The tale of Jaja of Opobo unfolds as the narrative of a slave boy born in Umuduruoha, Amaigbo, Imo State around 1821, whose true lineage remains a mystery due to the slave trade in Igbo land during the 1800s. The era witnessed the British Invasion in Igbo Land, with African Slave Raiders facilitating the capture of individuals like Jaja.
Kidnapped and transported to Bonny Island, Rivers State, Jaja underwent a series of renamings, finally settling with the moniker “Jaja” bestowed by the British. Opobo, like other city-states, had prospered from the slave trade, but the abolition in 1807 led to a shift towards palm oil trade, turning the region into the Oil Rivers area.
Jaja of Opobo, known for his acumen in business and politics, rose to prominence as the head of the Anna Pepple House. A power struggle within Bonny eventually led to his breakaway, founding Opobo in 1869 and declaring independence. Opobo flourished, dominating the palm oil trade and obstructing British access to the interior, establishing an effective monopoly.
Jaja’s honor and power were evident when he assisted the Queen of England in the Ashanti War, earning a sword of honor from Queen Victoria in 1871. As the oil trade expanded, conflicts arose with British entrepreneurs like John Holt. Despite British attempts to control the oil region, Jaja consistently outmaneuvered them, escalating tensions.
At the 1884 Berlin Conference, Opobo was designated British territory, leading to British attempts to claim it. Jaja’s refusal to cease taxing British traders resulted in his arrest in 1887. Invited on board HMS Goshawk, Jaja faced the choice of allowing European access or going into exile. Refusing to yield, he was arrested, tried in Accra, and later taken to London. Deported to the West Indies, Jaja’s presence stirred unrest in Barbados.
After years of campaigning, Jaja was moved to São Vicente, Cape Verde. Granted freedom, he longed to return to Opobo but died en route in June 1891, allegedly poisoned. His body was shipped to Tenerife, where he was buried. Opobo’s power waned, facing slave raids and exploitation by the British. Eventually, the return of Jaja’s remains was brought to Opobo, where they rested in a sacred shrine behind Amanyanabo’s palace.
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