How 'Nigeria' was 'sold' to the British at sum of £865k in 1899

How 'Nigeria' was sold to the British at sum of £865k in 1899

By 1870, palm oil had replaced slaves as the main export of the Niger Delta, the area which was once known as the Slave Coast. At first, most of the trade in the oil palm was uncoordinated, with natives selling to those who gave them the best deals. Native chiefs such as former slave, Jaja of Opobo became immensely wealthy because of oil palm. With wealth comes influence.

Documented history of Mbaise (1899 to 1941)

Documented history of Mbaise (1899 to 1941): Cross section of the ‘Nzes’ during the 2015 ‘Oji’ Mbaise cultural festival held at Udo, Ezinihitte Mbaise Imo State on 1/1/2015. (Udo Top Gist)

Mbaise is an amalgam of indigenous, autochthonous clans, connected by intermarriage, and situated in approximate area the heartland of Igboland. It occupies an area of 404 square kilometers. The quiddity of Mbaise is that this homogenous group of more than 1000 persons per square kilometer is the most densely populated area in West Africa. The population of Mbaise as at 2006 was estimated to be 611,204 people (Agulanna, 2008).