Nana Olomu: The Nifty Nigerian Millionaire Crude Magnate Of The 19Th Century, Nationalist As Well As An Itsekiri Master Copy Who Was The Governor Of Benin River
Nana Olomu (1852–1916) was an Itsekiri chief, Palm Oil Super Magnate, nationalist in addition to a fighter from the Niger Delta portion of southern Nigeria. He was the quaternary Itsekiri principal to concord the seat of Governor of Republic of Benin River. As a powerful nineteenth Century indigenous entrepreneur in addition to greatest millionaire, Nana who lived inward a creek nigh the oral fissure of the Republic of Benin River in addition to Oba Ovonramwen of Benin were the 2 powerful Africans that successfully prevented European penetration of the hinterland of the Republic of Benin in addition to the nearby rivers.
Nana was respected in addition to feared for his wealth in addition to power, in addition to the Oba of Republic of Benin for his suzerainty in addition to juju power. Most Urhobo people did non believe that the Oba could be, in addition to inward fact live on captured yesteryear the white-man, because of their belief inward his juju might to transform himself into a spirit.
Nana Olomu was the final of a serial of governors that started alongside the installation of Chief Idiare inward 1851 yesteryear John Beecroft who was appointed inward 1849 yesteryear the British Government every bit Consul for the Bights of Republic of Benin in addition to Biafra. Chief Idiare, along alongside Idibofun, Olomu (Nana's father), in addition to a host of other elders later signed a treaty alongside Beecroft to protect merchandise inward the area. Nana succeeded his father, Olomu of Ologbotsere, every bit governor. It was a historical fact that Numa of Batere Emaye theatre unit of measurement who was expected to succeed Olomu, is believed to receive got raised his son, Dogho (Dore Numa), to avenge the disgrace to his theatre unit of measurement when Nana got the nod. Dogho (Dore Numa) an imperialist stooge was later to render valuable assist that the British needed to defeat Nana.
Nana`s wealth was an inherited i but he managed to expand his line of piece of work organisation through his shrewd line of piece of work organisation acumen yesteryear monopolizing trade. As a reflection of the grandeur of his achievements, Nana built a magnificent building at the plow of the century. It houses his personal effects in addition to evidence of his contact alongside the Queen, administrators in addition to traders of the British Empire. Many European Merchants, Missionaries, Explorers in addition to Consular Officers who visited the Republic of Benin River inward the minute one-half of the final century, in addition to had occasion to run across Chief Nana, had zero but keen admiration for his outstanding personality, intelligence, wealth in addition to hospitality. His might to beak the Urhobo linguistic communication coupled alongside his liberality won for him the favour of practically all Urhobo traders on the River. He, of course, had plenty strength to convey to submission whatsoever i who was so unreasonably stubborn every bit to interfere alongside his merchandise anywhere. For many years, he concentrated his commercial activities on the Urhobo stone oil markets until he practically established a perfect monopoly over all the stone oil markets.
Indeed, Nana was credited alongside having a fleet of 200 merchandise canoes in addition to some other 100 state of war canoes alongside the might to muster 20,000 state of war boys. In fact, after his defeat inward 1884, the arms seized inward Ebrohimi included 106 cannons, 445 blunderbusses, 640 guns,10 revolvers, inward improver to 1640 kegs of gunpowder in addition to 2500 rounds of machine gun ammunition (Ikime 1966:41). Therefore, at that spot was no incertitude that his impressive armed forces machine, enormous wealth in addition to keen influence were critical factors inward his virtual monopoly of the palm stone oil trade.
Major Claude Macdonald, the British Commissioner in addition to Consul General for Oil Rivers Protectorate inward 1887 who i time reported that Nana was “a human being possessed of keen might in addition to wealth, astute, energetic in addition to intelligent” (Ikime 1966:44), wrongly defendant him wrongly defendant him of: disrupting commercial activities inward the Niger Delta, of terrorizing the Urhobo in addition to turning them against the British, of engaging inward the inhuman
traffic inward slaves, in addition to the most blatant lie, of practising human sacrifice (Ikime 1980:278). But every bit it was to live on revealed Nana’s existent offence, however, was that his wealth, seat in addition to might gave him considerable influence over the areas surrounding the Republic of Benin River in addition to the Warri district, thereby making the penetration
of British traders to live on extremely hard if non impossible.
