My Beautiful Black Ancestry
  • News
    • World
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Entertainment News
    • Celebrity News
  • Talents & Achievements
  • Health & Wellness
  • Beauty & Fashion
  • History & Culture
  • Travels & Tours
  • See More
    • Relationships
      • Breakup Alert
      • Love Confessions
      • Love Tales
      • Life & Love
    • Diary of an Angry and searching Nigerian Girl
    • Kids Corner
    • Global Black Celebration
    • Trending
    • Grooming
    • Hair
  • Contact Us

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Be the first to get breaking news, historical events, culture, fashion, politics, business, entertainment, celebrity, and healthcare updates from beautiful Africans across the globe straight to your inbox

What's Hot

Ethiopia has banned 15 foreign media outlets 

February 1, 2023

Nigeria Becomes First African Country To Use Elon Musk’s Starlink Service 

February 1, 2023

Black Parents Awarded $5M Settlement After Their 9-Month-Old Tayvon Tomlin Died at a Florida Daycare Center 

February 1, 2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram WhatsApp
Trending
  • Ethiopia has banned 15 foreign media outlets 
  • Nigeria Becomes First African Country To Use Elon Musk’s Starlink Service 
  • Black Parents Awarded $5M Settlement After Their 9-Month-Old Tayvon Tomlin Died at a Florida Daycare Center 
  • Black Woman, Rose Wakefield Awarded $1M After Oregon Gas Station Refused Her Service 
  • Ohio infant twin, Kason dies a month after rescue from abduction 
  • Meagan Good becomes latest ambassador for Dark & Lovely 
  • Roaming Tiger in South Africa successfully captured 
  • Rickey Smiley’s Son Brandon Smiley Dies at age 32 
Facebook Twitter Instagram WhatsApp
My Beautiful Black AncestryMy Beautiful Black Ancestry
  • News
    1. World
    2. Politics
    3. Business
    4. Sports
    5. Entertainment News
    6. Celebrity News
    7. View All

    A coup attempt in Sao Tome and Principe has failed 

    November 25, 2022

    Senegal beats World Cup host Qatar, 3-1 

    November 25, 2022

    Statue of German colonizer pulled down in Windhoek, Namibia 

    November 25, 2022

    Sex workers in Ghana increase charges over current economic hardship 

    November 24, 2022

    Former President Trump pleads with Meta to restore his Facebook account 

    January 19, 2023

    Obiang, Son Of Equatorial Guinea President, Arrested For Alleged Corruption 

    January 17, 2023

    Lori Lightfoot, a Chicago Mayor, Under Investigation For Encouraging Children To Volunteer For Reelection Campaign 

    January 15, 2023

    Church of England, Anglican Communion apologizes for links to slavery 

    January 10, 2023

    John legend launches Affordable Personal Care Brand for Melanin Rich Skin 

    January 17, 2023

    Meet The Women Who Created The Line Of Hygienic Hijabs For Muslims In Healthcare 

    January 17, 2023

    Virginia Couple Purchase Home With 90 Acres of Land to Build Generational Wealth For Their Kids 

    January 15, 2023

    Airbnb Places Ban On Slave Cabin Rentals 

    December 24, 2022

    Former NFL Player Jessie Lemonier Dies at age 25 

    January 28, 2023

    Olympic Star Usain Bolt defrauded of $12m life savings 

    January 20, 2023

    Man City’s Benjamin Mendy cleared of six rape charges 

    January 13, 2023

    Tennis Champ, Naomi Osaka pregnant with her first child 

    January 12, 2023

    Tv Show on Ethiopia’s Queen Sheba in the Works 

    January 28, 2023

    Keke Palmer Announces She Is Having a baby boy  

    January 27, 2023

    Girls Trip 2 to be Shot In Ghana 

    January 24, 2023

    Antoine Fuqua to Direct Michael Jackson Biopic, Set to Begin Shooting This Year 

    January 24, 2023

    Sha’Carri Richardson Removed From Flight Following Argument With ‘Disrespectful’ Attendant 

