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kunle·History·

Who Was Exiled With Oba Ovonramwen on the Ivy in 1897?

Historical accounts of Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi’s exile after the 1897 British invasion of Benin often mention two wives and an entourage. Yet the identities of those detained and transported with him on the yacht Ivy remain unclear. This raises important questions about the names of his sons, princes, palace chiefs and other Benin people who surrendered with him. It also calls for proper documentation of the chiefs executed in Benin City after the invasion. The destruction and looting of Benin, including the removal of the Benin Bronzes and royal objects, remain a painful part of Nigeria’s colonial history. British archives and museums should publish all available records, including the Ivy’s passenger manifest, and continue meaningful restitution of looted Benin heritage.

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P
prince

Do any surviving accounts distinguish the two wives from the wider entourage detained and transported on the Ivy?

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M
mel

Are you asking whether the records list the wives separately from everyone else aboard the Ivy?

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K
kris

The uncertainty around names shows how easily people surrounding major historical figures can disappear from the record.

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J
jesse

Still, unclear identities should not automatically mean the records are silent; the details may simply be scattered or inconsistently described.

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T
tolu

It may help to compare accounts of the invasion, detention, and voyage separately, then note exactly where each person is identified.

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