The Historic “Official” Itsekiri Crowns

During his coronation, H.M. Olu Atuwatse-III made reference to the historic 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀 of the Warri Kingdom of Itsekiri.

Please refer to the embedded video below for reference & details.From the Olu’s testimony:

The first was a beaded crown brought by Ginuwa from the Benin palace; the second was a Portuguese-style silver crown; and the third is a golden crown made in the same Portuguese style.

Please refer to the image below for the silver and golden crowns.Unfortunately, not much is known about the “actual”, primary, official crown — the beaded crown.

Fortunately for posterity however, all information is not lost on this crown.

Lieutenant John King, R.N. was at the Warri kingdom 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘢 1818.Lieut. John King, R.N. beheld this very crown and has got a little (but crucial) piece to share with posterity.

Lt. John King notes:"At Warri “the 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 of the sovereign is a sort of large cap in the 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗲 three feet high, covered with 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 and with a couple of 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱𝘀’ 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗽” (King)."

King, R. N. in H. L. Roth (1903), p. 27. n. 1.Notice how the description furnished by John King unmistakably matches the 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗯𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀 called 𝗔𝗱é-Ń𝗹á.

Please compare the “𝗔𝗱é-Ń𝗹á” crown 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 below with Lieut. John King’s description of the Itsekiri crown.

Notice the striking resemblance.𝗔𝗱é-Ń𝗹á crowns (i.e. 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗲-𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹𝘀) are unique articles of 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗯𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆. 

They are renowned for their 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻 from the sacred & primary Yoruba kingdom of 𝗜𝗳ẹ̀.In Conclusion: 

It now becomes clear that the “𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹” crown of the Warri kingdom of Itsekiri was an 𝗔𝗱é-Ń𝗹á crown.

It also becomes clear that the palace of the Bini once held at least one 𝗔𝗱é-Ń𝗹á (of 𝗜𝗳ẹ̀ origin) with which Ginuwa left Benin for Ode-Itsekiri.

Odionwere Gift Imafidon