This is the story of the first oil war, which was fought in the 19th century, in the area that became Nigeria.

All through the 19th century, palm oil was highly sought-after by the British, for use as an industrial lubricant for machinery. Remember that Britain was the world’s first industrialised nation, so they needed resources such as palm oil to maintain that.

Palm oil, of course, is a tropical plant, which is native to the Niger Delta. Malaysia’s dominance came a century later. By 1870, palm oil had replaced slaves as the main export of the Niger Delta, the area which was once known as the Slave Coast. At first, most of the trade in the oil palm was uncoordinated, with natives selling to those who gave them the best deals. Native chiefs such as former slave, Jaja of Opobo became immensely wealthy because of oil palm. With this wealth came influence.

However, among the Europeans, there was competition for who would get preferential access to the lucrative oil palm trade. In 1879, George Goldie formed the United African Company (UAC), which was modelled on the former East India Company. Goldie effectively took control of the Lower Niger River. By 1884, his company had 30 trading posts along the Lower Niger. This monopoly gave the British a strong hand against the French and Germans in the 1884 Berlin Conference. The British got the area that the UAC operated in, included in their sphere of influence after the Berlin Conference.

To be continued!

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By: I'm Haitian

 

 

By the time our ancestors left Africa, there were no traditional borders (or carved out countries) as we refer to them today; just old Kingdoms, many of them were on the verge of collapsed. Going by DNA tests on average: Haitians have a recurring theme with these 3 modern-day countries from what I've seen: 1. Cameroon/Congo 2. Nigeria 3. Benin/Togo These 3 countries are a forever recurring theme in almost every ancestry DNA for the average Haitian.

 

Based on spoken history (old adages/sayings and DNA), I'm going to venture and say these ethnicgroups are very present within many of us here on the island: 1. Igbo (found in Southern Nigeria close to Cameroon) The word Ibo which translates to Igbo is very revered in Haitian culture and translate to South Eastern Nigerian tribe of Igbo. There are at least one street (Route Ibo lélé), a hotel (Hotel Ibo), radio station (radio Ibo) and many other known historic clubs by the name of Ibo, honoring the Igbo ancestry.

 

There's even a dance called 'Ibo dance' (dansé ibo). There's also a folklore song honoring them: Ibo grandmoun (Igbos are their own authority). 2. Dahomey Kingdom (Fon, Ewe, Yoruba) (covered present Western Nigeria and Benin Republic,possibly Togo?) My great grandmother used to say that to me, although she could have picked it up from her parents as well who passed it down. Not sure. Note: In Haitian Vodou, many of the (Rada*) spirits are of Fon, Congolese or Yoruba ancestry. (Overwhelmingly) 3. Kongo (found in Congo, Angola and Gabon) Referring to Kongolese ethnic group in Congo (although I believe Kongo is a language and BaKongo is the name for the ethnic group?). Haiti stored and passed on oral history holds many clues. Modern DNA tests seem to be (to some extent) confirming them. It is no surprise then these 3 countries are recurring in our (ancestry) DNAs. But I wouldn't overestimate these figures for every single one of us.

 

Haitians are very diverse with some (small or big) fractions of European, Jewish and Middle Eastern DNA all the way to the tip of Southern Africa.

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