Ginuwa I

Olu Ginuwa (also known as Iginuwa) was an Itsekiri king who was the first Olu of Warri.^[1] He was the eldest son of Oba Olua, the 14th Oba of Benin (1473–1480 A.D.) and Heir Apparent to the throne of the Great Benin Kingdom. He migrated from Benin Kingdom and was crowned the first Olu of Warri. He reigned for a period of 30 years. He reigned from 1480 to 1510.^[2] He was succeeded by his son, Olu Ijijen (Ogbowuru).^[3] Another of his sons, Olu Irame took over as king after Olu Ijijen joined his ancestors.^[4][5]

Olu Ginuwa
Ódìhí N’amẹ, Ọba N’amẹ, Olú of Iwere
Portrait of Olu Ginuwa first of his name
Reign	c. 1480 – c. 1510 (estimated)
Coronation	c. 1480
Successor	Olu Ijijen
Born	Unknown Udo, Kingdom of Benin
Died	c. 1510 (estimated) Warri Kingdom, Nigeria
Spouse	Urowoli of Ureju
Issue	Olu Ijijen, Olu Irame
House	Oranmiyan ruling house
Father	Oba Olua
Mother	Olori (Owo)
Religion	Traditional Itsekiri beliefs
Occupation	Traditional Ruler

Ginuwa (c. 1445 – c. 1510) was a Benin prince and the founder of the Kingdom of Warri (also known as Ale-Iwere), serving as its first Olu from around 1480 until his death. He was the eldest son of Oba Olua, the 14th Oba of Benin (r. 1473–1480), and grandson of Oba Ewuare (r. 1440–1473). Ginuwa's migration from Benin established an independent kingdom for the Itsekiri people, marking a pivotal event in the region's history.^[6][7]

Early life and conflicts in Benin

Ginuwa was born around 1445 in the royal court of the Kingdom of Benin. Favored by his father, Oba Olua, he was designated as the crown prince and resided outside the capital among the hereditary chiefs, as per Benin custom. However, Ginuwa's opposition against the traditions and customs he deems evil and outdated led to tensions with the chiefs, who feared his potential reforms as a future Oba. He organized groups of youths to challenge and intimidate the chiefs and their supporters, prompting the chiefs to secretly plot his elimination under the leadership of the Iyase (chief minister).^[8][9][7]

To protect his son, Oba Olua consulted Ogifa, the chief oracle diviner, who advised constructing an ark from iroko wood to smuggle Ginuwa out of the kingdom. The ark was designed to carry Ginuwa, the firstborn sons of Benin’s seventy chiefs, their attendants, and possessions. Oba Olua summoned the chiefs to a council, announcing that Ginuwa would perform rites to the river goddess Olokun, accompanied by their sons. Unaware of the deception, the chiefs agreed, believing it a temporary mission.^[10]

Migration and founding of the Warri Kingdom

The migration began around 1475, with the ark transported through dense forests to Ugharegin on the banks of the River Ethiope, a journey lasting three days. At Ugharegin, Ginuwa emerged from the ark adorned in royal regalia, declaring himself king and commanding his entourage to follow him. When Benin chiefs realized the deception and dispatched warriors to retrieve their sons, Ginuwa prayed to Umalokun, the god of the sea, promising annual sacrifices. The waters rose, floating the ark and allowing their escape, an event that originated the Umalokun Olaja festival, with its priest at Ureju.^[10][11][12]

The group drifted to Efurokpe on the Jamieson River, where Ginuwa’s sister Oyeifo remained due to impending childbirth. Continuing through Arun-owun into the Escravos River, they settled at Amatu (Aleodiaja) for several decades. The site's sandy, infertile soil prompted relocation to Oruselemo, where Ginuwa married Derumo, an Ijaw woman, fostering cordial relations with local Ijaws.^[13][14]

A dispute arose when Ginuwa killed Derumo over her sharp-tongued remarks, leading the Ijaws of Gulani (Ogulagha) to prepare an ambush. Ginuwa instructed his people to publicly mourn her, convincing the Ijaws of their grief and averting war. Fearing renewed conflict, Ginuwa now joined by the diviner Idibie relocated to Ijala, where they encountered Yoruba-speaking Itsekiri people. There, Ginuwa was crowned the first Olu of Iwere, establishing the Kingdom of Warri without conquest. The accompanying chiefs' sons became its founding nobility.^[15]

Death and legacy

Ginuwa ruled until his death around 1510 at Ijala, where he was buried, establishing it as the traditional burial ground for subsequent Olus. By then, he had two sons: Ijijen (Olu Ogbowuru) and Irame. Ijijen succeeded him, relocating the capital to Ode-Itsekiri and unifying all Itsekiri communities such as Omadino, Ureju, Ugborodo, and Inorin into the kingdom. Irame later succeeded Ijijen, ruling until around 1570.^[16][17]

The Kingdom of Warri, which spanned beyond the present-day regions of Warri South, Warri South West, and Warri North, maintained its independence, with no external allegiance or ruler over the Itsekiri people except their Olu. Ginuwa’s reign laid the foundation for Itsekiri cultural and political identity, with early European contact noted around 1516 when the Portuguese visited Ijala.^[18]