By the destination of 1893, the Vice Consuls at Republic of Benin River had started to bill the Chief of gross disloyalty to the Government; but his actions, commonly through his trading boys, appeared to reach a climax, when inward July 1894, his boys seized xv Urhobo people (including a local Chief's wife), for an alleged debt of 200 puncheons of palm-oil. It was when Chief Nana refused to give upward those captives, blockading the River instead, that the authorities was obliged to work strength to overthrow him towards the destination of 1894.
Nana was thus captured after a cessation of his war alongside the British in addition to was exiled inward Gold Coast (Ghana). In Britain inward 1899 the Aborigines' Right Protection Society led yesteryear some Gold Coast (Ghanaian) ethnic Fante intelligentsia alongside people similar billionaire founder in addition to president Jacob Wilson Sey, J E Casely-Hayford, George Hughes in addition to others complained to the Foreign Office almost "the arbitrary treatment" to which the principal had been subjected, the government's failure to carry out "the searching investigation of his instance which he had ever sought", in addition to appealed for him to live on given freedom to behavior his commercial affairs freely fifty-fifty if, for political reasons, he could non live on restored to his sometime position. H5N1 alphabetic lineament from Olomu was also enclosed complaining his maintenance was inadequate for him to back upward himself in addition to 5 other persons. In his reply the so Prime Minister the Marquis of Salisbury promised to aspect into the weather condition of the chief's maintenance, but ruled out the possibility of a homecoming to his homeland. H5N1 calendar month later the interrogation of his handling was raised inward parliament in addition to the authorities i time again stated it would live on unsafe to allow his return.
To all intent in addition to purposes, every bit ikime (1966) rightly averred Nana was an African nationalist who refused to yield to British imperialist ambition in addition to so had to live on broken. For Nana was reported to receive got stopped all merchandise inward 1886 in addition to 1892 to strength English linguistic communication merchants to pay higher prices. Opposition to Nana, grew non merely from the merchants but also from those Itsekiri traders including Dore Numa, who had suffered from Nana's monopoly.
Nana Olomu of Itsekiri: Palm Oil Super Magnate
Nana Olomu was born almost 1852 at Jakpa inward the Itsekiri region, in addition to thus piece of work the wealthiest Itsekiri trader of his age. Incidentally, his father, Olomu was also the richest in addition to most powerful Itsekiri merchant during his life time. Nana’s remarkable success was predicated on his inherited wealthy status, his outstanding acumen inward the organisation of his fiscal in addition to human resources in addition to also on his formidable armed forces machine (Ikime 1966:40-42). It has, however, been reasonably argued that his career was a striking illustration of how political advancement was based to a greater extent than on commercial prowess, rather than on inherited status (Soremekun 1985:149; Hopkins 1973:146).
Nana similar Jaja was a province builder. He was able to ready his kingdom due to his effective command of the merchandise inward palm oil, which dissimilar the slave merchandise called for greater organisation in addition to fiscal resources (Law 1993:105). He also greatly developed the novel upper-case alphabetic lineament at Ebrohimi which had before been founded yesteryear his manlike soul parent on an almost impregnable site yesteryear dumping heaps of sand on a hitherto dingy in addition to swampy location (Isichei 1977:123; Ikpe 1989:53).
Subsequently, he stationed his trading agents who were responsible for the buy in addition to transportation of stone oil inward the Urhobo hinterland. This scheme was farther enhanced alongside his conclusion to select wives from all the leading Urhobo clans alongside which he traded (Crowder 1968:121; Ikime 1966:40-41). In 1885 he became the Governor of the Republic of Benin in addition to Ethiope Rivers.
H5N1 British official, Gallwey who toured the Urhobo portion inward 1892 affirms that:
"In terms of relations alongside the British, Nana was the Jaja of the
Western Delta. His concord on most of the Urhobo stone oil markets was
fifty-fifty firmer than Jaja’s. In terms of wealth, Nana was probably
much wealthier than Jaja in addition to similar Jaja was able to dictate his
ain merchandise terms in addition to had no demand for trust" (Ikime 1977:46).
