It wouldn’t hurt to know a bit of
your history. Read about the King who ruled Benin from 1888-1897
Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (ruled 18881897), also called Overami,
was the Oba (king) of the Kingdom of Benin up until the British punitive
expedition of 1897. continue...
At the end of the 19th century, the
Kingdom of Benin had managed to retain its independence and the Oba exercised a
monopoly over trade which the British found irksome. The territory was coveted
by an influential group of investors for its rich natural resources such as
palm-oil, rubber and ivory.
The kingdom was
largely independent of British control, and pressure continued from figures
such as Vice-Consul James Robert Phillips and Captain Gallwey (the British
vice-Consul of Oil Rivers Protectorate) who were pushing for British annexation
of the Benin Empire and the removal of the Oba.
A
British invasion force headed by Phillips set out to overthrow the Oba in 1896.
The force’s weapons were hidden in baggage, with troops disguised as bearers.
Phillips plan was to gain access to Ovonramwen’s palace by announcing that he
intended to negotiate. Ovonramwen’s messengers issued several warnings not to
violate Benin territorial sovereignty, claiming he was unable to see Phillips
due to ceremonial duties. Having been warned on several further occasions on
the way, Phillips sent his stick to the Oba, a deliberate insult designed to
provoke the conflict that would provide an excuse for British annexation.
Phillip’s expedition was ambushed and all but two were killed.
Subsequently a
military operation against Benin in 1897 led by Harry Rawson resulted in the
burning of Benin City and the deaths of untold numbers of its inhabitants.
Although the British had orders to hang the Oba, Ovonramwen escaped, but later
surrendered.
Ovonramwen
was exiled to Calabar with his two wives, and died there in 1914.
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