Not sure if most of us have heard the name or seen this photo before.

This is the Photo of Oba Ovonranmwen Nogbaisi of Benin Kingdom, the great great grand father of the current Oba of Benin(Oba Eheneden) shortly before exiled to Calabar in 1897.

Ovonramwen Nogbaisi also called Overami ruled from 1888–1897. He was the Oba of the
Kingdom of Benin until the British invasion of 1897.

A British invasion force headed by Vice-Consul James Robert Phillips set out to overthrow the Oba in 1896. The force's weapons were hidden in baggage, with troops disguised as bearers.

Phillips plan was to gain access to Ovonramwen's palace by announcing that he intended to negotiate. Ovonramwen's messengers issued several warnings not to violate Benin territorial sovereignty, claiming he was unable to see Phillips due to ceremonial duties. Having been warned on several further occasions on the way, Phillips sent his stick to the Oba, a deliberate insult designed to provoke the conflict that would provide an excuse for British annexation.
Phillip's expedition was ambushed and all but two were killed.
Subsequently a military operation against Benin in 1897 led by Harry Rawson resulted in the burning of Benin City and the deaths of untold numbers of its inhabitants.
Although the British had orders to hang the Oba, Ovonramwen escaped, but later surrendered.

Ovonramwen was exiled to Calabar with his 2 wives, and later died there in 1914.

For more story and insight see Lancelot Imasuen's movie INVASION 1897[i][/i]

PHOTO CRDT: Eliot Elisofon, National Museum of African Art, Washington, U.S

.... a brave KING

tobtap:
.... a brave KING

Yeah!!

The Bravest Benin ever had..

Benin will revenge someday what the British did to them in 1897 by looting their important valuable material.