Personal flag of Itsekiri chief Nana Olomu<br><p>Personal flag of Itsekri chief Nana Olomu (1852-1916). A red cotton flag, hand sewn with a printed Union Flag placed vertically in the canton. The name 'NANNA' is applied in white damask letters in the fly. There are  wool-fabric loops along the top edge and a white strip at the hoist with small cord loops.
</p><p>The title of 'Governor of Benin River' was given to Nana Olomu by the British in 1884. He exerted immense political power through a network of armed traders in palm oil working along the upper reaches of the river and he built a town in the mangrove swamps defended by flintlock guns and brass cannon. Partly through the machinations of a rival chief - Dogho, relations deteriorated with the acting Consul-General Ralph Moor In 1894. Following an attack on HMS 'Alecto's' cutter which was inspecting Nana's fortifications, a British naval expedition captured his town of Ebrohimi. He fled to Lagos Colony, but was tried and  exiled to the Gold Coast from 1894-1906. After his return to Nigeria he lived at the  town of Koko.<br></p>
Record Shot - Do not reproduce.
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Unknown author<span style="display: none;">Unknown author</span></div>
before 1894 <div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1894-00-00T00:00:00Z/7,P1326,+1894-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
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