Many of us are interested in the pre-history of Biafra and
its events. When we read any West African history in particular there are
contradictory accounts, and its not always clear to differentiate between
mythology and history. As we progress and more archaeological and historic
research is acquired we will have a clearer factual account. I personally find
it exciting to bring pieces of history together, I search for only the proven
history that which emanates from written historical records.
THE PORTUGUESE CONNECTION TO BIAFRA
In 1454 Pope Nicholas V gave exclusive rights to Portugal to
explore and conquest the African sea routes. Later because of a Columbus voyage
that touched the Indies by a western route there was a dispute between the
Spanish, the British and the French who had claimed they had used the routes
before 1380 but this was not proven and Pope Alexander VI settled the dispute
by a Papal Bull on 4th May 1493 giving Portugal the influence over a line drawn
north and south a hundred leagues to the west of Cape Verde Islands, and the
Spanish extended to the west of the line. So West Africa and what we are
looking for Biafra and the Gold Coast were under Portugal influence for now
until the soon decline of papal rule. The coast lines had been explored by the
Europeans prior to this date as it is shown on The Medicean map of 1351 and
1356 at Florence, known as the Laurentian Portalano (sailing directory).
In 1472 the King of
Portugal sent the ship Fernao Gomez to explore the coast lines and the Gomez
reached LAGOS and this was the “first” recorded history that Europeans set foot
in what was then Biafra, (yes on the old maps Lagos and Benin were part of
Biafra and the capital city was in what is now Cameroon but we can argue this
later, just keep an open mind as a lot has been bastardized over time). In 1481
British explorers tried to set out for Benin but the King of Portugal protested
and under papal rule they were denied the voyage. In 1485 Jao Affonso d’Averio
a portuguese made the journey to Benin to meet with the Oba and he was well
received and not only gave them lots of pepper the Chief of Ugwato (the port of
Benin) went to Portugal with the ship as an ambassador to the court of
Portugal. The Portuguese loved the pepper it was good for the cold dull winter
diet but the King never encouraged it as he had good relations with india
trading for spice and didn’t want to cause any rivalry. The Oba/Chief had told
them of the Yourba race in the interior lands and that the King of the interior
lands was a white man a christian who would send slaves for them along with
jewels in a cross, however the portuguese went to find this mythical King and
it was never concluded so they took it to be a myth. The Portuguese ventured
far up the cross rivers to lead mines in Abalkaliki. Jao Affonso d’Averio died
on the Coast and he had spoken of the magnificence of the City of Benin in
those days and the excellence of its art in brass and wood.
Jumping forward in time a bit, thou there is documented
history on the explorers in the years in between and battles but I’m trying to
keep concise and to the relevant parts..
In the years around 1700 in Benin there was a great warrior
by the name of Chima he quarreled over the then kingship and took his followers
and led them eastwards to the Niger where they divided into two groups one
crossed to Onitsha and the other went down to Aboh (Delta). It is then noted
(**please also note) that the Obi of Onitsha recognized the Obi of Aboh as his
close relation not only his brother but his senior brother. Later as years went
on and on the people begrudged to admit this and the relationship faded.
In 1644 Portuguese priests from Sao Tome Island visited King
Mingo of Warri (Delta) and they tried to persuade him it was not good to have
so many wives and that he should give them up, so the King agreed to the
proposal and told them he would give up his wives only if they gave him one
good one “a white one”. The priests agreed this was the only solution they
returned to Sao Tome and persuaded a Portuguese woman from Sao Tome to marry
the King and they did and they had many sons which there are authentic reports
later of the mulatto Kings of Warri.
(Explains a little..
more history to follow as I search for and explore many records).
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ReplyDeleteThis is for truth to be told
ReplyDeleteLagos was never part of Bini (corrupted to Benin by the Europeans invaders) or Biafra. The Yoruba Awori were first to live in Lagos and took their land from invaders at the end. Benin Republic was ancient Dahomey and part of old Ile Ife. Oduduwa founded Bini when his government were invited to help the people to establish his system of government. Ancient Portuguese and Iberia now called Spain were black people and were said to be Shepardic Jews. The Sheperdic Jews occupied lsrael since 700BCE when the original Hebrew fled lsrael and the Edomites who lived in lsrael after 70CE when the Judahites fled from the Romans. The Shepardic Jews and the Edomites and other black people were finally driven from lsrael by the Romans in 135CE. The Shepardic Jews and Edomites Jews and the Moorish muslims and christians who were reported of being black were trading with West Africa states of Timbuktu and Shongay at the time. The black from Spain and Portugal were finally driven by the catholic were driven by the Catholic when they invaded Iberia and Portugal. When black in Spain and Portugal were driven out by the catholic in around 1400, they fled to Africa, America and Carribean. The Darosha from Portugal invaded Lagos and set his kingdom in Lagos and were allied of the Bini people who later occupied the throne in Lagos until 1700 when the Yoruba Oyo Alafin fought and evicted the invaders and with the help of Brith, were also driven from Ondo, Akure and Ado Ekiti finally. Yoruba was only the name given to Ile lfe until 1800, Ile lfe occupied the whole land of West of Nigeria to Yoruba land, Benin Republic, Togo, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Siera leon. Please get your fact right, Ile Ife was in the Niger area before the Portuguese and Iberians who settled as Biafrans and Edomites and Moorish muslim. Lagos does not belong to lgbo or Edo, Lagos belongs to the Awori children of Olofin. Biafra city is still in Portugal may be you should claim there!!!
ReplyDeleteBiafra never existed as a Nation.
ReplyDelete