Correspondingly, Nana also held upward palm stone oil exports betwixt 1886 in addition to 1887 when the cost of palm stone oil all of a abrupt cruel yesteryear 40% inward guild to strength European merchants to select the terms in addition to weather condition of sale every bit set downward yesteryear local producers in addition to suppliers. This was a strategic agency of securing a favorable residue of merchandise for the Urhobo producers in addition to Itsekiri middle-men (Hopkins 1973:155). In 1891 the British tried to undermine Nana’s economical interests yesteryear opening upward some other Vice-Consulate at Sapele, apart from the i on the Republic of Benin River inward guild to penetrate the hinterland in addition to trim the merchandise on the Republic of Benin River - the main source of his wealth. However, Nana retaliated yesteryear sending his agents to Sapele too. The British were astounded to notice out that his agents were inward line of piece of work solid command of the trade, in addition to that his trading influence was extremely strong.
Indeed, he was so powerful in addition to sufficiently wealthy to dictate his ain merchandise terms, to concord upward merchandise when it suited his fancy in addition to to spend upward to select trust from European firms (Ikime 1980:278).
During the era of treaty signing inward Nigeria, Nana Olomu fully understood the immediate import of British violet intentions inward the Niger Delta. Like Jaja, he struck out offensive clauses which stipulated gratuitous access to British traders to merchandise wherever they pleased inward his kingdom. These uncooperative tendencies on his purpose were the precursor to the Ebrohimi expedition of 1894 (Ikime 1980:276; Onabamiro 1983:56).
Thus, Major Claude Macdonald, the British Commissioner in addition to Consul General for Oil Rivers Protectorate inward 1887 reported that Nana’s influence was exceedingly widespread in addition to that it would live on inward the best involvement of British traders, missionaries in addition to colonialists to urgently in addition to decisively checkmate Nana’s growing influence in addition to power. Macdonald farther reported that at a detail occasion when he met Nana at the Republic of Benin River for a crucial meeting, Nana came inward a state of war canoe paddled yesteryear almost 100 people alongside 4 or 5 similar canoes serving every bit escorts, in addition to personal bodyguards of xx armed men alongside Winchester repeater rifles. Macdonald concluded that Nana was “a human being possessed of keen might in addition to wealth, astute, energetic in addition to intelligent” (Ikime 1966:44).
Indeed, Nana was credited alongside having a fleet of 200 merchandise canoes in addition to some other 100 state of war canoes alongside the might to muster 20,000 state of war boys. After his defeat inward 1884, the arms seized inward Ebrohimi included 106 cannons, 445 blunderbusses, 640 guns,10 revolvers, inward improver to 1640 kegs of gunpowder in addition to 2500 rounds of machine gun ammunition (Ikime 1966:41). Therefore, at that spot was no incertitude that his impressive armed forces machine, enormous wealth in addition to keen influence were critical factors inward his virtual monopoly of the palm stone oil trade.
Nevertheless, the British wrongly defendant him of: disrupting commercial activities inward the Niger Delta, of terrorizing the Urhobo in addition to turning them against the British, of engaging inward the inhuman traffic inward slaves, in addition to the most blatant lie, of practising human sacrifice (Ikime 1980:278). Nana’s existent offence, however, was that his wealth, seat in addition to might gave him considerable influence over the areas surrounding the Republic of Benin River in addition to the Warri district, thereby making the penetration of British traders to live on extremely hard if non impossible. Consequently, inward 1894, the British set siege on Ebrohimi. Nana replied yesteryear farther fortifying his capital. Henceforth, the resistance position upward yesteryear him was bitter in addition to daring, in addition to every bit skillful every bit it was brilliant. Crowder (1971:2), rightly suggests that every bit far every bit armed forces historians are concerned, wars are non assessed alone inward terms of the victory or success of the victors, but also on the prowess in addition to ingenuity of the vanquished, inward the human face upward of overwhelming odds.
