The Berlin Conference and the Bombardment of Lagos 1851

In 1851, years before the Berlin Conference carved up Africa, the British Royal Navy bombarded Lagos, a coastal city in what is now Nigeria. This episode explores the prelude to that bombardment: the slave trade's persistence after abolition, the rivalry with King Kosoko, and the politics of the Oba of Benin. We follow the diplomatic maneuvers of British consul John Beecroft, the conflict between Kosoko and his rival Akitoye, and the naval action that forced Kosoko into exile. The episode reveals how Britain used anti-slavery rhetoric to justify intervention, eventually establishing a consulate and making Lagos a crown colony in 1861. We also touch on the broader pattern of gunboat diplomacy that preceded the Scramble for Africa. Perfect for listeners who want to understand the deeper roots of European colonization in West Africa. #Lagos1851 #BombardmentOfLagos #Kosoko #Akitoye #JohnBeecroft #ObaOfBenin #RoyalNavy #BritishEmpire #SlaveTrade #GunboatDiplomacy #Nigeria #WestAfrica #Palma #Badagry #ScrambleForAfrica #AntiSlavery #Colonialism #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo