Nwa Ani Ahaba:Understanding Who Your Fathers were and What They Stood For.

Narrative describing Asaba in 1854

by Explorer William Balfour Baikie 

in his book "Narrative of an exploring voyage up the rivers Kwo'ra and Bi'nue (Commonly known as the Niger and Tsadda) in 1854.

Dr. Baikie, a Scottish Surgeon armed with Quinine was able to overcome death by mosquitoes as had been the fate of early explorers - paving the way for colonization of West Africa.

At half-past eleven we anchored off Asaba, and landing, Mr. May got an observation for latitude, after which we ascended a sloping path leading to the town. 

The inhabitants, at first rather alarmed, soon became reconciled to our appearance, and we were conducted to their King, followed by a large and gradually increasing crowd.

Asaba is finely situated on a rising ground, about 100 feet above the river, and is surrounded by walls, and by palisades of tall trees. The huts are numerous, but widely apart ; they are oblong, well-constructed, and many are whitewashed or coloured. 

The inhabitants, extremely numerous, were disposed to be friendly, are much tatooed. The principal marks are three perpendicular ones along the breast and belly, the centre one being straight, and the side ones curved ; another behind, following the curve of the armpit, and going downwards; seven short, perpendicular incisions on the forehead, and a curved row of small lines under each eye. These are to be universally seen, but some extra- vagant individuals also sport others. 

Asaba, Land of Kings
The Royal Niger Company found it hard to engage carriers for traveling as many had taken up the title of 'Eze' (By which under no circumstance should an Eze carry anything on his head. And to enforce such a task on an OBI or Eze title holder, would mean violent revolt in which the whole town would have been prepared to perish if need be.) 

 

This led to a number of observations: Major Macdonald in 'Report of the visit to the Niger and Oil Rivers, March 1890 stated the number of chiefs in Asaba to be 500.

In Report of Asaba Station dated 10th December 1887, by Hugh S. Macaulay he wrote "Asaba is a large town and may well be called the Land of Kings as one can say without exaggaration that there are over 5,000 Kings"
H. Johnson, Archdeacon of Upper Niger, in his "A Church for Asaba - An Appeal" dated 6th January 1888, said "There are between 500 and 600 of these fuedal authorities (chiefs or kings) in Asaba"

In the book, 'The British Occupation of Niger Territories 1830-1914' by Felix Nwanze Obi. In his research, he tells a story of the treatment of the native people of Asaba. His reference to 'Asaba land of kings' was purely to show how the people escaped subjecting themselves to certain authority.

«Church Mission Society (CMS), admonishes the British Merchants (Royal Niger Company) for babarity.

In 1888, some carriers travelling with officials of the RNC from Asaba to Ibusa refused to go further. One of the British officers in frustation of some recent laws of chieftains of Asaba ordered the reluctant natives to be summarily executed leading to a tongue lashing and report from the CMS. 

This incident was described in a letter dated March 22 1888 by Rev. H. Johnson to Bishop Crowther (*note Bishop Crowther is a black foreigner): "...but maybe those who have taken such a terrible vengeance, have begun to see that the indiscriminate slaughter of a number of defenceless persons -putting aside the moral aspect of the question - is at least bad policy. The moral turpitude of the action is most flagrant whichever way considered, and I shall be more than surprised if either the Supreme Judicial Officer at Asaba, or the council of the Royal Niger Company or government in London approve of an act of which nothing could be more infamous even in a country where babarities of every kind and degree are commonly pepertrated"
Ref. Dispatch #47 of 1888.»

 The frustration shown by the official of the RNC was attributed to the taking of the alor title, the carrier soon recalled who truely he was and saw the foolishness of carrying a fellow being, a stranger whose personal worth beyond that of a white skin he actually doubts, with such realization, hence, the civil disobedience and the attendant consequences, to me and to be honest, i salute the courage of my forebears, which in turn led to the series of cables as referenced in my post, "Asaba land of kings," above.

The gardens are hedged in with tall coco-palms, plantains, and bananas ; yams are abundant, and fowls, fine slieep, and cattle seem plentiful. Altogether we felt sur- prised that such an unprepossessing race should have a town so rich, so clean, and so well laid out. 

All the men carry arms, muskets, knives, swords, and many have in their hands a kind of musical, or rather, an acoustic instrument, made of a small elephant's-tusk such as a scrivelloe, polished and neatly ornamented externally, with a small square hole near the apex communicating with the central hollow, and through which, when they blow forcibly, a loud and disagreeable sound is produced. I was anxious to purchase one of these but did not succeed.

We were conducted to the King's house, and seated, some on mats, some on carved wooden stools, under a verandah, which sheltered us from the intense heat of the sun. An immense crowd stood around, and their look, their manner, and above all their noise, told us we were among a people differing much from those we had lately been familiar with ; in short, that we were once more among the active, though often troublesome, I'gbos.

There are a number of petty chiefs in Asaba, who made their appearance in full costume, all clad in a similar manner. Each had round the waist a large piece of white calico, and a belt of leopard's skin. They wore red caps, decorated with white and red feathers, which I found are only borne by warriors, each feather denoting an enemy slain in actual war- fare. Some of our entertainers had as many as five or six, and I am told that Aje at Abo is entitled to display seven.

Round the eyes was a white-coloured ring, on the arms were ivory wristlets; strings of cowries and charms hung round their necks, and each carried in his hand a fan. At length the head chief, an old man, named Ezebogo, came forward, habited like the rest, but with more ornaments.

After our salutations, I spoke of friendship, of trade, and of education, and particularly enlarged upon the evils of war, and the benefits of peace, all of which was well received.

Some most delicious palm-wine was then handed round, of which we all drank deeply, and, refreshed by this delightful beverage, we arose, and, after another look round this extensive place, returned to our ship, accompanied by a messenger, who came for a present for Ezebogo. 

From some people on the shore my assistant got some nice specimens of fish, and of fresh-water crustaceans. 

There are very few canoes at Asaba, but for what reason I could not learn. It is excellently adapted for a trading-station, and any European in ordinary health could live here as well as in any similar tropical spot.

The district behind Asaba is named Igbusa, and in it are two towns called Ogbori and Ogbobi. A little above Asaba is said to be a village named Asabutshi. Palm-wine is the drink of all the I'gbo towns, and its use extends as far as Idda, above which beer replaces it. 

The Muhammadans, though they will not touch beer, yet readily drink palm-wine. The palm-wine which we so admired at Asaba was obtained from the oil-palm and had been sweetened with honey.