Jaja of Opobo (born Mbanaso Okwaraozurumbaa)

Jaja of Opobo (born Mbanaso Okwaraozurumbaa)

Date of Birth: Circa 1821

Country: Nigeria

Colonisers Fought Against: United Kingdom

Lead Group: Opobo Kingdom

War/Rebellion: Resistance against British colonial and economic domination in Niger Delta

Years of War/Rebellion: Early 1870s - 1887

Punishment Given: Arrested, tried in Accra, and exiled to Saint Vincent and later Barbados

Nature of Death: Allegedly poisoned

Date of Death: 1891

Heroic Significance: Jaja of Opobo is remembered for resisting British colonialism and maintaining his kingdom's economic independence. He monopolized the palm oil trade, challenging British interests. His leadership and strategy made him a formidable opponent to British ambitions. His legacy includes the establishment of the Opobo Kingdom and his role as a symbol of resistance against colonial exploitation [1][2][3][4][5][6].

Citations: [1] https://www.nairaland.com/7658508/how-jaja-opobo-killed-1891 [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaja_of_Opobo [3] https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/ja-ja-opobo [4] https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/section/african-history/aspects-of-british-gunboat-diplomacy-jaja-king-of-opobo/ [5] https://oxfordre.com/africanhistory/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780190277734.001.0001/acrefore-9780190277734-e-582 [6] https://adf-magazine.com/2016/07/king-jaja-of-opobo/