A historic photograph taken in 1897 shows Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (also called Overami), the thirty-fifth Oba of the Kingdom of Benin, standing with his special sword bearer and chiefs in his palace. This portrait was taken shortly before his forced deportation to Calabar by British colonial forces—a turning point that reshaped the destiny of Benin and its monarchy.
The 1897 Punitive Expedition
The deportation of Oba Ovonramwen was the direct result of the British punitive expedition against Benin in February 1897. Tensions between the Kingdom of Benin and British colonial authorities had been escalating over trade restrictions, taxation, and control of palm oil exports.
When a British delegation led by Acting Consul General James Phillips attempted to enter Benin City against prior warnings, they were attacked, and several members of the mission were killed. In response, Britain launched a large-scale military invasion to capture the city, depose the Oba, and secure control over trade in the region.
The punitive expedition devastated Benin City. Thousands of soldiers and sailors, heavily armed with modern rifles, artillery, and machine guns, stormed the city. The royal palace and much of the city were burned, while thousands of cultural treasures were seized and shipped to Britain. These artworks became known as the Benin Bronzes, a globally renowned collection of intricately cast bronzes, ivories, and other works that showcased the skill and sophistication of Benin’s artists. Today, many of these pieces remain in Western museums, though efforts for repatriation have been gaining momentum.
The Oba’s Capture and Exile
Following the destruction of Benin City, Oba Ovonramwen initially fled into the forest. After months of pursuit, he surrendered to the British. In a symbolic act of humiliation, he was tried and then exiled to Calabar, a coastal city in southeastern Nigeria.
In exile, Oba Ovonramwen lived out the rest of his days under surveillance. He died in 1914, never returning to his throne or his people. His deportation marked the end of the Benin monarchy’s political power, though the institution itself would eventually be restored in a ceremonial capacity.
The Kingdom of Benin Before the Fall
For centuries before its conquest, the Kingdom of Benin was one of West Africa’s most powerful and sophisticated states. Situated in present-day Edo State, southern Nigeria, it flourished from at least the 13th century. Benin was renowned for its advanced city planning, massive earthworks, strong military organization, and flourishing art traditions.
The royal court commissioned elaborate bronze plaques, commemorative heads, and ivory carvings, which not only served as historical records but also reinforced the sacred authority of the Oba. European travelers as far back as the 15th century marveled at the city’s grandeur and artistry.
Legacy and Restoration of the Monarchy
Although British colonization dismantled Benin’s political sovereignty, the monarchy was restored in 1914 after the death of Oba Ovonramwen. However, its authority was heavily reduced under colonial rule, limited largely to cultural and traditional functions.
Today, the Oba of Benin remains an important cultural and spiritual leader, symbolizing continuity with the kingdom’s rich past. The ongoing global conversation about the return of the Benin Bronzes has renewed awareness of Oba Ovonramwen’s fate and the devastating consequences of the 1897 expedition.
The photograph of Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi with his sword bearer and chiefs is more than a portrait—it is a symbol of resilience and loss. It captures the last days of an independent Benin Kingdom, moments before colonial conquest altered its destiny. The Oba’s deportation, the looting of the Benin Bronzes, and the destruction of Benin City remain among the most significant episodes in the history of European imperial expansion in Africa.
The legacy of Ovonramwen endures, not only in the survival of the monarchy but also in the global recognition of Benin’s art, history, and unbroken cultural identity.
Nollywood icon Genevieve Nnaji has fired off a sharp response after a man on X (formerly Twitter) advised Igbo men to stop marrying Igbo women and instead seek wives from other African countries.
The controversy began after a photo of a Rwandan woman said to be engaged to an Anambra man went viral.
Resharing the image, the user wrote, “Dear Igbo men, instead of marrying an Igbo woman who’ll falsely accuse you of r4ping your daughter, better look outside for a wife.
“Go to East Africa, especially Rwanda, and pick a damsel. They’re all over social media, and you can link up with them.”
Genevieve, who rarely comments on online drama, responded, “In other words, instead of checking yourself and taking accountability, go for the unsuspecting and carry on with your evil. Got it.”
Another user attempted to challenge her, claiming the original tweet was aimed at “false rape accusers” and that Genevieve was avoiding the real issue.
“His tweet was clearly against false rape accusers, but instead of holding the evil women accountable and demanding change, you chose to tweet this?”
But the actress hit back with equal clarity: “The same way a woman can’t tell an abusive man apart from a good one is the same way you shouldn’t say avoid all Igbo women. ‘Not all women’.”
Reality TV star Phyna has offered words of encouragement to fellow Big Brother Naija winner Imisi amid a family feud between the latter and her mother.
In an X post on Monday, Phyna wrote,”To Imisi, @imisiofficial and to anyone walking through the same fire… I’m praying for your strength.
“My own experience broke me, but I’m slowly rising.
“And I’m rooting for you with everything in me, don’t handle it like I did, build strong and focus on you baby girl.”
The post comes against the backdrop of a family dispute in which Imisi’s mother accused her daughter of hatred and revealed the poor condition of the home where she currently lives, despite Imisi winning N150 million after her Big Brother victory.
Imisi replied in Yoruba,”This is why Aunty Debola said you should not show your face to the world. I can’t be saying all that now, you are in the midst of people. Just overlook everything and leave social media.
“Don’t worry, I will send you money to rent a new house. I am tired of all this drama. I am still recovering from the stress of Big Brother.
“Should I be facing another stress now? Please forgive me, I am your daughter.”
Recall Imisi’s mother has publicly expressed frustration on social media, saying she does not need her daughter’s money after being sidelined following the win.
She also blamed Imisi for recounting her childhood experiences, which she claims involve untrue allegations of parental neglect and sexual assault.
In a video, she showed the old house she currently resides in, saying she is content with her situation, a revelation that sparked online controversy.
In 2023, after Phyna’s BBNaija win, her father, Felix Otabor, revealed in an interview that he was distressed by his daughter’s actions following her BBNaija win.
Otabor said Phyna had asked him to stop working as a hearse driver and requested that he sell his cars, promising to improve the family’s life.
He said he later struggled financially after selling the vehicles, losing his business momentum and community position, and has not seen his daughter since her victory.
He described feeling sidelined while she enjoyed her wealth.
Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, has opened up about her marriage to her estranged husband, Senator Ned Nwoko.
It was reports that the embattled wife revealed why their seven-year relationship remained faithful despite his polygamous lifestyle.
In a reply to a comment on her Instagram page, Daniels said that during their years together, Nwoko never slept with other women outside their home because she held him well in the other room.
She wrote: “Yes i think he loved me but a toxic one! Because tell me why a polygamous man forgot what it meant to be in polygamy, except for the media.
“Just because it boosted his ego of being seen with multiple women which is easy by me because anyone that sees a man as an odogwu sees the wife as what? He basically had to beg that he share days at ours and other days with his other wives because they begged for his attention.
“Y’all should pls forget this yeye social media comparison because my ex man never slept outside one day in our 7 years of marriage. You know why? Because as a delta babe, I hold am well for the other room ladies use your skills that’s all men want actually!”
