Origins of British influence Colonial Nigeria

1 origins of british influence

1.1 slave trade , abolition
1.2 missionaries
1.3 commerce
1.4 exploration

origins of british influence

in 1700s, british empire , other european powers had settlements , forts in west africa had not yet established full-scale plantation colonies existed in americas. adam smith wrote in 1776 african societies better established , more populous of americas, creating more formidable barrier european expansion.

earlier elements related founding of colony @ sierra leone in 1787 refuge freed slaves, independent missionary movement intended bring christianity edo empire, , programs of exploration sponsored learned societies , scientific groups, such london-based african association.

local leaders, cognizant of situation in west indies, india, , elsewhere, recognised risks of british expansion. chief of bonny in 1860 explained refused british treaty due tendency induce chiefs sign treaty meaning did not understand, , seize upon country.

slave trade , abolition

map of negroland , guinea including slave coast, 1736, london cartographer hermann moll

european slave trading west africa began before 1650, people taken @ rate of 3,000 per year. rate rose 20,000 per year in last quarter of century. slave trade heaviest in period 1700–1850, average of 76,000 people taken africa each year between 1783 , 1792. @ first, trade centred around west central africa, congo. in 1700s, bight of benin (also known slave coast) became next important hub. ouidah (now part of benin) , lagos major ports in biafra. 1790 1807, predominantly british slave traders purchased 1000–2000 slaves each year in lagos alone. trade subsequently continued under portuguese. in bight of biafra, major ports old calabar (akwa akpa), bonny, , new calabar. starting in 1740, british primary european slave trafficker area. in 1767, british traders facilitated notorious massacre hundreds of people @ calabar after inviting them onto ships, ostensibly settle local dispute.

in 1807 parliament of united kingdom enacted slave trade act, prohibiting british subjects participating in slave trade. britain subsequently lobbied other european powers stop slave trade well. made anti-slavery treaties west african powers, enforced militarily. of treaties contained prohibitions on diplomacy conducted without british permission, or other promises abide british rule. scenario provided opportunity naval expeditions , reconnaissance throughout region. britain annexed freetown in sierra leone, declaring crown colony in 1808.

the decrease in trade indirectly led collapse of edo empire. britain withdrew slave trade when major transporter of slaves americas. french had abolished slavery following french revolution, although briefly re-established in caribbean colonies under napoleon. france sold louisiana united states in 1803, same year gave on trying regain saint-domingue. end of napoleonic wars, ended slavery in possessions. between them, french , british had purchased majority of slaves sold ports of edo. economy suffered decline in slave trade, although considerable smuggling of slaves americas continued years.

lagos became major slave port in late 1700s , 1850s. of human trafficking occurred there nominally illegal, , records time , place not comprehensive. according trans-atlantic slave voyage database, 308,800 sold across atlantic lagos in 1776–1850. british , french traders did large share of business until 1807, when replaced portuguese , spanish. 1826–1850 british navy interfering lagos slave exports.

whether british conquest of nigeria resulted benevolent motive end slavery, or more instrumental motives of wealth , power, remains topic of dispute between african , european historians. many locals remained unconvinced of crown s authority reverse legal , moral attributes of social institution through fiat. regardless, slavery had decimated population , fuelled militarisation , chaos, thereby paving way more aggressive colonisation.

missionaries

portuguese roman catholic priests accompanied traders , officials west african coast introduced christianity edo, benin empire in fifteenth century. several churches built serve edo community , small number of african converts. when direct portuguese contacts in region withdrawn, however, influence of catholic missionaries waned. eighteenth century, evidence of christianity had disappeared.

although churchmen in britain had been influential in drive abolish slave trade, significant missionary activity africa did not develop until 1840s. time, missionaries operated in area between lagos , ibadan. first missions opened church of england s church missionary society (cms). other protestant denominations britain, canada, , united states opened missions and, in 1860s, roman catholic religious orders established missions. protestant missionaries tended divide country spheres of activity avoid competition each other, , catholic missions avoided duplication of effort among several religious orders working there. catholic missionaries particularly active among igbo; cms worked among yoruba.

the cms promoted africans responsible positions in mission field; instance, appointed samuel ajayi crowther first anglican bishop of niger. crowther, liberated yoruba slave, had been educated in sierra leone , in britain, ordained before returning homeland first group of cms missionaries. anglicans , other religious groups had conscious native church policy develop indigenous ecclesiastical institutions become independent of europeans. crowther succeeded bishop british cleric. in long term, acceptance of christianity large numbers of nigerians depended on various denominations adapting local conditions. selected increasingly high proportion of african clergy missions.

in large measure, european missionaries assumed value of colonial rule in terms of promoting education, health , welfare measures, reinforced colonial policy. african christian communities formed own independent churches.

