Ebrohimi Expedition - Nana Olomu's Resistance - Part 2

 

The Ebrohimi Expedition was a devastating event that changed history for West Africa and what would become Nigeria. The British had lingered in the region for decades and grew to find the Itsekiri as a nuisance that only seemed to grow stronger and stronger. In the typical routine, the British first invade economically and culturally. Embedding themselves into their target before using military force. They were ready for military force but they needed a legitimate reason to invade and force themselves onto the Itsekiri. Before the Nana Olomu took over, his reputation preceded him. He was rich, persuasive, and respected (or feared, depending on who was asked). In 1884, he was elected Gofine. Shortly after, British emissaries led by Edward Hyde Hewitt sent him a treaty with several conditions. The major items that were integral to said treaty were three articles - Articles I, II, and V.

Article I - This would extend Great Britain and the Queen’s “protection,” if the Itsekiri wanted it.

Article II - The Itsekiri were forbidden from diplomacy with other foreign nations without Great Britain’s permission.

Article V - The Itsekiri must consult with Great Britain consular officers in matter dealing with administration of Justice and Development of national resources of the country.

Nana accepted these terms. He rejected allowing anyone enter his territory and letting in British missionaries. Even though was there was some Catholicism in Itsekiri culture, it was minimal and Nana didn’t want to force another religion onto his people. This offended the British even more. Their relationship was strained and then another negotiation in 1889. This time led by Major Claude Macdonald. This was not like the first. Macdonald informed Nana that Great Britain wanted the Itsekiri’s land. Their reason to justify taking the land - “unacceptable” prices for palm oil. Nana boycotted trade with the British from then on.

2 years later, Claude Macdonald had been promoted to Commissioner and Consul-General. He had established a 2nd counsul in Itsekiri territory (one in Warri and other by Benin River). Olomu’s reputation had spread and he was even more powerful than before. A survivor of 7 “wars” - 3 vs Itsekiri, 3 vs Urhobo, and 1 vs Ijo, everyone knew taking him down was a challenge. The Europeans in the region (British, Germans, French, and Portuguese) couldn’t make headway into the Itsekiri state. Rumors (possibly started by the British or rival traders) that he was raiding Urhobo for slaves, turning them against the British, and organized midnight raids at his rivals’ port. This might have been true but regardless this was enough to start the events leading up to the Ebrohimi Expedition. Nana had to go.

 

Claude and Nana met in 1891. Nana showed up in a massive war canoe manned by hundreds of slaves. No agreement was reached. In November 1893, Benin River Vice-Consul Henry Lionel Gallwey got reports that Nana’s men were in Urhobo trying to turn them against the Great Britain Niger Coast Protectorate. This was a direct threat to their standing. He began sending warnings to Nana and threatened to stop paying their 200 pound tax. April 1894, Claude was notified that Nana didn’t take threats seriously. So he ‘removed’ Nana’s authority as Gofine but he continued to ignore their empty warnings. Another notice was sent, this one accused him of meddling in others’ affairs and injured trade in the Benin and Warri districts. He wanted to maintain peace and his status so he figured if he proved himself innocent, it would all go away.

A new British emissary was sent, Ralph Moor, on June 21, 1894. More reports of tampering in Urhobo, this time seizing people in Abraka, Urhobo. Moor demanded to see Nana but he had a family issues to handle. 3 deaths and his brother was sick, so leaving was not an option. Offering to send his messenger, Tonwe, but this was rejected. Naturally, this sounded like a trap. They wanted him in person to board a British warship. This trick had been done to a few years before to King Jaja of Opobo. He was trapped into a bad surrender deal by boarding a warship. King Jaja was deported and Opobo was lost. Moor sent more accusations. This time it was worse. Ologum, Nana's head slave in the Eku area, was terrorizing people to get what was owed to him: 200 puncheons of oil. Recall him or no canoes allowed on the River Ethiope. Nana refused.

 

Moor ordered more soldiers and one officer to the Benin River post. War canoes were banned and anyone caught would be guilty of, “hostility towards her majesty’s Governor of Protectorate.” Late July, more soldiers and officers arrived - 87 soldiers and 3 officers. Rumor of a planned attack on royal family rivals Dogho and his family by Nana was enough to justify increased military presence. Moor wanted to isolate Nana, so he had a treaty for all the Itsekiri leaders to sign. Nana had to sign in person but refused to attend. He stationed himself and family in Ebrohimi by this point. On August 2, every other Itsekiri leader ratified treaty on August 3. This was enough proof that Nana was anti-Great Britain and marines were sent in. In the meantime, Nana had blockades set up on the way to Ebrohimi that the British had struggled to destroy. This was the first time that fire was exchanged. No one was injured. Each blockade took about 10 mines to dismantle, throwing off their pre-conceived notions.

On August 8, the British burned down the home village of Nana’s mother, Effurun. They razed every Nana-friendly village in the area. He sent for the Governor of Lagos, but he said no and that Nana needed to figure it out on his own. Moor called up for more soldiers - 100 soldiers and 5 officers now plus a Naval force. Nana wanted a truce but Moor marched onto the Itsekiri village, Oteghele. Lt. Commander Heugh, who was in charge of dismantling blockades, sent in armor-plated boats to Ebrohimi. An ambush was in place. The Itsekiri killed 2 British, and wounded 6 including 2 that needed to be amputated. Also, one of the armor-plated boats sank. Dogho started helping the British at this point.

