3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes - Politics - Nairaland
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| 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by robosky02(op): 4:30pm On May 08, 2015*. Modified: 4:46pm On May 08, 2015 |
Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (ruled 1888–1897), also called Overami, was the Oba (king) of the Kingdom of Benin up until the British punitive expedition of 1897. Ovonramwen Nogbaisi came to be the Oba of Benin in 1888.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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| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by robosky02(op): 4:33pm On May 08, 2015 |
king JAJA OF OPOBO: Jaja of Opobo (full name: Jubo Jubogha; 1821–1891) was a merchant prince and the founder of Opobo city-state in an area that is now part of Nigeria. Born in Umuduruoha, Amaigbo,[citation needed] in Igboland, he was sold at about the age of twelve as a slave in Bonny. Jumo Jumofe later took the name "Jaja" for his dealings with the British. Jaja proved his aptitude for business at an early age, earning his way out of slavery; he was enculturated according to Ijaw (Ibani) rituals and eventually established himself as head of the Anna Pepple House. Under Jaja's leadership, Anna Pepple soon absorbed a number of Bonny's other trade houses until an ongoing dispute with the Manilla Pepple House led by Oko Jumbo forced Jaja to break away as Opobo city-state in 1869. Opobo soon came to dominate the region's lucrative palm oil trade, and was soon home to fourteen of what were formerly Bonny's eighteen trade houses. Jaja also moved to block the access of British merchants to the interior, giving him an effective monopoly; at times, Opobo even shipped palm oil directly to Liverpool, independent of British middlemen. At the 1884 Berlin Conference, however, the other European powers designated Opobo as British territory, and the British soon moved to claim it. When Jaja refused to cease taxing British traders, Henry Hamilton Johnston, a British vice consul, invited Jaja to negotiations in 1887. When Jaja arrived, the British arrested him and tried him in Accra in the Gold Coast (now Ghana) then took him to London for some time, where he met Queen Victoria and was her guest in Buckingham Palace. After some other turbulent history,[clarification needed] he was exiled to Saint Vincent in the West Indies.[2] Plans were also made for him to be relocated to Barbados. In 1891, Jaja was granted permission to return to Opobo, but died en route, allegedly poisoned with a cup of tea. Following his exile and death, the power of the Opobo state rapidly declined.
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| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by robosky02(op): 4:41pm On May 08, 2015 |
Jaja of Opobo (full name: Jubo Jubogha; 1821–1891) was the first known Nigerian RICHEST MAN, nationalist, a merchant prince and the founder of Opobo city-state which now forms part of Nigeria`s River State. Jaja whose real name was Mbanaso Okwaraozurumbaa was also a savvy political and military strategist, brought to the Bonny Kingdom as a slave, who was perhaps the most troublesome thorn in the flesh of 19th-century British imperial ambition in southern Nigeria. "Opobo: King Jaja's wives." Circa 1870 - 1888. (Niger Delta, Nigeria, Opobo) by John Parkes Decker. A group of women sitting and standing in front of a house. The caption states that these women are king Jajah's wives. Three of the women sitting in the front row wear Western (Victorian) style clothes. http://kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane..com/2014/04/king-jaja-of-opobo-nationalist-first.html
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| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by EdCure: 4:41pm On May 08, 2015 |
Exciting piece of history. 2 Likes |
| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by robosky02(op): 4:42pm On May 08, 2015 |
EdCure:yes the days we have brave leaders |
| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by robosky02(op): 4:50pm On May 08, 2015 |
Queen Amina of Zaria (16th century) The seven original states of Hausaland: Katsina, Daura, Kano, Zazzau, Gobir, Rano, and Garun Gabas cover an area of approximately 500 square miles and comprise the heart of Hausaland. In the sixteenth century, Queen Bakwa Turunku built the capital of Zazzau at Zaria, named after her younger daughter. Eventually, the entire state of Zazzau was renamed Zaria, which is now a province in present-day Nigeria. However it was her elder daughter, the legendary Amina (or Aminatu), who inherited her mother's warlike nature. Amina was 16 years old when her mother became queen and she was given the traditional title of magajiya. She honed her military skills and became famous for her bravery and military exploits, as she is celebrated in song as "Amina daughter of Nikatau, a woman as capable as a man." Amina is credited as the architect who created the strong earthen walls around the city, which was the prototype for the fortifications used in all Hausa states. She built many of these fortifications, which became known as ganuwar Amina or Amina's walls, around various conquered cities. The objectives of her conquests were twofold: extension of Zazzau beyond its primary borders and reducing the conquered cities to vassal status. Sultan Muhammad Bello of Sokoto stated that, "She made war upon these countries and overcame them entirely so that the people of Katsina paid tribute to her and the men of Kano [and]... also made war on cities of Bauchi till her kingdom reached to the sea in the south and the west." Likewise, she led her armies as far as Nupe and, according to the Kano Chronicle, "The Sarkin Nupe sent her [the princess] 40 eunuchs and 10,000 kola nuts. She was the first in Hausaland to own eunuchs and kola nuts." Amina was a preeminent gimbiya (princess) but various theories exist as to the time of her reign or if she ever was a queen. One explanation states that she reigned from approximately 1536 to 1573, while another posits that she became queen after her brother Karama's death, in 1576. Yet another claims that although she was a leading princess, she was never a queen. Despite the discrepancies, over a 34-year period, her many conquests and subsequent annexation of the territories extended the borders of Zaria, which also grew in importance and became the center of the North-South Saharan trade and the East-West Sudan trade.
