In 1897, the British Empire launched a "Punitive Expedition" against the Kingdom of Benin (located in modern-day Edo State, Nigeria). While history books often framed this as a mission of justice, a closer look at the archives reveals a calculated campaign of invasion, looting, and systemic character assassination.
The Historical Context: Trade and Tension
By the late 19th century, the British were eager to expand their "Protectorate" over the Niger Coast to monopolize trade in palm oil, rubber, and ivory. However, Oba Ovonramwen of Benin maintained strict control over his kingdom’s resources and refused to sign away Benin's sovereignty.
The catalyst for the invasion was the Phillips Incident. In January 1897, Acting Consul-General James Phillips led a "peaceful" mission to Benin City despite being warned that the Kingdom was celebrating a sacred festival during which visitors were forbidden. Phillips’ party was ambushed, and most members were killed.
The Summary: Invasion and Looting
The British response was swift and overwhelming:
The Attack: Within weeks, 1,200 British troops invaded. They used Maxim guns and rockets against a kingdom largely defending itself with muskets and spears.
The Destruction: British forces burned Benin City to the ground, including the Royal Palace. The Oba was forced into exile in Calabar.
The Theft: In what is now considered one of the greatest art heists in history, the British seized thousands of brass plaques and ivory carvings—collectively known as the Benin Bronzes. These were sold to the British Museum and various European collectors to "offset the costs" of the war.
The Propaganda: Building the "Savage" Narrative
To justify the slaughter and the theft of state treasures, the British government and media launched a PR campaign designed to paint Benin as a "City of Blood."
The Lie of Humanitarianism: Official reports focused almost exclusively on human sacrifice and "barbarism." By framing the Oba as a bloodthirsty tyrant, the British transformed an illegal resource grab into a "civilizing mission."
The Erasure of Sophistication: At the time, Europeans were shocked by the quality of the Benin Bronzes. Rather than admit African artists were capable of such mastery, many British "experts" claimed the works must have been influenced by the Portuguese or even the lost city of Atlantis.
The "Punitive" Label: Using the word punitive framed the British as the victims of the Phillips Incident, conveniently ignoring that Phillips was an armed intruder entering a sovereign nation against explicit orders.
Key Source
"The Benin Kingdom and the British Invasion" – Paddy Walker (great-grandson of a British officer involved in the raid) and modern scholarly archives from the Digital Benin project, which documents the 5,000+ artifacts scattered across 131 institutions worldwide.
Why It Matters Today
The "lies and propaganda" of 1897 are at the heart of the modern debate over restitution. When museums refuse to return the Bronzes, they often lean on the echoes of that 19th-century propaganda—the idea that the original owners were "uncivilized" and that the artifacts are "safer" in the West.
In 1897, British forces invaded Benin City in today’s Nigeria 🇳🇬. What followed was a series of lies and propaganda. pic.twitter.com/bDxHxLHFta
— Typical African (@Joe__Bassey) February 5, 2026
No comments:
Post a Comment