CULTURE AND RELIGION

CULTURE AND RELIGION

The Omadino people traditionally were governed by a Olareaja, Council of Elders and the Juju Priest. The people were known traditionally by their ways of lives, such as fishing skills, melodious songs to praise their gods, colourful masquerades, traditional dances and building of traditional house for burial during burial ceremony.

After adopting the mixed language of the Itsekiri people by the Omadino people, they started to do like the Itsekiri people. In dressing, culture and religion and greeting, their men wear Kemeje (traditional long sleeved shirt), tie a wrapper around their waist and put on cap with feater stuck. Also wear coral beads on their neck and hands. Their women wear a blouse and tie babaluku, ubara,George wrapper around their waist, tie head scarf and wear beads.

RELIGION

The Omadino people are traditionally known in the worship of Umale (juju), Umale Okun (serving the god of the sea), Ebure and Osa. Also playing/consulting the Oracle when someone die or when strange things happen in their land e.t.c.

Christianity in the 16^th century, in Africa brought the Western world Christianity in Itsekiri lands. Make Omadino people go to Church to worship God in different living Churches.

THE GOLDEN AGE

THE GOLDEN AGE  

In the 16^th century Omadino people comes together and restructure their Kingdom and accept to speak one language and culture with the Itsekiri people, which is the Itsekiri language. The Itsekiri language had little different from the Ode language(Yoruba language).The language was easy to speak, and most of Omadino children started speaking it. Due to the domination of the Itsekiri people in Omadino, and their used of the language(Itsekiri). Meanwhile the Itsekiri language was a borrowed language from Omadino language (Ode language), the Igala language, Portuguese language. 

However, in the 18^th century they were group as Itsekiri people, by the colonial Rule. Automatically, they become Itsekiri people. In this period they allow some groups of Ijaws people to stay in their lands founded by their ancestors Ajaji, Kokoda, Ejiyo, Otukunye and Abino. Due to request make by Governor Chanomi in 1870's, the son of Princess Iye of Itsekiri. Asked for and obtained the permission of Omadino people to allow one Ofomini and his son (Beabor) to stay at Ubakokodia. Also Governor Chanomi obtained the approval of the Elders of Omadino people to allow one Akpata and his followers to stay at Okenrenghigho. Omadino people demanded the payment of homage or tribute in the form of drinks, fish and food stuff yearly from all the Ijaws (Akpata, Ofomini and others). Akpata and others paid the tribute and their successors or descendants cotinued to pay this tribute. Omadino people started to collect rents from the fishermen in their rivers, bush(canoe carvers), hunters and palm-nut collectors in 1945. 

In 1516 the Itsekiri King (King Ginuwa 1, the first Itsekiri King) were the first to make a contact with the Portuguese (merchants) who gave him Cassava plant for Cultivation at Ijala. The cassava was called Imidaka in Portuguese Language, later introduced into the Nigeria Agricultural field for the first time ever. The interactions with the Portuguese brought in the Roma Catholic, Education and trade in Warri Kingdom (Itsekiri lands). The Omadino people welcome the newly development brought by the Europeans. At this time change begins to welcome the Omadino people both in life style and thought. They also send their children to the early school brought by the Europeans. 

During the extraction of crude oil and natural gas in the 1960’s – 1970’s in the Mid West Region of Nigeria, the Omadino people welcome the While Men of SPDC into their lands. To find, extract crude oil and natural gas. Also in this period of civilization the Omadino land (Prince Nenuwa first settlement) in Koko, the name of the Princess (Ojomba) was name after a Primary school in Koko. After a good development welcome in Omadino lands, the Elders Council sat and decide to Change the four (4) Idimis in Omadino to three (3) Idimis, namely Idimi Ogborogbo, Idimi Otumara and Idimi Eghorokuerin.

OMADINO OKPERUDE

OMADINO OKPERUDE

Omadino Okperude was one of the greatest assets of Omadino people. The Okperude was a silver shining basin. Prince Nenuwa & his people left Ode Kindgom (Ogun State) with the Okperude to found Omadino’s lands in the 12^th century. The Okperude was a shining silver basin that carry praise, anyone who saw the okperude always imagine and ask him/herself, what kind of mystery basin is this that can’t be comprehend.