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| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by robosky02(op): 4:55pm On May 08, 2015 |
According to Nigerian and foreign historians,Queen Amina Sukhera was born in 1530 and her reign can be traced back to 1588 and 1589.She was the heir apparent after the death of her mother Queen Bakura Turunku because she was the eldest daughter though she was so young,so her brother Karama took over and ruled for 10 years.After his death Amina had matured into a fierce warrior and had earned the respect of the Zazzau military and she assumed the reign of the kingdom.Amina led her first military charge a few months after assuming power. Her people were talented in mental workers so Amina introduced metal armor,including iron helmets and chain mail to her army.Queen Amina is also known as Aminatu and her mother was the founder of the Zazzau Kingdom in 1536.This kingdom is now known as present day Kaduna state in the north central region of Nigeria,capital city of Zaria.Birnin Zaria,now known as Zaria was named after Queen Amina's younger sister Zariya,and it is where the Royal palace of Zaria reside.Queen Amina is a legend among the Hausa people for her military expliots.She controlled the trade routes in the region,erecting a network of commerce within the great eastern walls that surrounded Hausa cities within her dominion. She conquered as far as Nupe and Kwarafa,ruling for 34 years.By 1805,the region was captured by fellow Fulani during the Fulani jihad.By 190,Lord Frederick Lugard led British forces and captured Zaria as a protectorate state.This is the same year that it is reported that Zaria sought British protection against slave raids from the Kontagora region. After a Zaria magaji representative,murdered the British Captain Moloney in 1902 at Keffi,and the British stripped the emirate of most of it's vassal states.Since Nigeria's independence from the British in 1960,Zaria is one of it's largest traditional emirates.Queen Amina died during a military campaign at Atagara near Bida in Nigeria.
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| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by barnacle: 4:57pm On May 08, 2015 |
respect to the brave Aminat..
Oba gha tokpe he..ise |
| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by robosky02(op): 4:58pm On May 08, 2015 |
barnacle:much respect no be furniture allowance woman |
| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by EdCure: 5:03pm On May 08, 2015 |
robosky02:We still have brave leaders today. The problem is that politics have divided the people and there are increasing number of settlers in their domain who feel that they owe no allegiance to the customs & traditional institutions of their host communities. In most cases, the subjects are now richer than their traditional rulers. Let's not forget the fact that the role of traditional rulers in todays Nigeria has been reduced to mere advisory. They lack real executive powers like in those days. The influence of formal education and Christianity is also a major defining factor. All these socio-political dynamics makes it difficult for the uninitiated to decipher what brave leadership entails. 2 Likes |
| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by IGBOSON2: 5:37pm On May 08, 2015 |
robosky02:^^^Wonder what Mr Dan Fodio would have made of her! She's lucky she was born long before the coming of Islam! |
| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by KINGTELLER: 5:42pm On May 08, 2015 |
Inspiring |
| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by tit(f): 5:44pm On May 08, 2015 |
What of Field Marshal Afonja? |
| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by robosky02(op): 9:51am On May 09, 2015 |
KINGTELLER: |
| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by robosky02(op): 11:41am On May 09, 2015 |
IGBOSON2:that woman has no match in her time who should be lucky |
| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by phyllosilicate(m): 12:06pm On May 09, 2015 |
IGBOSON2:don't you see that her name is Amina, a muslim name. |
| Re: 3 Most Brave Nigerias' Precolonial Heroes by Nobody: 12:12pm On May 09, 2015 |
IGBOSON2:Her name is amina(a Muslim name)  |
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