    January 24, 2023

    Beyoncé Performs Live For First Time Since 2018, Duets With Blue Ivy 

    January 22, 2023

    ‘He Wanted To Change For Me’: Cardi B Reveals Why She Called Off Divorce From Offset 

    January 20, 2023

    John legend launches Affordable Personal Care Brand for Melanin Rich Skin 

    January 17, 2023

    Ethiopia has banned 15 foreign media outlets 

    February 1, 2023

    Nigeria Becomes First African Country To Use Elon Musk’s Starlink Service 

    February 1, 2023

    Black Parents Awarded $5M Settlement After Their 9-Month-Old Tayvon Tomlin Died at a Florida Daycare Center 

    February 1, 2023

    Black Woman, Rose Wakefield Awarded $1M After Oregon Gas Station Refused Her Service 

    February 1, 2023
  • Talents & Achievements

    Meagan Good becomes latest ambassador for Dark & Lovely 

    January 30, 2023

    Nicholas Buamah, an 11-Year-Old Boy Creates a Sitcom About Smart Kids of Color 

    January 28, 2023

    40-Year-Old South African Woman Sthembile, Graduates From Same College Where She Cleaned For 14 Years 

    January 24, 2023

    John legend launches Affordable Personal Care Brand for Melanin Rich Skin 

    January 17, 2023

    Nigerian artists win big at AFRIMA As Asake, Burna Boy and Davido Dominate  

    January 17, 2023
  • Health & Wellness

    John legend launches Affordable Personal Care Brand for Melanin Rich Skin 

    January 17, 2023

    Meet The Women Who Created The Line Of Hygienic Hijabs For Muslims In Healthcare 

    January 17, 2023

    New Study Shows How Black Women Experience Depression Differently 

    January 15, 2023

    Uganda receives first batch of Trial Vaccines For Ebola 

    December 9, 2022

    Black Woman, Jenny Mitchell Sues L’Oréal and Others, Alleges Hair-Straightening Products Caused Her Uterine Cancer 

    October 31, 2022
  • Beauty & Fashion

    10 Afro-Caribbean Beauty Influencers you should follow 

    July 18, 2022

    10 Black Beauty Influencers you should follow 

    July 12, 2022

    10 African Beauty Influencers You Should Follow  

    July 5, 2022

    10 South African Beauty Influencers You Should Follow 

    June 22, 2022

    Rihanna Honoured With A Digital Statue At Met Gala

    May 4, 2022
  • History & Culture

    The State Of California, is named after a Mythical Black Queen, Calafia 

    January 20, 2023

    The Story Of Hatshepsut, The Female Pharaoh Who Ruled Egypt as a Man 

    January 20, 2023

    The Story of Kalulu Ndugu M’hali, the Enslaved boy who has the Congo River Falls Named After Him 

    December 3, 2022

    60 Cute African girl names and their meanings  

    November 29, 2022

    60 Popular African boy names and their meanings  

    November 29, 2022
  • Travels & Tours

    10 Best Places To Visit In Ghana 

    January 30, 2023

    Thousands Of Zulu Men Re-enact Historic Zulu Victory at Isandlwana 

    January 22, 2023

    3,500 years old Royal Luxor Tomb unveiled in Egypt 

    January 17, 2023

    LA Man, Dakrabo Set To Build $350million Film Studio In Ghana, Promises To Bring Hollywood To Ghana 

    January 17, 2023

    Top 10 most powerful African Passports

    January 13, 2023
  • See More
    1. Relationships
    2. Breakup Alert
    3. Love Confessions
    4. Love Tales
    5. Life & Love
    6. Diary of an Angry and searching Nigerian Girl
    7. Kids Corner
    8. Global Black Celebration
    9. Trending
    10. Grooming
    11. Hair
    12. View All

