The Olu of Warri has gone to be with his ancestors; long live the Olu.
It was announced about a month ago that the 20th Oba or Olu of Iwere Kingdom (Warri) Ogiame Ikenwoli, joined his ancestors.
It happened 5 months earlier, on 20th December, 2020.
A successor was immediately chosen in Prince Tsola Emiko, 37 year old son of Ogiame Atuwatse II, 19th Olu of Warri. He’s also nephew of the deceased Olu.
The choice was made by the kingmakers & ratified by the Ifa Oracle, in accordance with Warri tradition.
The funeral rites for the late Olu commenced on Monday 10th of May 2021. A sober and joyous occasion, led by the Olu designate.
Sober because he had to accompany the late Olu, his uncle, on his final journey to be laid to rest with his ancestors at the royal cemetery in Ijalla.
Ijalla is a few kilometers outside Ode-Itsekiri, also called Warri Olu or Big Warri, which is a not too far across the water from the city of Warri.
It is also a joyous occasion, as the Prince will come back from that trip as the Daniken or crown prince.
He will then go into seclusion to undergo traditional and spiritual tutelage.
He will be away for three lunar months, during which Warri will be under the administration of a regent, the Olori Ebi, Prince Emmanuel Okotie-Ebo.
Itsekiri, a distinct group, are strongly related to the Yoruba.
The 5 pre-Ginuwa aboriginal settlers: Omadino, Ugborodo, Irigbo/Okotomu, Ureju & Inorin originally came from Ode Ijebu, a riverine village in today’s Ogun State, while some came from Onukumi (Olukumi) in Kogi.
They speak a Yoruboid language closely related to some of the dialects found in the eastern parts of Yorubaland; Owo, Akure, Ilaje, Ikale, Ijebu, Remo.
They also share elements of culture with Yoruba, Edo, Urhobo & Ijaw, from generations of historical contacts and interactions.
In contemporary/modern Nigeria, they have had a strong bond with the Yoruba since the time of Erejuwa II who reigned from 1951-1986.
That bond was also shown in the politics of the era under Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
They also have strong relations with the Edo.
Their position on the Niger delta put them in early trade relations with Portuguese since the 15th century.
They had a string of Olu who were Roman Catholic and at least one grew up in Portugal.
Their court dress has a strong resemblance to Catholic ecclesiastical robes.
Thanks to Peter Arthur-Prest for some information used here.
The videos are taken from a post by Baruch Eyimofe Pemu.
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This is Amos Shackleford, 1887-1954, aka The Bread King of Lagos.
Amos Shackleford was a Jamaican. He first came to Lagos in 1913 to work for the Nigerian Railway, living at Ebute Metta.
He returned to Jamaica at the end of his three year contract with Nigerian Railway in 1916.
He returned to Nigeria two years later in 1918 and became head clerk for the Nigerian firm of S. Thomas and Co.
The firm S. Thomas & Co was owned by PJC Thomas one of the leading Nigerian businessman of his time, and the first president of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce.
Shackleflord with his wife later set up a bakery that produced bread under the brand Shackleford Bread.
It is from this that he earned his monicker, Bread King of Lagos.
Shackleford Bread became successful & soon expanded to other Nigerian cities & into the Gold Coast (Ghana).
The announcement of the death of Bode Agusto at 68, today brings to mind his Afro Brazilian Muslim heritage.
He is the grandson of the Imam Lawal Basil Agusto 1885-1971.
We pay tribute to the illustrious Bode Agusto as we recall the life of his equally illustrious grandfather.
Imam Basil Agusto QC was the son of a Muslim Brazilian returnees of Lagos island.
His family was one of many Afro-Brazilian Muslim families such as Salvador, Yahaya Tokunboh, Tiamiyu Savage, Jubril Martin, Gomez, Da Silva & Pedro families.
His father was Abubakre Joao Agusto, alias Taiyese of Popo Aguda.
After early Koranic education, L. B. Agusto enrolled in primary school & subsequently attended St. Gregory’s College.
After Greg’s, he took a part-time job as a teacher at Muslim Secondary School Lagos.
In 1854 Chief Ogunbona, Balogun of Ikija, generalissimo of the Egba & patron of the Christian mission threw a European style dinner party for all the Europeans & missionaries in Abeokuta.
It was to settle some very difficult problems between Christians & traditionalists.
In 1854, Christianity was just about a decade among the Egba, so there was still issues.
The following are two accounts by two of the invitees, one focusing on the setting and the other Ogunbona’ speech.
As found in Religious Encounter & the Making of the Yoruba, By J.D.Y Peel.
1. Thirteen sat down to table, Ogunbona* being flanked by Chief Sagbua & Basorun Somoye** on one side, and Mrs Townsend, to carve the meat, on the other; and the meal was witnessed by thirteen friends and retainers of each chief.
The Lisa of Lagos, Chief Joseph Kosoniola Randle 1909–1956.
"The Chef de Mission of the Ceylonese team to the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, Mr J Grere (right) hands a caddy of Ceylon tea to the Chef de Mission of Nigerian team, Chief JK Randle.”
📷: National Archives Australia
Chief JK Randle II the son of Dr. John Kehinde Randle, physician & sports philanthropist, was also a keen sportsman & supporter.
He was the first captain of the Zik’s Sports Club, private members club in Lagos.
He is the father of well known accountant, Bashorun JK Randle III.
Sadly, he took ill on the return flight from the 1956 games & died aged 47, in hospital in Lagos, shortly after landing.
A few years later, a group of friends of his raised funds and put up the JK Randle Hall in Onikan, in his memory.
He started as an Education Officer in the Colonial Service; his choice of posting was to Nigeria.
He landed Marina , Lagos, on the on the 4th September 1950.
His first posting was to the Provincial Education Office, Abeokuta, where he served under Mr. J.M.M.Osimosu.
By April 1951, he made his first appearance in Government College Ibadan, for one term on relief duties!
A major posting later came as Provincial Education Officer, Oyo, during which time he worked on the Universal Free Primary Education Policy of the Action Group Government.
In May 1959 he reported on promotion, as Principal of Government College Ibadan.