The Anglo-Egba Relations, 1842-1914: A Diplomatic Interpretation

The book encapsulates the encounter between the Egba and British in the pre-colonial era covering the period, 1842-1914. It sheds light on the Egba relocation to Abeokuta, their new capital, from the interior of Yorubaland, a development that offered the people ample opportunities to have direct contact with British agents – missionaries, traders and explorers turned administrators based in Lagos. This was facilitated by the rapid growth of the new settlement which developed into a composite town and the open-door policy of its military and civilian leaders led by Seriki Shodeke, a military veteran who led the people to Abeokuta c. 1830. The socio-cultural, economic, and politico-diplomatic between the two parties, and the impact of those interactions are brought to the fore in this book. The work showcases the diplomatic acumen and the haggling prowess of the Egba in their negotiations with the British. It is a testimony of the people’s resilience and political doggedness to foreign imperial agents which saved the Egba Kingdom from falling into the hands of British imperial grandmasters and their first soldiers at the early stage of the scramble for and partition of Africa.