Therefore Nana impressively combined conventional warfare alongside guerilla tactics, in addition to used to the fullest wages his superior noesis of the creeks along the British had to canvas to reach Ebrohimi, thereby making what they initially idea would live on a casual armed forces expedition, i their most hard in addition to costly violet adventures inward West Africa. In short, Nana forced the British to ready upward a large naval in addition to armed forces strength off the Republic of Benin River, representing virtually the entire British naval strength inward West Africa, in addition to the most impressive collection of British forces inward the Niger Delta upward until that appointment (Onabamiro 1983:57 in addition to Ikime 1977:47). This activeness prompted the British to mail 4 warships: the HMS Alecto, HMS Phoebe, HMS Philomel in addition to HMS Widgem to assault all the villages or so Ebrohimi, which were destroyed. Yet, Nana
refused to give upward or obey British entreaties to come upward for a give-and-take at the Consulate, based on the retentiveness of what happened to Jaja when he acquiesced to such a asking (Onabamiro 1983:57).
And thus, all attempts to select Ebrohimi yesteryear going upward the creek failed, in addition to inward fact, Nana successfully repelled the British forces on 3 occasions so they were forced to withdraw alongside ‘heavy’ casualties. And fifty-fifty cutting a path through the dense swamp woods also proved an impossible chore which was rendered scary in addition to unsafe because of Nana’s cleverly masked batteries. Attacking Ebrohimi yesteryear solid ground also failed because of the heavy burn downward directed against the British yesteryear Nana’s forces. However, Nana’s upper-case alphabetic lineament eventually cruel on September 25, 1894, mainly because, Dogho, (Nana’s local rival) provided the British alongside logistic in addition to news back upward in addition to fifty-fifty showed them the best road to Ebrohimi, in addition to every bit a result, Nana was eventually tried in addition to exiled to Gold Coast (now Ghana). And interestingly, his goods were also sold in addition to the proceeds were used to defray the cost of the expedition, marker the demise of his trading empire (Ikime 1980:278; 1966:47; 1977:47).
It must live on noted that inward almost 2 ½ years before Chief Nana's fall, the Urhobo Chiefs of Abraka, N eastward of the Republic of Benin Consular district had concluded a Treaty of Protection alongside Her Britannic Majesty's Government placing themselves in addition to their people nether British protection. In the due south in addition to the south-east of the Urhobo solid ground nether Warri district non less than xiv such Treaties had also been entered into. The Treaty making activities were nonetheless intensified after the autumn of Chief Nana.
Recently i one of the UK of Britain in addition to Northern Republic of Ireland National Maritime Museum curators H Finch-Boyer revealed that 3 of the
Museum's African flags were owned yesteryear Nana Olomu who became 4th governor of Republic of Benin River inward 1884.
Brief descriptions of the flags inward the Museum's collection are below.
1. The personal flag of Itsekiri principal Nana Olomu (1852-1916). The flag
is made wool bunting, alongside a linen hoist containing a rope in addition to is hand
sewn. The background of the blueprint is white alongside a printed Union Flag
inserted (upside down) inward the canton. Near the top border is the name
'NANNA' inward night bluish letters, below, the flag is painted alongside a naked
human being shooting a leopard. The flag was captured during the drive of
1894.
2. Personal flag of Itsekiri principal Nana Olomu (1852-1916). H5N1 light-green wool
bunting flag alongside a machine sewn linen hoist alongside a rope attached. The
flag is paw sewn alongside applied lettering - inward carmine wool 'NANNA', below in
white cotton wool 'ALLUMA'S SON'. It is said to receive got been acquired during the
1897 Republic of Benin expedition yesteryear F. W. Kennedy.
3. Personal flag of Itsekiri principal Nana Olomu (1852-1916). H5N1 carmine cotton
flag, paw sewn alongside a printed Union Flag placed vertically inward the
canton. The advert 'NANNA' is applied inward white damask letters inward the fly.
There are felt loops along the top edge.and a white strip at the hoist
alongside modest cord loops.
