Benin Expedition of 1897

Benin Expedition of 1897
Part of the Scramble for Africa
Date9–18 February 1897
Location
Benin City, Benin Empire
Result British victory
Belligerents

United Kingdom British Empire

Benin Empire Benin Empire
Commanders and leaders
United Kingdom Harry Rawson Benin Empire Ovonramwen
Benin Empire Asoro N' lyokuo
Benin Empire Ologbosere
Strength
1,200 Unknown

The Benin Expedition of 1897 was a punitive expedition by a British force of 1,200 men under Sir Harry Rawson. It came in response to the ambush and slaughter of a 250 strong party led by British Acting Consul General James Phillips of the Niger Coast Protectorate.[1] Rawson's troops captured Benin City and the Kingdom of Benin was eventually absorbed into colonial Nigeria.[1] The expedition freed about 100 Africans enslaved by the Oba.[2][3]

Current policy of the Nigerian government see all repatriated Benin Bronzes turned over to the ownership of Ewuare II, the current Oba of Benin and direct descendant of the ruler of Benin overthrown by the British in 1897.

  1. ^ a b Obinyan, T. U. (September 1988). "The Annexation of Benin". Journal of Black Studies. 19 (1): 29–40. doi:10.1177/002193478801900103. JSTOR 2784423. S2CID 142726955.
  2. ^ Home 1982, p. 45, 107: "The Edo soldiers [...] brought back over a hundred Itsekiri carriers to be enslaved [...] Among the retuning refugees were Itseriki carriers from the Philips party who had been enslaved after the massacre"
  3. ^ Igbafe, Philip A. (1975). "Slavery and Emancipation in Benin, 1897-1945". The Journal of African History. 16 (3): 409–429. doi:10.1017/S002185370001433X. JSTOR 180474.