Unhokhasor Olowu

Unhokhasor Olowu
Oba Olowu
Born	1855 Illewi, Nigeria
Died	August 14, 1967 (aged 112) Imiekuri Nigeria
Religion	Juju

Unhokhasor Olowu, born Unhokhasor (c. 1855 - August 14, 1967) was an Oba and powerful trader in Imiekuri, Okpella, Nigeria. Also known as the 1st Oba of Imiekuri, he was recognized as powerful by those he traded with in Ghana and Nigerian states, having become rich through the cotton and slave trades. On August 14, 1967 he died of old age, at his home in Illewi.

Background

Olowu was born in Imiekuri, Okpella, Nigeria around 1855 in a small village called Illewi. He was born into a nomadic family of Merchants. Growing up in the agrarian town, he was helpful in farming with his parents and was tall for his young age until growing up to be very tall.

Personal life

Olowu was a strong practitioner of Juju. He had 2 children from his wife, who passed away in 1916. Edwin Ikhumitse Olowu, his son, was the first one in the family and village to get an education. Olowu spoke numerous languages fluently: Okpella, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, etc. Around the early 1930s Olowu's mother died from old age.

Involvement with the slave trade

Olowu was a powerful slave trader in Nigeria. In his early life, he traveled from Nigeria to Ghana for trading and brought back bamboo seeds to plant in the Okpella Region. He also traveled to villages and towns in the areas of the Midwest region including Badagry for his trade. Many family members regarded him as influential in the cotton trade as well as that of other commodities like cocoa, palm oil, and tobacco. During his time as a trader he changed his surname to Olowu, due to his trade with the Yoruba. At the beginning of the 20th century Olowu abandoned the slave trade and took on his duties as Oba Of Imiekuri.

Life as Oba Of Ilewi

Sometime after the Nupe war in Okpella, Olowu became the first Oba of Imiekuri,he was known to bring development to Illewi and his people, and reigned until his death.

Later life and death

Later in his life after being king he went back to farming. Around the mid-1960s Olowu was getting very old and began to shrink in height due to his age, and was being watched by family members and friends. One day in fall of 1967 oba wasn't eating and was kept in bed for days, and died on August 14, 1967 at the estimated age of 112 and was buried underneath his home in Ilewi. Today he is remembered as a legend in Imiekuri for development and background