some of which has been copied by other ethnic nationalities. The Bini language does not have much in common with the Yoruba dialect spoken by the Itsekiri.
