The Royal Houses of Delta State

Tracing the royal bloodlines of the Niger Delta

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Ginuwa I
Photo: LordSnow242 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Ginuwa I

Olu of Warri
Warri Kingdom
Title
Olu of Warri
Succession
1st Olu of Warri
Reigned
c. 1480 – c. 1510
Lived
? – c. 1510
Children
Ijijen · Irame

About

Olu Ginuwa (also known as Iginuwa) was an Itsekiri king who was the first Olu of Warri. 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. According to Bini and Itsekiri histories, Olu Ginuwa, a prince of Benin Kingdom, founded the Warri Kingdom about 1480. Myths of origin establish that Ginuwa, the Itsekiri founder and first olu (king), was originally a prince of Benin, so that subsequent kings are descendants of the oba of Benin.

Notable facts

  • First Olu (king) of Warri, founding the Itsekiri kingdom around 1480
  • Eldest son of Oba Olua, the 14th Oba of Benin (1473–1480 A.D.)
  • Was Heir Apparent to the throne of the Benin Kingdom before migrating
  • Belonged to the Oranmiyan ruling house; born in Udo, Kingdom of Benin
  • His spouse was Urowoli of Ureju; his sons Olu Ijijen and Olu Irame succeeded the line
  • Succeeded by his son Olu Ijijen, who reigned 1510–1538

🔗 Sources

Where Ginuwa fits

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