Itsekiri in Nigeria

The Itsekiri have only been reported in Nigeria
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Itsekiri (also called Jekri, Iṣekiri, Ijekiri or Ishekiri) are a peculiar and unique riverine ethnic group currently numbering close to a million people in Nigeria and a little above a hundred thousand in the Diaspora. Obaro Ikime, a prominent historian described the Itsekiri homeland as follows: "The Itsekiri inhabit the North Western extremity of the Niger Delta in an area bounded approximately by latitudes 50 20 and 60 N and longitudes 50 5 and 50 40 East. According to oral tradition, in several waves of migration before the 15th Century, and some a little later, groups from Igala in Nupe country came in through the creeks; Yoruba from Ijebu-ode, Akure, and Owo found their way into parts of Iwẹrẹland and a group from Aboh also came in. Some along the coast came in through Gulani/Amatu, all living independently in the various communities. The Itsekiris traditionally refer to their land as Warri Kingdom or 'Iwerre' as its proper name, known over time in history as Iwẹrẹ or Awyri, Warree, Aweri and Wari etc. Their neighbors are Bini to the North, the Ijaw to the South, the Urhobo to the East and the Yoruba of Ondo province to the North-West." Long before the 14th century, the Itsekiris lived independently in these communities – Irigbo, Ureju, Omadino and Ugborodo. They have for long inhabited their homeland, Warri, for centuries before the arrival of the Europeans. Their homeland now spreads accross three Local Government Areas of (Warri South, Warri North and Warri South-West), and parts of Uvwie, Udu, Sapele, Okpe, Ethiope West and Ethiope East Local Government Areas of Delta State. They can also be found in Ikpoba Okha and Ovia North-East Local Government Areas of Edo State. The Itsekiris are a minority ethnic group in Niger-Delta but they were well-respected by the Europeans who met them during the pre-colonial and colonial era. Dapper in 1668 had described Itsekiri as being in many ways cleverer (Roth H. Ling. Great Benin). Captain Leonard described the Itsekiri thus: "on the Warri and Benin rivers we find the itsekiri middle men who are not only the most intelligent and tractable but quite the best mannered of all the tribes in the lower Niger' (southern Nigeria) (Captain Leonard 1906). Olu Erejuwa, who reigned from about 1720 to 1800, expanded Warri politically and commercially, The coastal location of the kingdom and accessible waterways and rivers did not only lead to the early contacts of the Itsekiri with medieval Europe, especially Portugal and foster a conservative Christian education and civilization, but it led to her significant prosperity between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries as trade with neighboring ethnic groups and Europeans flourished.


Where Are they Located?

Warri Delta State, edo state, Ogun state and others


What Are Their Lives Like?

Language The Itsekiri are a people of mixed ethnic origins who speak a language very closely related to the Yoruba and Igala languages of South Western and central Nigeria, but which has also borrowed some vocabulary, particularly loan words from the Edo (Bini) language in some royal terminologies; Portuguese in trade terminologies and also more recently, English. Although linguistically related to the Yoruba and Igala ethnic groups, however, through centuries of intermingling modern day Itsekiris are of mixed ethnic origins. Iṣekiri is spoken in the three Warri Local Government Areas, parts of Uvwie, Udu, Sapele, Okpe, Ethiope West and Ethiope East Local Government Areas of Delta State. It is also spoken in parts of Ikpoba Okha and Ovia North-East Local Government Areas of Edo State.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Religions practiced in Warri Kingdom From time immemorial, Itsekiris have been known to practice different religions. A good number of Itsekiris were traditional worshippers at the formation of the Kingdom. When the Portuguese came to Warri Kingdom many years ago, the Itsekiris adopted Christianity and practised this alongside the traditional worshipping of the different deities. This continued for many years before some of them became full time Christians and others remained as traditional worshippers. Prior to the arrival of the Europeans, Itsekiris believe in God as the Creator and Supreme Being known as "Oritse". The deity Umalokun in Itsekiri, is the provider of sea foods. Today, Itsekiris are mainly Christians (Protestants, Pentecostants and Roman Catholics). The first ever church monastery built in what is referred today as modern day Nigeria was erected in Big Warri (Ode-ltsekiri) before 1700 and was christened Saint Anthony. However, today the site is known as Satonẹ, a local portmanteau of "Saint Anthony". Having six centuries of direct cultural exposure to Western Christianity and other African influences, contemporary Itsekiri language and culture successfully evolved into a hybrid of the many cultures that have influenced its development. Interestingly, there are still Itsekiris practising both religions. There are also some Itsekiris who have now started practising Islam. A very notable Itsekiri Pastor is Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, who was Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria President twice and also the Christian Association of Nigeria President twice.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Itsekiri in Nigeria.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Itsekiri
People Name in Country Itsekiri
Alternate Names Isekiri; Jekri; Warri
Population this Country 1,010,000
Population all Countries 1,010,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 5  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 12264
ROP3 Code 104081
ROP25 Code 303247
ROP25 Name Isekiri
Country Nigeria
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 6  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Delta state: Warri North, Warri South, and Ethiope West LGAs; Edo state: Ikpoba-Okha, Oredo, and Ovia Southwest LGAs.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Nigeria
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 6  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Delta state: Warri North, Warri South, and Ethiope West LGAs; Edo state: Ikpoba-Okha, Oredo, and Ovia Southwest LGAs..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 42.00 %)
98.00 %
Ethnic Religions
2.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Isekiri (1,010,000 speakers)
Language Code its   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Isekiri (1,010,000 speakers)
Language Code its   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Isekiri

Primary Language:  Isekiri

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1974-1985)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2005-2010)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Isekiri Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source Anonymous 
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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