Source: Reference: Rotimi K in addition to Ogen O (2008). "Jaja in addition to Nana inward the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: Proto-Nationalists or Emergent Capitalists," The Journal of Pan African Studies, 2008 vol.2, no.7.
http://h-net.msu.edu/cgi-bin/logbrowse.pl?trx=vx&list=h-africa&month=1002&week=d&msg=w%2BDfZxHL0PWhBdm21J1rWg&user=&pw=
Nana Olomu the keen Nigerian millionaire entrepreneur, nationalist in addition to Itsekiri principal inward Accra after his defeat in addition to deportation there.
Nana was respected in addition to feared for his wealth in addition to power, in addition to the Oba of Republic of Benin for his suzerainty in addition to juju power. Most Urhobo people did non believe that the Oba could be, in addition to inward fact live on captured yesteryear the white-man, because of their belief inward his juju might to transform himself into a spirit.
Nana Olomu was the final of a serial of governors that started alongside the installation of Chief Idiare inward 1851 yesteryear John Beecroft who was appointed inward 1849 yesteryear the British Government every bit Consul for the Bights of Republic of Benin in addition to Biafra. Chief Idiare, along alongside Idibofun, Olomu (Nana's father), in addition to a host of other elders later signed a treaty alongside Beecroft to protect merchandise inward the area. Nana succeeded his father, Olomu of Ologbotsere, every bit governor. It was a historical fact that Numa of Batere Emaye theatre unit of measurement who was expected to succeed Olomu, is believed to receive got raised his son, Dogho (Dore Numa), to avenge the disgrace to his theatre unit of measurement when Nana got the nod. Dogho (Dore Numa) an imperialist stooge was later to render valuable assist that the British needed to defeat Nana.
Nana`s wealth was an inherited i but he managed to expand his line of piece of work organisation through his shrewd line of piece of work organisation acumen yesteryear monopolizing trade. As a reflection of the grandeur of his achievements, Nana built a magnificent building at the plow of the century. It houses his personal effects in addition to evidence of his contact alongside the Queen, administrators in addition to traders of the British Empire. Many European Merchants, Missionaries, Explorers in addition to Consular Officers who visited the Republic of Benin River inward the minute one-half of the final century, in addition to had occasion to run across Chief Nana, had zero but keen admiration for his outstanding personality, intelligence, wealth in addition to hospitality. His might to beak the Urhobo linguistic communication coupled alongside his liberality won for him the favour of practically all Urhobo traders on the River. He, of course, had plenty strength to convey to submission whatsoever i who was so unreasonably stubborn every bit to interfere alongside his merchandise anywhere. For many years, he concentrated his commercial activities on the Urhobo stone oil markets until he practically established a perfect monopoly over all the stone oil markets.
Indeed, Nana was credited alongside having a fleet of 200 merchandise canoes in addition to some other 100 state of war canoes alongside the might to muster 20,000 state of war boys. In fact, after his defeat inward 1884, the arms seized inward Ebrohimi included 106 cannons, 445 blunderbusses, 640 guns,10 revolvers, inward improver to 1640 kegs of gunpowder in addition to 2500 rounds of machine gun ammunition (Ikime 1966:41). Therefore, at that spot was no incertitude that his impressive armed forces machine, enormous wealth in addition to keen influence were critical factors inward his virtual monopoly of the palm stone oil trade.
Statue of NANA OLOMU, Merchant prince of the Niger delta at Koko, Delta State,Nigeria.
Governor (GOFUNE) of Republic of Benin River......1884-1894
H5N1 keen itsekiri leader/nationalist in addition to a Nigerian national hero.
This statue was unveiled inward the twelvemonth 1995
During the centenary commemoration of the BRITISH/NANA EBROHIMI WAR.... 1894
BY HIS EXCELLENCY GEN SANI ABACHA
Head of province in addition to commander inward principal of the armed forces of the federation of Nigeria
Major Claude Macdonald, the British Commissioner in addition to Consul General for Oil Rivers Protectorate inward 1887 who i time reported that Nana was “a human being possessed of keen might in addition to wealth, astute, energetic in addition to intelligent” (Ikime 1966:44), wrongly defendant him wrongly defendant him of: disrupting commercial activities inward the Niger Delta, of terrorizing the Urhobo in addition to turning them against the British, of engaging inward the inhuman
traffic inward slaves, in addition to the most blatant lie, of practising human sacrifice (Ikime 1980:278). But every bit it was to live on revealed Nana’s existent offence, however, was that his wealth, seat in addition to might gave him considerable influence over the areas surrounding the Republic of Benin River in addition to the Warri district, thereby making the penetration
of British traders to live on extremely hard if non impossible.
