Warri’s waterways turned into a moving tapestry of color today as His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, rode the Red Boat, guiding a grand regatta to Ode-Itsekiri—the ancestral island lovingly called Big Warri.
Red Boat leads royal regatta to Big Warri
Red Boat leads royal regatta to Big Warri
A flotilla of boats—each dressed in distinct hues, crests, and ceremonial fabrics of different Itsekiri communities, families, and guilds—moved in formation behind the monarch’s vessel. The pageant doubled as a living tableau of unity and ancestry, renewing the authority of the Warri throne and signaling a forward-looking vision of peace, progress, and purposeful leadership.
Red Boat leads royal regatta to Big Warri
Red Boat leads royal regatta to Big Warri
Red Boat leads royal regatta to Big Warri
On arrival, the island welcomed a solemn round of homage-paying. Dignitaries, chiefs, and subjects gathered to salute the Olu and honor the lineage of the Iwere people in rites rich with song, drum, and tradition—rituals that continue to anchor the kingdom’s identity across generations.
The 4th Coronation Anniversary events continue tomorrow, with a cultural showcase on the sacred grounds of Aghofen. Organizers are livestreaming the celebrations on the Olu of Warri YouTube channel, with access links to be shared for those following from afar.
