Jaja of Opobo
Encyclopedia
Jaja of Opobo was a merchant prince and the founder of Opobo
city-state in an area that is now part of Nigeria
. Born in Umuduruoha, Amaigbo
in Igboland
and sold at about age twelve as a slave
in Bonny
. Jubo Jubogha later took the name "Jaja" for his dealings with the British
.
Jaja proved his aptitude for business at an early age, earning his way out of slavery, was enculturated
according to Ijaw (Ibani) rituals and eventually established himself as head of the Anna Pepple House. Under Jaja's leadership, Anna Pepple soon absorbed a number of Bonny's other trade houses until an ongoing dispute with the Manilla Pepple House led by Oko Jumbo
forced Jaja to break away as Opobo city-state in 1869.
Opobo soon came to dominate the region's lucrative palm oil
trade, and was soon home to fourteen of what were formerly Bonny's eighteen trade houses. Jaja also moved to block the access of British merchants to the interior, giving him an effective monopoly; at times, Opobo even shipped palm oil directly to Liverpool
, independent of British middlemen.
At the 1884 Berlin Conference
, however, the other European powers designated Opobo as British territory, and the British soon moved to claim it. When Jaja refused to cease taxing British traders, Henry Hamilton Johnston, a British vice consul, invited Jaja to negotiations in 1887. When Jaja arrived, the British arrested him and tried him in Accra
in the Gold Coast
(now Ghana
) then took him to London for some time, where he met Queen Victoria
and was her guest in Buckingham Palace. After some other turbulent history, he was exiled to Saint Vincent
in the West Indies then in Barbados.
In 1891, Jaja was granted permission to return to Opobo, but died en route, allegedly poisoned with a cup of tea. Following his exile and death, the power of the Opobo state rapidly declined.
, Cape Verde
off West Africa, to prevent the possibility of a slave revolt. Jaja eventually won his liberty after years of fighting against his wrongful abduction and consequent exile by the British. It was agreed by Parliament that he could be repatriated to his Kingdom State of Opobo. Jaja was, at that time, an old man and after years in exile in São Vicente, his health had deteriorated. This did not deter him from embarking on a British vessel bound for Opobo. His health had failed and on his way back to his beloved Opobo, Jaja died due to ill health. He was then shipped instead to Tenerife
in the Canary Islands
, where he was buried. The anger and fury felt by his people due to the chain of events that had preceded, compelled many Opobians to press their demands for the body of their king, which was promptly exhumed and transported back to Opobo where Jaja was buried. Many of his people never forgot their beloved king nor gave up hope that one day he would return. When his body was returned they proceeded to honour him in a manner befitting a much loved and powerful king (Amayanabo) with two years of mourning and with a ceremony immortalising Jaja as a deity.
Opobo
Opobo is a traditional state in southern Nigeria. The state was founded in 1870.A part of the traditional state is now Ikot-Abasi in Akwa Ibom State.-History:...
city-state in an area that is now part of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Born in Umuduruoha, Amaigbo
Amaigbo
Amaigbo is a larger town in Imo State, Nigeria. It is the headquarters of Nwangele Local Government Area.Amaigbo is of Igbo ethnic group in Nigeria.Promiment people from Amaigbo include, Dick Tiger-late boxing legend, Dr Walter Ofonagoro-former Minister for Information Federal Republic of Nigeria,...
in Igboland
Igboland
Igboland, or Igbo land , also known as the Ibo, Ebo, and Heebo Country, is a cultural region in Nigeria that includes the indigenous territory and cultural reach of the Igbo people...
and sold at about age twelve as a slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in Bonny
Bonny
Bonny is a town and a Local Government Area in Rivers State in southeast Nigeria, on the Bight of Biafra. It was also the capital of the Kingdom of Bonny. Traditionally it was a major trading post of the eastern delta....
. Jubo Jubogha later took the name "Jaja" for his dealings with the British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
.
Jaja proved his aptitude for business at an early age, earning his way out of slavery, was enculturated
Enculturation
Enculturation is the process by which a person learns the requirements of the culture by which he or she is surrounded, and acquires values and behaviours that are appropriate or necessary in that culture. As part of this process, the influences which limit, direct, or shape the individual include...
according to Ijaw (Ibani) rituals and eventually established himself as head of the Anna Pepple House. Under Jaja's leadership, Anna Pepple soon absorbed a number of Bonny's other trade houses until an ongoing dispute with the Manilla Pepple House led by Oko Jumbo
Oko Jumbo
Oko Jumbo was an important chief in the Kingdom of Bonny, a state in the Niger Delta, now part of Rivers State, Nigeria. For many years in the 19th century he was the effective ruler of Bonny.-Background:...
forced Jaja to break away as Opobo city-state in 1869.
Opobo soon came to dominate the region's lucrative palm oil
Palm oil
Palm oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil are edible plant oils derived from the fruits of palm trees. Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis; palm kernel oil is derived from the kernel of the oil palm and coconut oil is derived from the kernel of the...
trade, and was soon home to fourteen of what were formerly Bonny's eighteen trade houses. Jaja also moved to block the access of British merchants to the interior, giving him an effective monopoly; at times, Opobo even shipped palm oil directly to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, independent of British middlemen.
At the 1884 Berlin Conference
Berlin Conference
The Berlin Conference of 1884–85 regulated European colonization and trade in Africa during the New Imperialism period, and coincided with Germany's sudden emergence as an imperial power...
, however, the other European powers designated Opobo as British territory, and the British soon moved to claim it. When Jaja refused to cease taxing British traders, Henry Hamilton Johnston, a British vice consul, invited Jaja to negotiations in 1887. When Jaja arrived, the British arrested him and tried him in Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
in the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
(now Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
) then took him to London for some time, where he met Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
and was her guest in Buckingham Palace. After some other turbulent history, he was exiled to Saint Vincent
Saint Vincent (island)
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
in the West Indies then in Barbados.
In 1891, Jaja was granted permission to return to Opobo, but died en route, allegedly poisoned with a cup of tea. Following his exile and death, the power of the Opobo state rapidly declined.
Legacy
King Jaja was exiled in St Vincent in the West Indies and, later, in Barbados. Due to immense civil unrest, alleged to be caused by the presence of King Jaja, by the enslaved people of Barbados and after years of campaigning for his freedom, Jaja was moved to the island of São VicenteSão Vicente, Cape Verde
São Vicente , also Son Visent or Son Sent in Cape Verdean Creole, is one of the Barlavento islands of Cape Verde. It is located between the islands of Santo Antão and Santa Luzia, with the Canal de São Vicente separating it from Santo Antão.- Geography :The island is roughly rectangular in shape...
, Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
off West Africa, to prevent the possibility of a slave revolt. Jaja eventually won his liberty after years of fighting against his wrongful abduction and consequent exile by the British. It was agreed by Parliament that he could be repatriated to his Kingdom State of Opobo. Jaja was, at that time, an old man and after years in exile in São Vicente, his health had deteriorated. This did not deter him from embarking on a British vessel bound for Opobo. His health had failed and on his way back to his beloved Opobo, Jaja died due to ill health. He was then shipped instead to Tenerife
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
in the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
, where he was buried. The anger and fury felt by his people due to the chain of events that had preceded, compelled many Opobians to press their demands for the body of their king, which was promptly exhumed and transported back to Opobo where Jaja was buried. Many of his people never forgot their beloved king nor gave up hope that one day he would return. When his body was returned they proceeded to honour him in a manner befitting a much loved and powerful king (Amayanabo) with two years of mourning and with a ceremony immortalising Jaja as a deity.