By the destination of 1893, the Vice Consuls at Republic of Benin River had started to bill the Chief of gross disloyalty to the Government; but his actions, commonly through his trading boys, appeared to reach a climax, when inward July 1894, his boys seized xv Urhobo people (including a local Chief's wife), for an alleged debt of 200 puncheons of palm-oil. It was when Chief Nana refused to give upward those captives, blockading the River instead, that the authorities was obliged to work strength to overthrow him towards the destination of 1894.
Nana was thus captured after a cessation of his war alongside the British in addition to was exiled inward Gold Coast (Ghana). In Britain inward 1899 the Aborigines' Right Protection Society led yesteryear some Gold Coast (Ghanaian) ethnic Fante intelligentsia alongside people similar billionaire founder in addition to president Jacob Wilson Sey, J E Casely-Hayford, George Hughes in addition to others complained to the Foreign Office almost "the arbitrary treatment" to which the principal had been subjected, the government's failure to carry out "the searching investigation of his instance which he had ever sought", in addition to appealed for him to live on given freedom to behavior his commercial affairs freely fifty-fifty if, for political reasons, he could non live on restored to his sometime position. H5N1 alphabetic lineament from Olomu was also enclosed complaining his maintenance was inadequate for him to back upward himself in addition to 5 other persons. In his reply the so Prime Minister the Marquis of Salisbury promised to aspect into the weather condition of the chief's maintenance, but ruled out the possibility of a homecoming to his homeland. H5N1 calendar month later the interrogation of his handling was raised inward parliament in addition to the authorities i time again stated it would live on unsafe to allow his return.
To all intent in addition to purposes, every bit ikime (1966) rightly averred Nana was an African nationalist who refused to yield to British imperialist ambition in addition to so had to live on broken. For Nana was reported to receive got stopped all merchandise inward 1886 in addition to 1892 to strength English linguistic communication merchants to pay higher prices. Opposition to Nana, grew non merely from the merchants but also from those Itsekiri traders including Dore Numa, who had suffered from Nana's monopoly.
Source:
Nana Olomu of Itsekiri: Palm Oil Super Magnate
Nana Olomu was born almost 1852 at Jakpa inward the Itsekiri region, in addition to thus piece of work the wealthiest Itsekiri trader of his age. Incidentally, his father, Olomu was also the richest in addition to most powerful Itsekiri merchant during his life time. Nana’s remarkable success was predicated on his inherited wealthy status, his outstanding acumen inward the organisation of his fiscal in addition to human resources in addition to also on his formidable armed forces machine (Ikime 1966:40-42). It has, however, been reasonably argued that his career was a striking illustration of how political advancement was based to a greater extent than on commercial prowess, rather than on inherited status (Soremekun 1985:149; Hopkins 1973:146).
Nana similar Jaja was a province builder. He was able to ready his kingdom due to his effective command of the merchandise inward palm oil, which dissimilar the slave merchandise called for greater organisation in addition to fiscal resources (Law 1993:105). He also greatly developed the novel upper-case alphabetic lineament at Ebrohimi which had before been founded yesteryear his manlike soul parent on an almost impregnable site yesteryear dumping heaps of sand on a hitherto dingy in addition to swampy location (Isichei 1977:123; Ikpe 1989:53).
H5N1 British official, Gallwey who toured the Urhobo portion inward 1892 affirms that:
"In terms of relations alongside the British, Nana was the Jaja of the
Western Delta. His concord on most of the Urhobo stone oil markets was
fifty-fifty firmer than Jaja’s. In terms of wealth, Nana was probably
much wealthier than Jaja in addition to similar Jaja was able to dictate his
ain merchandise terms in addition to had no demand for trust" (Ikime 1977:46).
