In the Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, the headquarters of Warri South-West Local Government Council in Delta State, sits a unique statue of a canoe with three identities sculpted in a sitting position on it. This statue is not just an impressive work of art to simply add beauty to the landscape of the Ijaw speaking people of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, but one which reminds them of their rich history. Seated in the middle is the founder of the kingdom, known simply by the name, Ewein.

On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, the people of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom marked what has come to be known as "Ewein Day", a day set aside to honour and to celebrate its historic founder. The celebration offers them the opportunity to once again educate the people about the founder and to offer prayers of peace and blessings on the land.

Defying the rays of the Sun at midday, the youths of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, cladded in traditional white attires, and as led by the Independent Grassroot Liberators (IGL)—a self-styled social political and cultural pressure group whose National President is Amb. Mamamu Bene Youkore—had a procession around the kingdom and then finally rallied at the point of the statue.

"For the past years, when the statue was destroyed, we have been experiencing war and other negative things in the community. But since we started celebrating Ewein, everything has been normal in the kingdom," Amb. Mamamu claimed during a chat with PENGlobal Social.

Prayers were offered and libations were poured at the spot as the youths pay honour to the founder, Ewein, to give honour to whom honour is due.

"The one in the center, putting on beads with cap, that is Ewein. The woman at the front is his wife. Then the one at the back. is his first son," he explained the figurines on the statue.

"Ewein is not neither a deity nor is it a masquerade. Ewein is the founder of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom and the Ewein Day is a celebration to celebrate the founder of the institute of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom," Amb. Mamamu stressed in attempt to dissuade wrong notions of any idol worship.

"The purpose of the festival is to celebrate Ewein, the founder of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom. It is a festival we celebrate annually. It has been there ever since and we have been marking it till date," he re-emphasised on the aim of Ewein Day.

Speaking further, he explained, "Ewein is being served by only the king. So, in absence of the king, His Majesty, which is the Pere Amaokosu, has given approval to us, the Independent Grassroot Liberators, to be celebrate it. But next year, the Pere Amaokosu will handle it."

Amb. Mamamu, who is National President of Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC), urged the people of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom to see the festival as an opportunity to promote unity and to advance the culture and traditions of the people.

"My message is for us to come together, for us to unify ourselves, and to promote our culture and tradition; to make us to be in tune, you know, to teach the younger generations to know where we are coming from," he said.

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