Randa Abdelfattah
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
it got so bad that the Oba would periodically shut down trade, frustrating the British. And so the British tried to fix this by proposing a treaty in 1892, which historians say... Undermined Benin sovereignty.
it got so bad that the Oba would periodically shut down trade, frustrating the British. And so the British tried to fix this by proposing a treaty in 1892, which historians say... Undermined Benin sovereignty.
In other words, the Oba would need British approval for dealing with anyone else. Yet, according to the British, the Oba signed this treaty, something historians like Wando Achebe call into question.
In other words, the Oba would need British approval for dealing with anyone else. Yet, according to the British, the Oba signed this treaty, something historians like Wando Achebe call into question.
In other words, the Oba would need British approval for dealing with anyone else. Yet, according to the British, the Oba signed this treaty, something historians like Wando Achebe call into question.
The answer is still, to this day, unclear. But another perspective from historians is that the Oba only had one question on his mind as the British were trying to explain this treaty. Were they declaring peace or war? The British reassured the Oba that it was a peace treaty. And so the Oba might have signed the treaty in the hopes that it would quell tensions, that it might prevent an all-out war.
The answer is still, to this day, unclear. But another perspective from historians is that the Oba only had one question on his mind as the British were trying to explain this treaty. Were they declaring peace or war? The British reassured the Oba that it was a peace treaty. And so the Oba might have signed the treaty in the hopes that it would quell tensions, that it might prevent an all-out war.
The answer is still, to this day, unclear. But another perspective from historians is that the Oba only had one question on his mind as the British were trying to explain this treaty. Were they declaring peace or war? The British reassured the Oba that it was a peace treaty. And so the Oba might have signed the treaty in the hopes that it would quell tensions, that it might prevent an all-out war.
By the late 1800s, the British Empire and the Benin Kingdom were on the brink of a conflict over control of key trading positions in West Africa. The British claimed that the Oba, or king, was violating a treaty they'd signed. The Oba, for his part, shut down trade whenever he felt the British were becoming a threat. Both sides were at an impasse.
By the late 1800s, the British Empire and the Benin Kingdom were on the brink of a conflict over control of key trading positions in West Africa. The British claimed that the Oba, or king, was violating a treaty they'd signed. The Oba, for his part, shut down trade whenever he felt the British were becoming a threat. Both sides were at an impasse.
By the late 1800s, the British Empire and the Benin Kingdom were on the brink of a conflict over control of key trading positions in West Africa. The British claimed that the Oba, or king, was violating a treaty they'd signed. The Oba, for his part, shut down trade whenever he felt the British were becoming a threat. Both sides were at an impasse.
— Which meant his job was to oversee trade in West Africa on behalf of the British crown. He'd basically been raised to eventually have this kind of job.
— Which meant his job was to oversee trade in West Africa on behalf of the British crown. He'd basically been raised to eventually have this kind of job.
— Which meant his job was to oversee trade in West Africa on behalf of the British crown. He'd basically been raised to eventually have this kind of job.
By his early 30s, James Phillips, like many other upper-class British bureaucrats, decided to pursue his fortunes overseas, working for the empire.
By his early 30s, James Phillips, like many other upper-class British bureaucrats, decided to pursue his fortunes overseas, working for the empire.
By his early 30s, James Phillips, like many other upper-class British bureaucrats, decided to pursue his fortunes overseas, working for the empire.