I want to include my input on the review of the book, Warri: A Focus on the Itsekiri, recently published on the Arts & Culture page. On the front cover of this book, is a map entitled ITSEKIRI. Across the map is printed in bold letters: WARRI, thus Warri is the same thing as Itsekiri. They are, and may be used interchangeably. As already clearly pointed out by reviewers, the new book has treated several areas in the history of the Itsekiri/Warri people. Therefore, I just was to discuss the maps.

In my view, the book sets out to discuss and explain beyond any doubt, not only the sameness of the meanings of Warri and Itsekiri, but all the three meanings “Warri” represent in history. There are six  maps and a plan of Warri in 1926 contained in the book. The first two maps mark the Warri homeland as Itsekiri and the other four are as follows:

(1)    A US congress map of Western Africa dated 1851 marks it as Warree beside Benin — at the time European explorer/traders/missionaries had not gone into the hinterland.

(2)    A French map: L’Afrique Ou Lybie of 1679 shows Ouwerre beside Benin at a time much earlier than as above.

(3)    Then  a Dutch map of 1705 shows Awyri also beside Benin

(4)    Then a fourth map of US Library of congress made in 1747 also shows Aweri beside Benin.

What the maps have precisely shown is that over a long time when Benin and Warri kingdoms were dealing with Europe and before the British penetrated the hinterland towards the close of the 19th century, the Portuguese, the Dutch etc had dealt the Iweri, a name they spelt variously as shown above (and much more) until a British consul about 1850s spelt it Warri.

As at 1926, the plan of Warri shows three leases: B2 of 1906 (360 acres) lease B5 of 1908 (90 acres) and lease B7 of 1911 (350 acres). With the lease of 1917 to John Holt, the three leases cover the entire old Warri Township. The inclusion in the book is to explain he litigation over the ownership of Warri that went from the Supreme Court (then High Court) in 1927, through the full court (now Supreme Court) 1931, to the privy council (1933) and which process ultimately vested ownership in the Warri throne.

By Mark Ogharaerumi, Ph.D, Warri.