Chinazor Onianwah :As far back as 1450 AD, the reigning Oba Ewuare of Benin refused to sell slaves to the Portuguese.
I am super thrilled that history is becoming an interesting topic of discussion in Nigerian social media especially during Black History Month in the US. Let me chip in here- regarding the power and status of the Oba (Kingship), there is non greater than the Oba of Benin. As far back as 1450 AD, the reigning Oba Ewuare of Benin refused to sell slaves to the Portuguese. He made it clear that the Kingdom has palm oil and other commodities, they could take it or leave it. The Portuguese tried to penetrate the kingdom which extended from the Niger River in the east to the borders of Eko and Benin Republic. Oba Ewuare had a standing army around the kingdom which thwarted the efforts of the Portuguese. Eventually the Portuguese entered into a bilateral trade agreement with the Portuguese and they exchanged ambassadors. The Oba of Benin has always approved the installation of all Obas in the west until the Kingdom was defeated by the British in 1897 – the Punitive Expedition. However, the foundation of the kingship of Benin was built on the history of Nri. Going back in antiquity up till the 11th century, Nri had Kings, but they were mostly spirit kings with no army.
