Category: History
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Equiano Olaudah, abolitionist, born 1745, was the Ibo, Nigerian-born author of an autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or; Sustarus Vassa, The African, which was purposed after showing the “enormous cruelties practiced on his fabled brethren, and to strengthen the prevailing sentiment against the trafficking of humans.” Equiano was captured with…
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Anthonio De Mingo also known by native name Oyenakpara, or nickname Benighere, was the eighth Olu of Itsekiri, inquirer of science, who was described by English adventurers to the Benin River areas in 1644 as the “king of Warri, mulatto, or half black.” Anthonio’s Portuguese mother, Magheghoeye, whose Itsekiri name was Oyeomasan, was a daughter…
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Ovonramwen was the oba of Benin between 1889 and 1897 whose reign was brought to an end by a British Expedition. Two years after the sack of his kingdom, Ovonramwen came out of hiding to demonstrate his submission to the new foreign power. After an attempt of the conquered king to escape the surveillance of…
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Benin Empire is the kingdom of the Edo people in the Guinea Coast, near the mouth of the Niger. Portuguese travelers described its capital as a big city, surrounded by high wall, and having a broad street through the center. To be sure, the kingdom is, using R.E. Bradbury’s definition, the area within which the…
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Ologbosere was the Benin chief who was convicted in the murder of Acting Consul J.R Phillips and other colonial officials at Ugbine on 4 January 1897. He was the second-in-command to Ezomo, who was the Commander-In-Chief of the Benin army during the reign of Ovonramwen whose policies and kingdom’s bad publicity led to tension which…
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Benin Expedition of 1897 was the punitive action of the British against Benin following the massacre of unwelcome advancing party led by Acting Consul J.R. Phillips to the Benin palace one month before. Although the killing of Phillips and his men by Benin chiefs was the direct cause of the Benin Expedition, it is recognized mostly…
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Onitsha History, as cleverly stated by author, Henderson, lacked an independent myth of primordial origins because in their cosmogony they simply relate themselves to the cultural focus of Nri where it is said the Onitsha dead go on their way to the underworld. Onitsha in one of its most plausible traditions, was founded when Chima…
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J.B. Wood was the 19th Century Anglican Missionary to Nigeria and author of works on Yoruba grammar and literature whose History of Lagos up to 1861 was the first roundly chronicled story of the Nigerian coastal state. J.B. Wood, born in Yorkshire was posted as a missionary of the Church Mission Society to Abeokuta in…