5 notable traditional African leaders who stood their grounds against colonialists [1]

Oba Ovonramwen with his wives

Oba Ovonramen

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He was Oba (King) of the Benin Empire in Nigeria from 1888 to 1897. Oba Ovonramen was exiled to Calabar by the British as punishment for laying an ambush on a British force that was sent to overthrow him in 1896. The ambush was triggered when the leader of the British invasion force, James Robert Phillips disrespected the Oba after they were refused entry into the palace under the guise of having trade negotiations with Ovonramwen.