Correspondingly, Nana also held upward palm stone oil exports betwixt 1886 in addition to 1887 when the cost of palm stone oil all of a abrupt cruel yesteryear 40% inward guild to strength European merchants to select the terms in addition to weather condition of sale every bit set downward yesteryear local producers in addition to suppliers. This was a strategic agency of securing a favorable residue of merchandise for the Urhobo producers in addition to Itsekiri middle-men (Hopkins 1973:155). In 1891 the British tried to undermine Nana’s economical interests yesteryear opening upward some other Vice-Consulate at Sapele, apart from the i on the Republic of Benin River inward guild to penetrate the hinterland in addition to trim the merchandise on the Republic of Benin River - the main source of his wealth. However, Nana retaliated yesteryear sending his agents to Sapele too. The British were astounded to notice out that his agents were inward line of piece of work solid command of the trade, in addition to that his trading influence was extremely strong.
Indeed, he was so powerful in addition to sufficiently wealthy to dictate his ain merchandise terms, to concord upward merchandise when it suited his fancy in addition to to spend upward to select trust from European firms (Ikime 1980:278).
During the era of treaty signing inward Nigeria, Nana Olomu fully understood the immediate import of British violet intentions inward the Niger Delta. Like Jaja, he struck out offensive clauses which stipulated gratuitous access to British traders to merchandise wherever they pleased inward his kingdom. These uncooperative tendencies on his purpose were the precursor to the Ebrohimi expedition of 1894 (Ikime 1980:276; Onabamiro 1983:56).
Thus, Major Claude Macdonald, the British Commissioner in addition to Consul General for Oil Rivers Protectorate inward 1887 reported that Nana’s influence was exceedingly widespread in addition to that it would live on inward the best involvement of British traders, missionaries in addition to colonialists to urgently in addition to decisively checkmate Nana’s growing influence in addition to power. Macdonald farther reported that at a detail occasion when he met Nana at the Republic of Benin River for a crucial meeting, Nana came inward a state of war canoe paddled yesteryear almost 100 people alongside 4 or 5 similar canoes serving every bit escorts, in addition to personal bodyguards of xx armed men alongside Winchester repeater rifles. Macdonald concluded that Nana was “a human being possessed of keen might in addition to wealth, astute, energetic in addition to intelligent” (Ikime 1966:44).
Indeed, Nana was credited alongside having a fleet of 200 merchandise canoes in addition to some other 100 state of war canoes alongside the might to muster 20,000 state of war boys. After his defeat inward 1884, the arms seized inward Ebrohimi included 106 cannons, 445 blunderbusses, 640 guns,10 revolvers, inward improver to 1640 kegs of gunpowder in addition to 2500 rounds of machine gun ammunition (Ikime 1966:41). Therefore, at that spot was no incertitude that his impressive armed forces machine, enormous wealth in addition to keen influence were critical factors inward his virtual monopoly of the palm stone oil trade.
Nevertheless, the British wrongly defendant him of: disrupting commercial activities inward the Niger Delta, of terrorizing the Urhobo in addition to turning them against the British, of engaging inward the inhuman traffic inward slaves, in addition to the most blatant lie, of practising human sacrifice (Ikime 1980:278). Nana’s existent offence, however, was that his wealth, seat in addition to might gave him considerable influence over the areas surrounding the Republic of Benin River in addition to the Warri district, thereby making the penetration of British traders to live on extremely hard if non impossible. Consequently, inward 1894, the British set siege on Ebrohimi. Nana replied yesteryear farther fortifying his capital. Henceforth, the resistance position upward yesteryear him was bitter in addition to daring, in addition to every bit skillful every bit it was brilliant. Crowder (1971:2), rightly suggests that every bit far every bit armed forces historians are concerned, wars are non assessed alone inward terms of the victory or success of the victors, but also on the prowess in addition to ingenuity of the vanquished, inward the human face upward of overwhelming odds.