    Ethiopia has banned 15 foreign media outlets 

    February 1, 2023

    Nigeria Becomes First African Country To Use Elon Musk’s Starlink Service 

    February 1, 2023

    Black Parents Awarded $5M Settlement After Their 9-Month-Old Tayvon Tomlin Died at a Florida Daycare Center 

    February 1, 2023

    Black Woman, Rose Wakefield Awarded $1M After Oregon Gas Station Refused Her Service 

    February 1, 2023

    Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner Reportedly Breakup Two Years After Rekindling Relationship 

    January 8, 2023

    Relationship Coach Derrick Jackson Announces Divorce From His Wife, After Getting Caught With Another Woman 

    December 10, 2022

    After 14 Years of Marriage, Tia Mowry Files For Divorce From Cory Hardrict 

    October 4, 2022

    Crystal Renay Accuses Husband, Ne-Yo Of Cheating Weeks After Renewing Their Vows

    August 1, 2022

    Popular Polygamist Kevin Wesley, Narrates How He Successfully Manages His “Queens”

    April 16, 2021

    Singer Mya Actually Got Married To Herself, She Has Been A Sologamist For 7 Years (Update)

    February 25, 2021

    August Alsina Says Will Smith Allowed Him Have An Affair With His Wife, Jada Pinkett

    July 1, 2020

    I Fell Inlove With A Single Married Man 16

    June 5, 2020

    Ray J And Princess Love Have Called Off Their Divorce For A Second Time

    March 19, 2021

    Following Their Reconciliation, Ne-Yo & Wife Crystal Smith Share The First Sonogram Video Of Their New Baby

    March 5, 2021

    Tennessee Black Couple, Tommy And Harriet, Celebrate 70 Years of Marriage

    October 13, 2020

    RekindledLove? Princess Love Files To Dismiss Divorce From Ray J

    July 14, 2020

    African Couple Celebrates their Journey of Marriage, 53rd wedding anniversary with heart warming photos

    August 28, 2021

    Meet Tonya McCray and Racquel McCray , the Mom and Daughter Who Are Working Together on the Same U.S. Navy Ship

    August 19, 2021

    Popular Polygamist Kevin Wesley, Narrates How He Successfully Manages His “Queens”

    April 16, 2021

    NORTH CAROLINA BEAUTIFUL WEDDING STORY: ROSCO AND MATTHEW MCKNIGHT’S INTIMATE WEDDING

    January 16, 2021

    I Fell Inlove With A Single Married Man 17

    December 21, 2020

    I Fell Inlove With A Single Married Man 16

    June 5, 2020

    I Fell In Love With A Single Married Man 15

    January 6, 2020

    I Fell In Love With A Single Married Man 14

    December 23, 2019

    Nicholas Buamah, an 11-Year-Old Boy Creates a Sitcom About Smart Kids of Color 

    January 28, 2023

    60 Cute African girl names and their meanings  

    November 29, 2022

    60 Popular African boy names and their meanings  

    November 29, 2022

    Romello, a Black Teen Buys New Shoes For his Classmate After He Was Bullied 

    November 14, 2022

    Milestones In History Uses Superheroes To Entertain And Educate Fans About Black History

    June 21, 2022

    Black Teen, Valaysia Smith Makes History As First Delegate To The Congress Of Future Medical Leaders

    May 26, 2022

    A record-breaking Ernie Barnes painting steals the show at Christie’s $831 million evening sales.

    May 16, 2022

    Meet Jarrett Bell, The First Black Sports Journalist To Win The Bill Nunn Jr. Writers Award

    May 15, 2022

    Brittney Griner To Work 16-Hours per day in  Mordovia Russia Prison 

    November 29, 2022

    Ye Allegedly Showed Ex-Staff Pornography And Explicit Kim Kardashian Videos 

    November 24, 2022

    Breaking: Migos Rapper Takeoff Reportedly shot dead over dice game in Houston, Texas 

    November 1, 2022

    Kansas City Pastor Carlton Funderburke, Apologizes For Calling out His ‘Broke’ Congregation For Not Buying Him a Luxury Wristwatch

