Itsekiri
The
Itsekiri (also called the
Jekri,
Isekiri or
Ishekiri) are an
ethnic group of
Nigeria's
Niger delta area, particularly the city of
Warri. The Itsekiri number roughly 450,000 people.
In the fifteenth century, the Itsekiri adopted a prince from the
Kingdom of Benin as a monarch, and quickly coalesced into a kingdom under his rule. Traditionally fishermen and traders, the Itsekiri were among the first in the region to make contact with
Portuguese traders. These interactions led the Itsekiri to become primarily
Roman Catholic. The Itsekiri monarchy has continued to the present day, with the coronation of Ogiame Atuwatse II in 1987.
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Itsekiri US
