Ola Rotimi

Akassa Youmi Ola Rotimi

A historical drama of the Akassa war between the Nembe city states and the Royal Niger company. Tired of British oppression, Injustice and economic strangulation, the small but brave city-states of Nembe collectively decided it was better to die fighting than die groveling in mud under the oppressor's boots. On January 29th 1895, Thousands of warriors rose from the swamps of despair and launched a predawn amphibious attack on the Royal Niger Company's compound in Akassa (present day Bayelsa state in Nigeria). To everyone's surprise, they won the battle, killing several British soldiers and their African collaborators, injuring even more and capturing forty, along with their artillery pieces, rifles and a Gatling gun. The Royal Niger Company's charter was revoked in 1900. An act seen partly as a consequence of this war. Thus ending their stranglehold on all tribes and kingdoms in the Niger area (Present day Nigeria). Not just the Nembe people alone.