Gst 201 course guide
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| 2.0 OBJECTIVES At the end of this unit, you should be able to identify the Itsekiri identify the Urhobo identify the Ijaw discuss their origin explain their culture or way of life identify the similarities and dissimilarities among them. GST201 NIGERIAN PEOPLES AND CULTURE 14 3.0 MAIN CONTENT 3.1 The Itsekiri 3.1.1 Origin of the Itsekiri People Iginuwa is known as the man through whom the kingdom of Itsekiri is said to have been established. History tells us that Iginuwa was the son and heir apparent of Oba Olua of Benin in about 1473. You should remember that unlike the Yoruba, Bini and Igbo peoples, the Itsekiri do not have many versions of their origin. According to the Itsekiri tradition, Iginuwa at a time wrongly advised his father on a particular issue. The advice was so disastrous that Iginuwa became very unpopular to the extent that his people vowed never to let him succeed his father. When his father, Oba Olua, noticed the seriousness of the anger of his people against his son, he decided to arrange a kingdom outside Benin for him. This was according to him, the best way to avoid problems in his kingdom. According to the tradition, Iginuwa was then sent with some chiefs and servants to an area by the sea to establish a kingdom of his own. On his arrival, Iginuwa met with some Ijaws who took him along with his followers by canoe to an Island where they finally settled. To most of the Itsekiri, this settlement is known as Itsekiri Kingdom till today. Download 0.68 Mb. Share with your friends:
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