Oko Jumbo

Royal Canoe of the Kingdom of Bonny, 1890Chief Oko Jumbo (died 1891) was a chief in the Kingdom of Bonny. Originally of Igbo origin, Chief Jumbo rose through the ranks in the Kingdom of Bonny, a state in the Niger Delta, now part of Rivers State, Nigeria. For many years in the 19th century, he was the effective ruler of Bonny. Though not the king in Bonny, and Warribo was the technical head of the Fubara Manilla Pepple House, "Oko Jumbo and Ja Ja were looked upon by every one as being the rulers of Bonny".

Background

The Kingdom of Bonny, originally called Ibani or Ubani, is a traditional state based on the town of Bonny in Rivers State, Nigeria. The kingdom was inhabited by the Ijo.

Bonny rose to power beginning in the 15th century with the coming of the Portuguese and the Atlantic slave trade, acting as a depot for slaves brought from the interior. In the 19th century, the kingdom was forced by the British to end the slave trade. Trade in palm oil replaced the trade in slaves. Jumbo remained a leading power in the kingdom. In February 1886, a protectorate treaty was concluded between Bonny and Britain. A ruling council was established, and King George Pepple was reestablished on his throne. Jumbo was publicly degraded, his bans on Christianity were repealed and afterwards he was a spent force in Bonny politics.