Precolonial Africa Archives ~ Ozi Ikòrò

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16th–17th-century Benin Bronze brass plaque showing figures associated with Afro-Portuguese encounters, reflecting the type of West African–European interactions that reached the Niger Delta by the early 1500s. Photo credit; Sailko…

19

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

Olu Erejuwa I: The Expansion of the Warri Empire’s Trade Borders in the 18th Century

The reign of Olu Erejuwa I in the 18th century represents one of the most economically significant eras in the history of the Warri Kingdom. The period marked an expansion…

19

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Biography Ethnohistory

The “Golden Skin” Prince: The Reign of Olu Oyenakpagha (Antonio Domingos)

Olu Oyenakpagha, also known by his Christian name Antonio Domingos, remains one of the most culturally significant rulers in the history of the Warri Kingdom. Reigning in the mid-17th century,…

19

Jan 2026

Biography Ethnohistory

Olu Atorongboye (Sebastian I): The 16th-Century Monarch Who Strengthened Ties with King Philip II of Spain

A historic map showing Aweri (Warri) when Olu Atorongboye’s dynasty bolstered external ties with Iberian powers during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Photo credit; LordSnow242 via Wikimedia Commons Olu…

18

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Biography Cultural Heritage

Olu Atuwatse I (Dom Domingos): The First University Graduate in Sub-Saharan Africa (University of Coimbra, 1611)

Olu Atuwatse I, also known as Dom Domingos, stands out as one of the most remarkable monarchs in West African history. Born into the royal lineage of the Warri Kingdom…

18

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

The Iwebo Palace Society: Administrative Similarities Between the Benin and Warri Royal Courts

The Kingdoms of Benin and Warri share deep cultural, political, and historical linkages that date back to the late 15th and early 16th centuries, particularly through the migration of Prince…

18

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Ethnohistory

The Iwoki Ward: The Specialists of the Gun

The mastery of firearms among many West African communities before and during the colonial era depended heavily on specialized guilds, wards, and lineages responsible for weapon production, maintenance, and ritual…

Tag: Precolonial Africa

The 1516 Portuguese Mission: The First Formal European Contact at Ijala

Olu Erejuwa I: The Expansion of the Warri Empire’s Trade Borders in the 18th Century

The “Golden Skin” Prince: The Reign of Olu Oyenakpagha (Antonio Domingos)

Olu Atorongboye (Sebastian I): The 16th-Century Monarch Who Strengthened Ties with King Philip II of Spain

Olu Atuwatse I (Dom Domingos): The First University Graduate in Sub-Saharan Africa (University of Coimbra, 1611)

The Iwebo Palace Society: Administrative Similarities Between the Benin and Warri Royal Courts

The Iwoki Ward: The Specialists of the Gun