Ramteen Arablui

This was an era of massive industrial growth in Europe, especially in England. And so natural resources like rubber and palm oil were in high demand. And it turns out that many of those resources were in what's now southern Nigeria, the land the Oba ruled over. So throughout the 1800s, the British tried to insert themselves more and more into the rubber and palm oil trade.

It became a struggle over control of resources.

It became a struggle over control of resources.

It became a struggle over control of resources.

The Oba continued to exert control, even though the British claimed he was violating their treaty. This would set the stage for a confrontation, one that would change the course of West African history. Coming up, an unannounced guest.

The Oba continued to exert control, even though the British claimed he was violating their treaty. This would set the stage for a confrontation, one that would change the course of West African history. Coming up, an unannounced guest.

The Oba continued to exert control, even though the British claimed he was violating their treaty. This would set the stage for a confrontation, one that would change the course of West African history. Coming up, an unannounced guest.

This is from a letter James Phillips sent to the British Prime Minister in 1897, arguing that they should take action.

This is from a letter James Phillips sent to the British Prime Minister in 1897, arguing that they should take action.

This is from a letter James Phillips sent to the British Prime Minister in 1897, arguing that they should take action.

Basically, Phillips is like, look, if we want to efficiently extract resources like rubber and palm oil, things England needed to fuel its rapid industrial growth, we need to get the Benin kingdom's king, or Oba, out of the way.

Basically, Phillips is like, look, if we want to efficiently extract resources like rubber and palm oil, things England needed to fuel its rapid industrial growth, we need to get the Benin kingdom's king, or Oba, out of the way.

Basically, Phillips is like, look, if we want to efficiently extract resources like rubber and palm oil, things England needed to fuel its rapid industrial growth, we need to get the Benin kingdom's king, or Oba, out of the way.

Well, the British Prime Minister basically left Phillips on read for several weeks. Still, Phillips was an ambitious young man and he decided to send a letter to Benin's king requesting a meeting.

Well, the British Prime Minister basically left Phillips on read for several weeks. Still, Phillips was an ambitious young man and he decided to send a letter to Benin's king requesting a meeting.

Well, the British Prime Minister basically left Phillips on read for several weeks. Still, Phillips was an ambitious young man and he decided to send a letter to Benin's king requesting a meeting.

And he does this even though he'd already made it clear in his letter to the British Prime Minister that he wanted to depose Benin's king.

And he does this even though he'd already made it clear in his letter to the British Prime Minister that he wanted to depose Benin's king.

And he does this even though he'd already made it clear in his letter to the British Prime Minister that he wanted to depose Benin's king.

And Phillips gets a response.