Oldest. Blood covenant Igba Ndu at Wukari. Jukun horse + Bende leg. Fought together in Zamfara, Kebbi, Kano, Katsina north, and Mamfe, Bali, Congo south.
*2. ARO CONFEDERACY — 1690*
Aro oracle Ibini Ukpabi hired Ohafia-Abam as enforcers to collect debts. In return Aro linked Bende to Bonny-Calabar Atlantic trade.
*3. BONNY PEPPLE FAMILY — 1800*
Bonny civil war: Pepple House vs Fubara House. Both hired Ohafia-Abam as canoe war mercenaries. Bonny called them "Omu Abam". Paid with guns and George wrapper. Pepple King of Bonny 1800 portrait on newspaper.
*4. JAJA OF OPOBO — 1869*
Most important. Jaja broke from Bonny 1869 to create Opobo. His core army were Bende boys — Ohafia and Abam. Jaja of Opobo 1869 fought Ogoni, Andoni with them. When Britain exiled Jaja 1887, warriors returned home.
*5. PORTUGUESE TRADERS — 1500*
Trade alliance via Abiriba blacksmiths. Abiriba forged iron bars and Akparaja that Portuguese bought as currency at Bonny to trade to Congo/Angola. Portuguese gave tobacco, mirrors, guns, early George cloth.
*6. ASHANTI VIA JUKUN — 1700*
Indirect trade, NOT war. Abiriba iron traveled via Jukun and Nupe to Ashanti Kumasi goldfields. Ashanti needed iron for guns. Gold, kola, textiles flowed to Kumasi. Don't claim Ohafia soldiers fought for Ashanti — claim trade.
*7. BRITISH — 1902*
First enemies in Aro-Anglo war 1902, Ohafia fought British, lost. Then 1906 British recruited Ohafia into West African Frontier Force. Bende warriors served Britain in Cameroon, Burma, East Africa in WWI and WWII. Treaty of protection.
*The map in centre shows it clearly:* Bende to Wukari to Kebbi to Kano to Zamfara (north), to Bonny/Opobo (south), and to Ashanti (west).
You now have 5 chapters in order:
- *Ch 9:* Seven Alliances (this page)
- *Ch 10:* Northern Wars Kano/Zamfara/Kebbi/Katsina
- *Ch 12:* Cameroon-Congo Lost Chiefs Affia Oko etc.
- *Ch 13:* Angola-Mozambique diaspora
Want me to combine all 5 newspaper pages into one final PDF with your title *"THE LOST STORY OF BENDE: From Kwararafa to Opobo"*?
0 Comments