 

There were minimal attacks over the next weeks. August 29, they returned with a land attack on a stockade garrison. Seven-pounder cannons were used to break it down. They were surprised by the strength of the Itsekiri structures but it fell. This was the final step before Ebrohimi except the swamp getting there was particularly dense and tough to traverse. It took 4 hours to bridge their way to Ebrohimi. Once there, no attack was launched. He instead offered diplomacy, but that meant boarding a British warship, HMS Phoebe. August 30, Moor getting rejected again  continued to bombard Ebrohimi. By September 21, two more warships appeared. The HMS Philomel and HMS Widgeon arrived with 3 other ships as well. The Supreme Commander of the African Squadron, Rear Admiral F. G. Bedford took command over from Heugh. Moor offered one last chance to surrender. Nana refused.

At 5:30 am on September 25, the final attack started. The British used cannons, Maxim guns, and rockets. They burned Ebrohimi but Nana had already left. 9 am, Ebrohimi surrendered. Nana had his people make artificial creeks as an escape route. He ended up in the friendly Ijo village, Okotobo. Dogho had a 400 man force trying to find Nana. Some of those men tracked him down. A day long battle ensued but Nana escaped to Lagos. His friend, Seido Olowu, let him stay but this was brief. Nana gave himself up to the Governor of Lagos. He was tried for breaking peace treaty and found guilty. Losing his home and rank, he was deported to the nearby Calabar state then later Accra. From December 1894 to August 1906, Nana was not allowed in his own home. Upon returning, he resumed his business. 

He died July 3, 1916. During the fight, he fought off a global professional army with a non-professional militia for longer than anyone predicted. He forced the British into using overwhelming force. There are many stories like these but they need to told as much and more than those of the European colonizers. The legacy of Nana's fighting spirit and resistance to foreign colonizers lives on today.

 

References

 

West African Resistance, 1971, 1972. Ikime, Obaro. 205 - 232.

History of West Africa, 1971, 1972. Crowder, Micheal. Ajayi, J.F. Ade. Alagoa, E.J. 269-274, 280-283, 293-294, 302-303.

A Thousand Years of West African History. Ajayi, J.F. Ade. Espie, Ian. Akinjogbin, I.A.. 300-308

History of Nigeria, 1983, 1984. Isichei, Elizabeth. 53.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Warri#Kings_of_Warri_Kingdom,_1480_to_present

 

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/1894-ebrohimi-expedition-itsekiri-leaders-eulogise-nana-olomu/

 

https://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/556.html

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin_Expedition_of_1897

 

https://face2faceafrica.com/article/nana-olomu-nigerias-19th-century-millionaire-who-made-slavery-a-difficult-trade-for-the-british

 

https://kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.com/2014/04/nana-olomu-great-nigerian-millionaire.html

 

http://www.rogerblench.info/Language/Niger-Congo/Ijoid/General/Izon%20plant%20names.pdf

 

https://www.oluofwarri.org/itsekiri-history/

Welcome: Me and Why I Started Red, Black, and Green

A Yoruba fertility statue with a beaded Sankofa.

Hujambo! Ndeewo! E n le! Agoo! Gyebale ko! Hallo! Assalamu Alaikim!

African history was barely present in my education. Even in college history classes, it was still the same old topics every time. Slavery, civil wars, and Ancient Egypt is seemingly the only thing that most Americans will ever learn in school in terms of African history. The continent is massive and has endless stories and people throughout its history that should be celebrated. There are nearly 3000 different cultures and languages on the entire continent. The thing that unlocked this passion in me and make this massive subject seem approachable was the Asante Empire (which will be in multiple articles if I'm being realistic). This fully kicked off my obsession to educate myself and fill in the blanks that I never see in pop culture, school, and movies.

After my first run of college, I made a choice. I was going to learn as much as African history as I possibly could. In my collection, I have over 50 books on the subject - from Basil Davidson and Walter Rodney to several out-of-print dry (but still interesting) academic texts to encyclopedias of kingdoms and art. I have spend a lot on these and plan on spending more to teach myself more. 

I'm mixed but mostly black (it's too complicated to fully explain) and look high yellow. I still don't know my family's history. I first realized this in elementary school, when we did projects on our cultural heritage. Everyone else picked a nation and most had multiple nations to choose from. My choices were New York, USA, and West Virginia. It was alienating being the one kid that didn't know my family history past the American Civil War. It's a privilege to know where and when your family came from and have records to back it up. 

I am part white too but we didn't even know where that was from. I know I'm not alone. A few years back, my family did a DNA test. I've finally got some vague answers but answers nonetheless. This has only intensified my thirst to learn more. 

African history is equally as valid and important as European, American, and the rest of the histories worldwide. There are just as many exciting, complicated, and relatable people, kingdoms, ideas, and everything else as their global counterparts. It's not as accessible but there are still many ways to educate yourself about a part of the world that's still stigmatized and misrepresented. 

Red, Black, and Green are the colors of the Pan-African flag adopted in 1920. The UNIA adopted it in response to the popular minstrel songs of the era, mainly Every Race has a Flag, but the Coon. Marcus Garvey led the Universal Negro Improvement Association in passing the red, black, and green flag as the flag representing everyone in the African Diaspora. This site is a celebration of the forgotten, hidden, and necessary history from the African continent and the diaspora.