(note: of section point nigeria: country study (1991) prepared staff of library of congress of united states.)

the missionaries gained in power throughout 1800s. caused major transformations in traditional society eroded religious institutions such human sacrifice, infanticide, , secret societies, had formerly played role in political authority , community life.

commerce

the principal commodities of legitimate trade palm oil , palm kernels, used in europe make soap , lubricants machinery, before petroleum products developed purpose. although trade grew significant proportions—palm oil exports alone worth £1 billion year 1840—it concentrated near coast, palm trees grew in abundance. gradually, however, trade forced major economic , social changes in interior, although hardly undermined slavery , slave trade. incidence of slavery in local societies increased.

initially palm oil (and later kernels) came igboland, palm trees formed canopy on densely inhabited areas of ngwa, nri kingdom, awka, , other igbo peoples. palm oil used locally cooking, kernels source food, trees tapped palm wine, , fronds used building material. relatively simple adjustment many igbo families transport oil rivers , streams led niger delta sale european merchants. rapid expansion in exports, after 1830, occurred precisely @ time slave exports collapsed. igbo redirected slaves domestic economy, grow staple food crop, yams, in northern igboland marketing throughout palm-tree belt. before, aro merchants dominated trade in hinterland, including palm products coast , sale of slaves within igboland.

from 1815 1840, palm oil exports increased factor of 25, 800 20,000 tons per year. british merchants led trade in palm oil, while portuguese , others continued slave trade. of oil sold elsewhere in british empire. produce oil, economy of southern region crossed on subsistence production of palm oil cash crop.

the niger delta , calabar, once had been known export of slaves, became notable export of palm oil. delta streams called oil rivers. basic economic units in each town houses, family-operated entities engendered loyalty employees. house included extended family of trader, including retainers , slaves. head, master trader taxed other traders members of house; maintained war vessel, large dugout canoe hold several tons of cargo , dozens of crew, defence of harbour. whenever trader had become successful enough keep war canoe, expected form own house . economic competition among these houses fierce trade erupted armed battle between crews of large canoes.

because of hazards of climate , tropical diseases europeans , absence of centralised authorities on mainland responsive interests, european merchants moored ships outside harbours or in delta, , used ships trading stations , warehouses. in time built depots onshore , moved niger river establish stations in interior. example @ onitsha, bargain directly local suppliers , purchase products turn profit.

some european traders switched legitimate business when commerce in slaves became hazardous. traders suffered risks of position , believed @ mercy of coastal rulers, whom considered unpredictable. accordingly, volume of trade increased, merchants requested british government appoint consul cover region. consequently, in 1849, john beecroft accredited consul bights of benin , biafra, jurisdiction stretching dahomey cameroon. beecroft british representative fernando po, prevention squadron of british royal navy stationed.

in 1850, british created court of equity @ bonny, overseen beecroft, deal trade disputes. court established in 1856 @ calabar, based on agreement local efik traders prohibited them interfering british merchants. these courts contained majorities british members , represented new level of presumptive british sovereignty in bight of biafra.

west africa bought british exports, supplying 30–40% of demand british cotton during industrial revolution of 1750–1790.

exploration

at same time, british scientists interested in exploring course , related settlements along niger river. delta masked mouth of great river, , centuries nigerians chose not tell europeans secrets of interior. in 1794 african association in great britain commissioned mungo park, intrepid scottish physician , naturalist, search headwaters of niger , follow river downstream. park reached upper niger next year travelling inland gambia river. although reported on eastward flow of niger, forced turn when equipment lost muslim arab slave traders. in 1805 set out on second expedition, sponsored british government, follow niger sea. mission failed, park , party covered more 1,500 kilometres, passing through western portions of sokoto caliphate, before drowning when boats overturned in rapids near bussa.

on subsequent expedition sokoto caliphate, hugh clapperton learned mouth of niger river, reached sea, died before confirming it. servant, richard lander, , lander s brother john ones demonstrate niger flowed sea. lander brothers seized slave traders in interior , sold down river waiting european ship.

initial british attempts open trade interior way of niger not overcome climate , diseases such malaria. third of people associated 1842 riverine expedition died. in 1850s, benefits of quinine had been found combat malaria, , aided medicine, liverpool merchant, macgregor laird, opened river. laird s efforts stimulated detailed reports of pioneer german explorer, heinrich barth, travelled through of borno , sokoto caliphate, recorded information region s geography, economy, , inhabitants.