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Slavery and Emancipation in Benin, 1897–1945

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2009

Philip A. Igbafe
Philip A. Igbafe
Affiliation:
University of Ife
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Extract

Slavery and pawning were closely related though different institutions in precolonial Benin society. In many areas of Nigeria and indeed West Africa, colonial rule signified the end of the slave trade but domestic slavery was left undisturbed for quite a long time. The earliest of the slave dealing ordinances merely contained clauses in favour of manumission. In Benin, however, for quite peculiar reasons, the British attack on slavery came with the first entry of British troops into the area. First, emancipation was used to facilitate British occupation. Later, the drive for manumission was a strong expression of the British commitment to a principle which grew out of the ad hoc adoption of measures favouring emancipation.

In the attack on slavery and pawning in Benin, the native courts were heavily relied upon as well as the use of ordinances and proclamations. The abolition of slavery and pawning created a welter of problems on the social, economic and political planes.

This paper examines these problems and how they were handled by the British administration in Benin. Changes in the society which were the byproducts of emancipation as well as factors which made emancipation possible are also discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of African History , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , July 1975 , pp. 409 - 429
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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References

1 This impression is given by Roth, Ling in Great Benin: Its customs, art and horrors (Halifax, 1903), 103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

2 Foreign visitors to Benin did not quite understand this position and regarded the expressions as symbolic of a servile relationship between the Oba and his subjects. See Gallwey, : ‘Journeys in the Benin country West Africa’ Geographical Journal, 11 (1893), 129Google Scholar; Roth, , Great Benin, 103.Google Scholar Gallwey writes: ‘the Benin people are free, but are treated as slaves by the king, the title of king's slave being considered an honour.’

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7 Interview with Oba Akenzua II (3.4.62) at which the palace chiefs were present.

8 Egharevba, , Benin Law and Custom, 85–88.Google Scholar Public Record Office, London (PRO): F.O. 2/178, Moor to F.O. 19 Nov. 1897, ‘Particulars of Benin History’ collected from the court historian, and other chiefs. NAI: Cal Prof 8/2, Alfred Turner to Moor 30 Mar. 1897.

9 PRO: F.O. 2/123 Moor to Salisbury No. 120 of 18.10.97.

10 PRO: F.O. 2/178 Moor to F.O. 19.11.97.

11 Ibid.

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28 Ibid. Turner to Moor 8.4.97.

29 Ibid. Turner to Moor 18.5.97.

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35 Enugu Archives (EA), A714/1913 as CSE1/42/11 Moorhouse, Provincial Commissioner, Central Province, to Lugard 6. 12–12; CSE1/23/200 R. A. Roberts, Ag. Provincial Commissioner Warri, to District Commissioner, Benin City 27.9.13; CSO 509/10 as CS 1/19/303 H.O. Swanston, District Commissioner, Benin City to Hon. Provincial Commissioner, Warri, 18.3.11.

36 EA: CSO 509/10 as CSE 1/19/303 Acting D.C., H. Dene, to H. P. C. Warri 11/3/11; A 714/1913 as CSE 1/42/11. Col. Moorhouse (Prov. Commr. C.P.) to Lugard, 6.12.12, on the application of the Native House Rule Ordinance to the interior districts.

37 EA: CSO 509/10. See Notes by H. Dene, Ag. D.C. Ishan District to H.P.C. Warri, 11/3/11. Mr. H. B. Mansfield, District Commissioner, Benin, wrote in Sept. 1913 that since assuming office in July 1913 over twelve instances had occurred in which chiefs, as head of Houses took action under the Native House Rule Proclamation 1901 (section VI) to recover run-away members.

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41 See p. 410.

42 Ibid.

43 These coastal trading stations were mentioned as Calabar, Bonny, Opobo, Degema, Brass and Warri. EA: A714/1913 as CSE 1/42/11. H. C. Moorhouse to Provincial Commissioner, Central Province, 6.12.12.

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47 EA. B1156/24 as CSE 1/85/94. W. E. Hunt to S.S.P. 31.1.25.

48 NAI: CSO 26: 11799, p. 96.

49 Ibid. p. 104.

50 Ibid. p. 98.

51 Ibid. p. 98.

52 NAI: CSO 26, 11799, P. 101.

53 EA: SP 148/2 as CSE 1/85/95; NAI: CSO 26 11799, PP. 109E–109F.

54 BM: Accounts and Papers (9) 1908. Cd. 3999, LXX, pp. 419–507 shows that by 1906, the various firms engaged in timber exploitation in Benin City had over sixty-one timber concession areas.

55 PRO: C.O. 520/107 Egerton to Harcourt confl. of 19.10.1911 enclosure I(f) and A. G. Boyle to Harcourt confl. of 31.5.1911.

56 PRO: C.O. 520/37. Egerton to Elgin conf. of 31 Oct. 1906 enclosure I; the King referred to is Oba Ovonramwen.

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58 NAI: Ben Prof 9/3, 4. See evidence adduced in Elakere vs. Osediwo 12.10.33.

59 NAI: CSO 26, 06827, vol. 1, p. 44.

60 NAI: Ben Prof 9/1, 3. Case No. 16/16 Rex vs. I Ogbeide (2) Aghedo of 18.2.16; case No. 22/16 Rex vs. I. Ezeduma (2) Ibizugbe. The first two were charged with ‘slave dealing in that first accused pledged one Oga with second accused as security for loan of one goat, and one sheep on or about the month of January 1916’, The second pair were charged with ‘slave dealing in that 2nd accused pledged one Edegbe to 1st accused’ as security for loan of £5 in or about the month of January 1916.

61 Ibid.

62 NAI: CSO. 26: 06827, vol. 1, p. 44.

63 See p. 416 above.

64 NAI:BP 2625, p. 1.

65 This was a modification of one aspect of the pre-colonial Benin practice where services by pawns counted as interest on the loan only. See p. 414.

66 NAI: BP. 2625, p. 1.

67 NAI: BP 2625, p. 6. The relevant section of the criminal code referred to was 369 (3) which made people who pawned or received persons as pledge or security for debt guilty of slave dealing.

68 NAI: BP 2625, p. 11.

69 Ibid. pp. 12–14.

70 Ibid.

71 See pp. 425–6, above.

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74 See p. 423.