Fun, Renewed Unity as Itsekiri Nation Celebrates Late Ikenwoli at Final Rites

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Activities marking the final funeral rites for the late 20th Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli held recently at Ode-Itsekiri in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State with entertainment and homages in honour of the departed monarch.

The 14 days final rites, which began with a vigil, turned out to be a gathering of the Itsekiri nation as natives, joined by neighbours and well-wishers, trooped into the Itsekiri ancestral home to share the joy of the event.

The significance of the occasion was all about entertainment and sharing in honouring the departed monarch as the interment was already done during the Iken rites.

However, it is the belief of Itsekiris that the soul of the late monarch does not journey to final rest until all the rites are performed. Therefore, the final rites were the reason they gathered.

The unique event however was held amidst heavy security presence and lasted from the dusk of Saturday till the dawn of Sunday with guests and Indigenes thoroughly frisked before being allowed into the town hall.

THISDAY learnt that the heavy security presence was to forestall any form of unrest, following the tension that has accompanied the succession process for the stool, and more recently the development at a High Court sitting in Warri, where a party is challenging the choice of Prince Tsola Emiko as the then Olu-designate.

The ceremony, presided over by the regent, Prince Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, began with some rituals performed at the catafalque, a spiritual home that the corpse of the departed monarch lives throughout the 14-day spiritual exercise.

As the rituals are concluded, canons otherwise called ikurusu were fired signalling the commencement of the rich cultural display of the Itsekiri people.

Men and women, young and old, the Ogele Ukpukpe, Ibiogbe and Uku-Umalikun Ola-Aja dancers, clad in native attires took up the centre stage at about 9 pm singing and dancing to drummers’ rhythms.

Members of the Warri Traditional Council of Chiefs, including its chairman, the Iyatsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Johnson Amatserunleghe; the Olu Advisory Council, princes and members of the Ginuwa l Ruling House and indigenes across Itsekiri communities were seated in the hall.

Some chiefs, including member representing the Warri Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi, joined in the dancing. Many extolled the qualities of Ogiame Ikenwoli, who has often been described as a “peace” crusader.

Ogiame Ikenwoli was crowned on December 12, 2015, and died in December 2020, shortly after his fifth coronation anniversary.

Speaking on the essence of the ceremony, Prince Yemi Emiko declared that the beauty of the celebration is the symbol of unity it presents for the kingdom.

“As a people, Itsekiri cannot all be one in politics, economic or social lives. It is not wrong to have differences at those levels, but the crown binds us all. When it comes to the royalty, Itsekiri is one, all differences are collapsed. So from this passage through the coronation of the successor, it is constant reminder that we are one family, one language, one crown.”

Over the celebration, Ode-Itsekiri experienced outstanding facelift. The palace grounds wore wearing new paintings and robust decorations, so were other residences and the arena crafted for the entertainment and rites.

As part of the ceremony, able-bodied men dressed in white wrapper on bare upper body, who bore swords performed the Session, a sublime dance of homage before a catafalque covered with red clothes.

From the take-off Friday through to the next 14 days, the final funeral rites continued with all Itsekiri communities displaying dance and entertainment homages in honour of the late Olu.

On August 21, another chapter of celebrations will be done to install the Olu designate, Prince Tsola Emiko as the 21st Olu of Warri.