Valariesblog

  China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It's population as of 2021 was 1.412 billion. China is the hub of technological inventions and a world superpower. Here are some interesting facts about China you most likely did not know. 1.       China was discovered by Marco Polo. 2.       There are 9,999 rooms in the Forbidden city. It is so because according to Chinese beliefs, only the God of Heaven could be entitled to 10,000 rooms. 3.       Half of the worlds pigs are in China.\ 4.       KFC has over 7,100 outlets over 1,600 cities across China ( as of 2021). 5.       China produces 80 billion disposable chopsticks annually. 6.       Toilet paper was invented in China, but was only used by the Emperor. 7.       The Great Wall of China was constructed over the p...

  Rebecca Lolosoli was born in 1962 in Wamba village a patriarchal community in Kenya. she was very passionate about going to school to fulfill her dream of being a nurse. In 1971, she got admitted into a local institution to train to be a nurse but was forced to drop out due to financial restraint. At 15, she underwent the mandatory Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as a passage rite into womanhood and at 18, she was forcefully married to a business man. Now at the time in Wamba village, women were prohibited from owning property and partaking in any business whatsoever. They were regarded as property for the men thus they suffered abuse from both the locals and the British. Rebecca got a golden opportunity, her husband was away for some time so she seized the opportunity and utilized it to the fullest, she went against the tradition and began to trade in the market, she also went around enlightening women about their rights. This angered the men in the village, they accused her o...

  The Igbo landing, also known as the Igbo Mass suicide is a historic site at Dunbar Creek on St. Simons Island, Glynn country Georgia. The Igbo Captives were taken from where is now known as Nigeria. In May 1803, the Igbo captives arrived in Savannah, Georgia on the slave ship "The wanderer". They were purchase for an average of $100 each by slave merchants John Couper and Thomas Spalding to be resold to plantations on nearby St. Simons Island. The chained slaves were packed under deck of a coastal vessel "The York", which would take them to St. Simons Island. Rather than accept a life of slavery, they decided to take a stand and rebel against their captors. They took control of the ship, drowned the captors and in the process caused a grounding of the ship in the Dunbar Creek. According to oral history, about 75 of them held hands and under the instruction of their high chief, marched into the marshy waters of the Dunbar Creek to commit mass suicide while sing...

  In today's fast-paced world, we often seek shortcuts and quick fixes to navigate the complexities of life. The concept of a "life hack" has become increasingly popular, promising to simplify our lives and lead to instant success and happiness. However, in my opinion, there's a fundamental truth that we must acknowledge – there's no real life hack for the most important aspects of life, such as personal growth, meaningful relationships, and true success. Instead, these aspects require dedication, hard work, and patience. The Illusion of Life Hacks Life hacks, often in the form of tips, tricks, or shortcuts, promise to make our lives easier, more efficient, or more fulfilling. They're readily available through self-help books, online articles, and social media. While some life hacks can provide practical solutions for specific problems, they can inadvertently create an illusion that life's complexities can be effortlessly bypassed. 1. The Myth of In...

  PUNITIVE EXPEDITION Following the Benin Massacre in which only two British officials survived, Rear admiral Harry Rawson, commander of the Royal Navy Forces at the Cape of Goof Hope and West Coast of Africa Station was appointed by the admiralty to lead a force to invade the kingdom of Benin and capture the Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi on the 12th of January, 1897. The operation was called the "Benin Punitive Expedition". The Punitive Expedition started on the 9th of February,1897, the British military strength was about 1200 men. After the capture, the ceremonial buildings, monuments and houses of high ranking chiefs were looted and burned. Inside the palace, the Oba in panic embarked on mass human sacrifice in order to stave of full disaster, the palace was burnt although the British claimed it was a mistake. OBA OVONRAMWEN NOGBAISI Picture of Oba Ovonramwen The Oba (Ovonramwen) was eventually captured by the British Consul-general Ralph Moor. He was deposed and exiled...

  Background At the end of the 19th century, the Kingdom of Benin had managed to retain its independence and the Oba exercised a monopoly over trade which did not sit well with the British. The territory was coveted by an influential group of investors for its rich natural resources such as palm-oil, rubber and ivory. The kingdom was largely independent of British control, and pressure continued from figures such as Vice-Consul James Robert Phillips and Captain Gallwey (the British vice-Consul of Oil Rivers Protectorate) who were pushing for British annexation of the Benin Empire and the removal of the Oba. In March 1892, Henry Gallwey, the British Vice-Consul of Oil Rivers Protectorate (later Niger Coast Protectorate), visited Benin City hoping to annex Benin Kingdom and make it a British protectorate. Although the King of Benin, Omo n’Oba (Ovonramwen), was sceptical of the British motives he was willing to endorse what he believed was a friendship and trade agreement. The tre...

  Queen Idia of Benin kingdom was a strong, resilient and unique woman, she was born in the 16th century in present day Edo state Nigeria. She was the mother of the great King Esigie who ruled from 1504 - 1550. She was married to Oba Ozolua. She wasn't only a political figure but also a spiritual one. During her husband's reign, the kingdom faced external threats and suffered internal conflicts, she helped her husband unify the kingdom and bring about stability through her spiritual and intellectual capabilities. It is said that she marched alongside her husband in battle to motivate the soldiers. Her husband, Oba Ozolua died. At the time of his death, none of his sons were of age to rule. In such an instance, the late king's brother was to take over the throne, but Queen Idia raised up an army, fought and killed him, thus establishing herself as a regent and the 17th Oba of Benin to hold the throne till her son, Esigie was of age. During her regency, she established trad...