The Forgotten Slave Trade of the Benue Valley — Fexingo History

Description

In this episode of The History of Nigeria, Lucas and Luna explore the often-overlooked slave trade that operated in the Benue Valley, a region central to Nigeria's middle belt. They discuss how the Benue River served as a highway for raiders from the Sokoto Caliphate and the Adamawa Emirate, targeting non-Muslim communities like the Tiv, Jukun, and Chamba. Lucas explains the economics of the trade—how slaves were exchanged for European goods at the confluence of the Niger and Benue, and how the trade intensified in the 19th century. The episode also covers local resistance, including the Tiv's guerrilla tactics and the Jukun revival under the Kwararafa confederation. Lucas highlights the role of climate and geography, and the eventual crackdown by British colonial forces in the early 1900s. A nuanced look at a dark chapter in Nigerian history that challenges the coastal-centric narrative.#BenueValley #SlaveTrade #SokotoCaliphate #AdamawaEmirate #Tiv #Jukun #Chamba #Kwararafa #MiddleBelt #NigeriaHistory #19thCentury #ColonialAfrica #BenueRiver #GuerrillaResistance #AtlanticTrade #SubSaharanAfrica #History #FexingoHistory #BeninKingdom #OyoEmpireBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of-nigeria-kingdoms-colonies-and-africa-s-giant-fexingo-history--6985098/support.