High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has risen beyond his role as a freedom fighter to become a revered spiritual icon and custodian of indigenous African religion in the Niger Delta.
Tompolo first gained prominence through his leading participation in the emancipation struggle of the Niger Delta people, a movement now referred to by religious scholars as a “Holy War” — a term highlighting its spiritual and cultural significance.
Since his emergence on the socio-political scene, Tompolo has pivoted towards the renaissance of African spirituality, championing causes that seek to awaken the consciousness of indigenous identity among the people of the region. His efforts have not only revived but strengthened the presence of African traditional religion in a society increasingly influenced by foreign beliefs.
Positioning himself as the Spiritual Head of the Ijaw Nation, Tompolo leads efforts to organize indigenous religious practices, notably serving as the high priest of the Bini-Ebi deity — a spiritual tradition rooted in animism and the veneration of the ocean. This role has seen him embrace and promote the core values of ancestral worship, eco-spirituality, and communal rites.
With millions of followers across the Niger Delta, Tompolo periodically hosts large-scale indigenous religious gatherings, where he teaches the doctrines of African traditional belief systems, encouraging the youth to reconnect with their roots and spirituality.
Observers note that this spiritual leadership is breathing new life into the cultural fabric of the Ijaw ethnic group and influencing broader conversations about African identity and religious autonomy in post-colonial Nigeria.
