CULTURE: New Olu Of Warri Ascends Throne

CULTURE: New Olu Of Warri Ascends Throne

August 22, 2021

At exactly 3.30 p.m., Gabriel Awala, the Uwangue of Warri Kingdom, lowered the crown on Tsola Emiko as the 21st Olu of Warri.

As the Saturday rain poured down on the crowd of excited guests packed in a barge heading towards Ode-Itsekiri, an elderly man, drenched by the downpour, raised both hands skyward in quiet supplication to the elements to save the day from rain.

A few hours later, his prayers were answered. The sky had taken a clear, bright hue, and hundreds of people had converged on Ode-Itsekiri, an island off the Warri river, brimming with collective anticipation as they awaited the emergence of their new king from the Aghofen (palace).

The king-designate performed some traditional rites before he was crowned. In one rite, he paddled a canoe and afterward swung the paddle three times over his head to symbolise that he’d never undertake the task again as long as he lives.

In another rite, he was blindfolded and led to an array of ceremonial swords, each representing the names of the 20 monarchs before him and one new one bearing his name. While still being blindfolded, he picked one of the swords and the title was proclaimed, for the first time, immediately after his coronation.

After he emerged from the palace, the king-designate, accompanied by his chiefs, undertook a ceremonial walk around the island before making his way to the venue of the coronation.

He will be known by the title Atunwase III, essentially picking the mantle from his late father who was Atunwase II.

Women danced in the hall, men hugged one another, and the crowd erupted in cheers for their new, 37-year-old king.

It was a joyous occasion – once-in-a-lifetime even, in a way – for the horde of humans decked in flowery red and white attires crammed inside the coronation hall and watching on large screens outside: the 21st Olu of Warri was crowned on the 21st day of August in the 21st millennium.

“We are very happy to be here today,” said Anthony Okotie, a businessman who said he is also a relative of the new king.

“The sword the king picked is the same sword his father of blessed memory picked, that’s why everybody is happy, that it’s a new dawn.

“Atunwase means ‘everything will be renewed, let everything be done in a good way.’”

“In fact, it has brought all Itsekiris together, uniting us together as a people who were once together but not too long ago had different factions created based on financial and economic reasons.