The Edo people of the Midwestern region of Nigeria believe every living thing has an Ehi (mystical or spirit twin). The Ehi ensures that the uhimwen, self-predestination of the lifespan of an entity on earth, is adhered to precisely as the entity had avowed the day it was created by the supreme creator God. The Edo perceive the Ehi as a guide, guard and witness to the earthly journey of the entity. Ugbine is a small town located a few kilometres west of Benin City and was thrust into the limelight of European history by an incident which took place there on January 4, 1897.
Summon My Ehi To Ugbine is the story of the events that led to the defeat and destruction of a clandestine and unauthorised British invasion force on January 4, 1897, at Ugbine, a small town a few kilometres west of Benin City. Mr J.R. Phillips, acting Consul General of the Niger Coast Protectorate, led the invasion force. This defeat and destruction of the British invasion force, which became universally known as the Benin Massacre, gave the British government the much-needed excuse to invade Benin City earlier than was planned. To justify the invasion of Benin City, the British government embarked on a disinformation campaign that the destruction of the invasion force was an unprovoked killing of seven unarmed British envoys and traders on a peaceful mission to Benin City by a group of Benin chiefs. The story is neither a history reference book nor a critique of any publication of the Ugbine incident. Neither is it my personal nor an Edo view of the events,1892-1896, that led to the incident, the subsequent invasion, plundering and razing of Benin City and the reign of terror the British unleashed on the Edo people from 1897 to 1899. Also, it is not an expose of these events because those who consciously or unconsciously initiated, orchestrated and executed this tragic and painful chapter of the history of Benin, recorded and told the story long ago. For 127 years, except for three writers, historians, and art historians, including internationally renowned publications, have retold this story based on the British government disinformation template. Sadly, they retold the story(each with a different flavour) of the events shamelessly, prejudiced and massively distorted. Summon My Ehi To Ugbine is a let-the-truth-be-heard story. And nothing more.
