The Annexation of Benin

Economic motives, among others, are said to underlie colonialism and imperialism. This article seeks to show that economic calculations were at play in the annexation of Benin in 1897. But in doing this it is emphasized that the Benin Kingdom resisted the onslaught of merchant capital and, most important, maintained its independence until the expedition of 1897. The significance of this for the nature of colonial processes has not been sufficiently highlighted. It is important to stress this fact because therein may lie some of the reasons behind the maintenance of indigenous structures such as the extended family. In precolonial Benin, the extended family was the coalescence of the economic, social, judicial, religious, and political functions making up, as it were, the foundation of the societal organization. This has been amply demonstrated in documents and analyses. For example, the extended family relations were dominant in the production and distribution of goods in the precolonial economy of the Benin Kingdom. It also served as a unit of tribute collection. The maintenance of independence against the attack of merchant capital might have simultaneously had the effect of preserving extended family relations. The implications of this fact for subsequent social change have not been adequately treated.