Therefore Nana impressively combined conventional warfare alongside guerilla tactics, in addition to used to the fullest wages his superior noesis of the creeks along the British had to canvas to reach Ebrohimi, thereby making what they initially idea would live on a casual armed forces expedition, i their most hard in addition to costly violet adventures inward West Africa. In short, Nana forced the British to ready upward a large naval in addition to armed forces strength off the Republic of Benin River, representing virtually the entire British naval strength inward West Africa, in addition to the most impressive collection of British forces inward the Niger Delta upward until that appointment (Onabamiro 1983:57 in addition to Ikime 1977:47). This activeness prompted the British to mail 4 warships: the HMS Alecto, HMS Phoebe, HMS Philomel in addition to HMS Widgem to assault all the villages or so Ebrohimi, which were destroyed. Yet, Nana
refused to give upward or obey British entreaties to come upward for a give-and-take at the Consulate, based on the retentiveness of what happened to Jaja when he acquiesced to such a asking (Onabamiro 1983:57).
And thus, all attempts to select Ebrohimi yesteryear going upward the creek failed, in addition to inward fact, Nana successfully repelled the British forces on 3 occasions so they were forced to withdraw alongside ‘heavy’ casualties. And fifty-fifty cutting a path through the dense swamp woods also proved an impossible chore which was rendered scary in addition to unsafe because of Nana’s cleverly masked batteries. Attacking Ebrohimi yesteryear solid ground also failed because of the heavy burn downward directed against the British yesteryear Nana’s forces. However, Nana’s upper-case alphabetic lineament eventually cruel on September 25, 1894, mainly because, Dogho, (Nana’s local rival) provided the British alongside logistic in addition to news back upward in addition to fifty-fifty showed them the best road to Ebrohimi, in addition to every bit a result, Nana was eventually tried in addition to exiled to Gold Coast (now Ghana). And interestingly, his goods were also sold in addition to the proceeds were used to defray the cost of the expedition, marker the demise of his trading empire (Ikime 1980:278; 1966:47; 1977:47).
It must live on noted that inward almost 2 ½ years before Chief Nana's fall, the Urhobo Chiefs of Abraka, N eastward of the Republic of Benin Consular district had concluded a Treaty of Protection alongside Her Britannic Majesty's Government placing themselves in addition to their people nether British protection. In the due south in addition to the south-east of the Urhobo solid ground nether Warri district non less than xiv such Treaties had also been entered into. The Treaty making activities were nonetheless intensified after the autumn of Chief Nana.
Recently i one of the UK of Britain in addition to Northern Republic of Ireland National Maritime Museum curators H Finch-Boyer revealed that 3 of the
Museum's African flags were owned yesteryear Nana Olomu who became 4th governor of Republic of Benin River inward 1884.
Brief descriptions of the flags inward the Museum's collection are below.
1. The personal flag of Itsekiri principal Nana Olomu (1852-1916). The flag
is made wool bunting, alongside a linen hoist containing a rope in addition to is hand
sewn. The background of the blueprint is white alongside a printed Union Flag
inserted (upside down) inward the canton. Near the top border is the name
'NANNA' inward night bluish letters, below, the flag is painted alongside a naked
human being shooting a leopard. The flag was captured during the drive of
1894.
2. Personal flag of Itsekiri principal Nana Olomu (1852-1916). H5N1 light-green wool
bunting flag alongside a machine sewn linen hoist alongside a rope attached. The
flag is paw sewn alongside applied lettering - inward carmine wool 'NANNA', below in
white cotton wool 'ALLUMA'S SON'. It is said to receive got been acquired during the
1897 Republic of Benin expedition yesteryear F. W. Kennedy.
3. Personal flag of Itsekiri principal Nana Olomu (1852-1916). H5N1 carmine cotton
flag, paw sewn alongside a printed Union Flag placed vertically inward the
canton. The advert 'NANNA' is applied inward white damask letters inward the fly.
There are felt loops along the top edge.and a white strip at the hoist
alongside modest cord loops.
Source: Reference: Rotimi K in addition to Ogen O (2008). "Jaja in addition to Nana inward the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: Proto-Nationalists or Emergent Capitalists," The Journal of Pan African Studies, 2008 vol.2, no.7.
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