Discover

The 'Bight of Benin' is a bight (a type of bay) on the western African coast that extends eastward for about 400 miles (640 km) from Cape St. Paul to the Nun outlet of the Niger River. To the east it is continued by the Bight of Bonny (formerly Bight of Biafra). The bight is part of the Gulf of Guinea.
On December 25, 2003, UTA Flight 141 crashed in the Bight.

Contents

Cultural references

History

Sources and references

Cultural references

The Bight of Benin is known for its fearsome tides and has a long association with slavery. An old rhyme says ''Beware, beware the Bight of the Benin, for few come out though many go in.'' Another version goes ''Beware beware, the Bight of Benin: one comes out, where fifty went in!'' This is said to be a slavery jingle about the risk of disease in the Bight. Another version of the couplet is, "''Beware and take care of the Bight of Benin. For one as comes out, there's ten as goes in.''"
The author Philip McCutchan has written a book titled "Beware, beware the Bight of Benin."
A short stort by Elizabeth Coatsworth, "The Forgotten Island" (1942), deals with a treasure from Benin. The rhyme is also mentioned.

History

On 1 February 1852 the British established the Bight of Benin British protectorate, under the authority of Consuls of the Bight of Benin :

★ May 1852 - 1853 Louis Fraser

★ 1853 - April 1859 Benjamin Campbell

★ April 1859 - 1860 George Brand

★ 1860 - January 1861 Henry Hand

★ Jan 1861 - May 1861 Henry Grant Foote

★ May 1861 - 6 August 1861 William McCoskry (acting)
On 6 August 1861 the Bight of Biafra protectorate (see there for their common further history) and Bight of Benin protectorate were joined as a united British protectorate, ultimately to be merged into Nigeria

Sources and references

(incomplete)

★ WorldStatesmen- Southern Nigeria