In 1540's, the rumor of the Omadino Okperude news reaches the King of Itsekiri (King Irame). He and his warriors prepare and visit Omadino people and asked them to give him their Okperude under duress. As the battle was going, Omadino people saw that the Itsekiri King and his warrior’s power have over power theirs. They decided to sink the Okperude in one creek in Omadino river. So the King was not enabling to get the Okperude, and he and his warriors left Omadino.                         

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OMADINO SETTLEMENT

OMADINO SETTLEMENT  

The Omadino people are group of people who originated from the King Son (Prince Nenuwa) of Ode Kingdom in Ogun State and speak a language of the Yoruba of South Western Nigeria in the 12^th -15^th century. After the death of Prince Nenuwa, his people moved through many villages which they founded in the three (3) Warri local government areas, Delta State. His people now settle down in an Island they called Omadino in Warri South which is their capital Town. Omadino is the “Richest Oil Community in West Africa”, which have the “Biggest Crude Oil field in West Africa” (Jones Creek) and others. All Omadino children are Prince and Princess, so they don’t used to take Chieftaincy title from any King or kingdom. They are known with some title called Omijedoweri and Omapkesikolokolo. Among all the settlement founded by Omadino people, Omadino was the last settlement founded by the Prince children & his people.

Omadino, Ireju and Ugborodo community are the oldest communities in Warri Kingdom. They are being existing before the Itsekiri people arrived the Kingdom. 

Omadino people arrived Omadino with a big boat loaded with assets, including their Okperude (the shining silver basin) and their Umale(god). When they enter the land; already a group of Umale, who transforms themselves to human, exists in the Island. But to their great surprise when the Umales saw them, they all evacuate the land immediately, saying they have not seen these kinds of human being once in their life. Omadino people settle down in the Island and built up the Island to a great village, called Omadino with two Idimis (quarters), including Eku (shrine) where they Umale (god) is living. The two Idimis (quarters) are Ogborogbo and where the Umales who transformed themselves to human being where living.

As time goes, in the 15^th century, the family tree is expanding. Two other groups of people came to live with Omadino people. Including the King children of Itsekiri, who left Ode Itsekiri, as a result of war carry out by King Irame against Otonlu and others in Ode-Itsekiri. Also a group of people from different places came to live with Omadino people.. Prince Nenuwa children of Idimi (quarter) Ogborogbo authorise two other Idimis for the two groups to live in. The two Idimis are Idimi Otumara (where the King of Itsekiri children lives) and Idimi Eghorokuerin, these two other Idimi make all the Idimis in Omadino four (4) Idimis. Prince Nenuwa children & people lives in all the Idimis (quarters) in Omadino and accept the other groups of people as one with love, peace and unity.

The other groups of people learn and joined Prince Nenuwa children & people to speak the Ode language, also joined them to worship their god (Umale) of their land. However the Prince children & people intermarry with the groups of people who come to live in Omadino. They all unite as one and build up Omadino together, serve one god, Ebure together and adopt one culture. All their children become Prince and Princess, due to their fore Father (Prince Nenuwa). “Any one born by Prince or Princess is a Prince or Princess”.

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SETTLEMENT IN THE OBI (THE SHALLOW WATER)

SETTLEMENT IN THE OBI (THE SHALLOW WATER)

Prince Nenuwa & his people found various settlements of villages in the obi (Water front), such as Aghigho, Ubakokodia, Okenrenghigho, Mckavi, Akpata, Jeddo etc.

The Jeddo Settlement, now the Okpe (Urhobo) settlement in the Delta State were founded by Prince Nenuwa & his people, in the 12^th century. When they journey to the Obi, Prince Nenuwa & his people settle in a land he and his people called Jeddo for years and built a village settlement. They carry out the activities of fishing and farming in the land. Some of the permanent crops planted by them in the village are Palm trees and coconut trees e.t.c, some of the crops were in the water front of the village. The Omadino people (Prince Nenuwa & his people) called the place Jeddo, due to the Ode song they used to sing when they are singing praises to their god in the land. After many years of reign of the Prince and the land Jeddo, the Prince & his people (Omadino people) left the land with some assets to the Erioke (the river line area in Warri South & Warri South West).

When the Okpe people(Urhobo) arrived the Land Jeddo they met some assets left by the Omadino people (Prince Nenuwa & his people), on the land such as bamboo houses, Palm trees, coconut trees e.t.c. Also the Omadino people left their assets in some of their lands founded by Prince Nenuwa, his children & his people, such as Ubakokodia, Aghigho, Okenrenghigho, Mckavi e.t.c.

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