OzikoroWhy There Is a Cross on the Crown: The Symbol of the 17th-Century Christian Covenant Between the Olu and the Portuguese
Among the Itsekiri people of the Warri Kingdom, one of the most distinctive features of the royal regalia is the cross engraved on the crown of the Olu. This Christian symbol, so visibly displayed on a traditional African monarch’s headpiece, reflects a centuries-old diplomatic and religious covenant between the Warri monarchy and the Portuguese. Emerging…