Ikantu Community in Warri South West, Delta state has officially declared its true identity as an Ijaw community — correcting a long-standing misconception that labeled them as Itsekiri.
Leaders of the community, during a press conference, emphasised that although the Itsekiri language is widely spoken in the area, their roots are unmistakably Ijaw.
They have now pledged their loyalty to the traditional institution of the Gbaramatu Kingdom, a prominent Ijaw kingdom in the Niger Delta.
Ikantu — also known as Kantu — is a riverine community in Warri South West LGA of Delta State.
Over the years, the dominance of the Itsekiri language in the area led to a widespread assumption that the community was Itsekiri.
But now, the people of Ikantu are setting the record straight.
At a press conference, community leaders chronicled their ancestral roots, firmly asserting their Ijaw heritage.
The Kantu natives expressed joy that they can finally reconnect with their Ijaw brothers and sisters under the Gbaramatu Kingdom, despite facing opposition from some quarters within the area.
A delegation from the palace of the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom was present at the press event, formally welcoming the Ikantu community back into the fold of the larger Ijaw nation.
This declaration marks more than a symbolic gesture — it is a significant cultural and political milestone.
For the people of Ikantu, it is a reclamation of identity, heritage, and pride in their Ijaw ancestry.
