By Nehi Igbinijesu.
On the 9th of February 1897, the invasion of the Benin Kingdom began. Popularly referred to by historians as “The Benin Massacre”, the British launched an invasion on Benin in retaliation of the annihilation of a Benin –bound British military expedition led by Lieutenant James Robert Phillips (RN) on the 4th of January 1897.
The British sought to sack the Benin Oba so as to gain control of the Benin River for trade purposes. 1200 British marines, navy men and Niger Coast Protectorate Forces commanded by Rear Admiral Harry Rawson marched on Benin. It took several days of bitter fighting but the kingdom eventually fell. Upon this, the invaders proceeded into an orgy of looting and mass destruction. About 2500 religious artifacts, mnemonics, Benin visual history and artworks were carted away to Europe. It was a massive plunder of colonialism. Many of these articles can still be found at the British Museum in London.
The Oba, Ovoramwen N’ Ogbaisi was exiled to Calabar with his two wives never to return to his throne again.
The Nigerian leather industry represents one of the country’s significant non-oil export sectors, with established markets domestically and internationally. Northern Nigeria has a long-established tradition of leather processing and production, particularly in states like Kano and Sokoto. This heritage dates back centuries, with documented evidence of leather trading along trans-Saharan trade routes. Traditional leather … Continue reading Discover Nigeria: The Nigerian Leather Industry
After setting the Guinness record for the largest drawing by an individual in July 2024, Nigerian doctor and visual artist Fola David has finally received his plaque from the Guinness World Records. Read more about Discover Nigeria On July 21, 2024, Fola David made history by beating the existing Guinness World Record for the … Continue reading Fola David Receives Guinness World Record Plaque for Largest Drawing by an Individual
Imagine a magical forest where ancient trees touch the sky, sacred shrines peek through lush vegetation, and the gentle sound of a river whispers stories from centuries past. This enchanting place exists in Nigeria, and it’s called the Osun-Osogbo sacred grove. Read more about Discover Nigeria Forest That Time Almost Forgot Just outside the … Continue reading Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove – A Living Connection to Ancient Traditions
Kelechi Ndukwe, a Nigerian-American naval officer, has become the first Nigerian to reach the rank of Navy captain in the United States, marking a significant milestone in history. Read more about Discover Nigeria Kelechi Ndukwe’s achievement was made public to Nigerians on X (formerly Twitter) by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) … Continue reading Kelechi Ndukwe Makes History as the First Nigerian to Become US Navy Captain