    August 21, 2022

    50+ Inspirational Success Quotes by Black Men 

    July 13, 2022

    50+ Confidence and Self Love Quotes by Black Women 

    July 1, 2022

    Check Out These Beautiful African Braids Inspiration

    October 9, 2020

    Great Fashion Tips For Plus Size Black Women

    October 6, 2020

    Black Woman, Jenny Mitchell Sues L’Oréal and Others, Alleges Hair-Straightening Products Caused Her Uterine Cancer 

    October 31, 2022

    How Hair Straightening Chemicals May Increase Black Women’s Risk Of Uterine Cancer 

    October 23, 2022

    Akon Pays $7.5K for Hair Transplant In Turkey To Get New Hairline 

    October 20, 2022

    10 natural hair influencers you should follow  

    July 19, 2022

    Ethiopia has banned 15 foreign media outlets 

    February 1, 2023

    Nigeria Becomes First African Country To Use Elon Musk’s Starlink Service 

    February 1, 2023

    Black Parents Awarded $5M Settlement After Their 9-Month-Old Tayvon Tomlin Died at a Florida Daycare Center 

    February 1, 2023

    Black Woman, Rose Wakefield Awarded $1M After Oregon Gas Station Refused Her Service 

    February 1, 2023
  • Contact Us
My Beautiful Black Ancestry
Home»History and Culture»Video: The Chilling Horror Story Of The 21 Iva Valley Igbo Miners Massacred By The British In 1949
History and Culture

Video: The Chilling Horror Story Of The 21 Iva Valley Igbo Miners Massacred By The British In 1949

By AdaugoJanuary 25, 2020Updated:November 22, 2020No Comments19 Views
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

There is a winding road uphill in Enugu state Nigeria. The road is called Milliken Hill. Milliken Hill road is a 4.8km long and narrow highway at the cliff edge of the hill, constructed in colonial times due to coal discovery on the hill. It was named after the head engineer who designed the road. Beneath the hill is Iva Valley, the popular old coal mines which gave Enugu its slogan — the coal city. The valley is a reminder of the painful massacre of nearly 71 years ago.

Iva valley Milliken hill

The Iva valley is said to be haunted due to the 21 miners massacred in the mines of Iva Valley. And the horrifying shrieks of damned souls of the massacred miners has been reported heard by travelers on the road till date.

The winding road where the horrifying howls of haunted souls can be heard

70 years ago, the lives of 21 miners — fathers, husbands, sons, breadwinners — came to an abrupt end. When they fell to a hail of bullets at the hands of the colonial police. Whilst protesting harsh working conditions. This was one of the many motivations for the Zikist movement for Nigerian Independence.

On the 18th November 1949, 21 striking miners and a bystander were shot dead at a British government-owned coal mine at Enugu, Nigeria. 51 were injured.

Why The Miners Revolted

The miners were fighting for back-pay owed to them for a period of casualisation known as ‘rostering’. Which was later declared illegal. And had been sacked following a work to rule. They occupied the mine to prevent a repeat of the lock-out they had suffered during the 1945 general strike. Because Enugu was home to the Zikist independence movement, which included Marxists and other radicals; police were sent to remove the mine’s explosives. Accompanied by Hausa troops drafted in from the North of the country; whose language and even their uniforms were unfamiliar to the Igbo miners.

Iva valley massacre
Local Igbo constables fraternised with the workers, they were sure the government would pay them what they were due. In return the miners assured them they did not want to fight. They would not obstruct the police from removing the explosives, but refused to help because it wasn’t their job. They had strict work demarcation imposed by the British, these were hewers and tubmen: “This job is for timbermen, some special labourers, he should call them.”

Nigerian Coal had been of strategic importance during the World war. And continued to be vital in the re-building of infrastructure by the post-war Labour government. Who sought to maximise output in the Sterling zone to pay off its debt to the U.S. Many of the men had served in the British armed forces, veterans of guerrilla warfare in Southeast Asia. In 1943 with inflation raging they had been called on to make up the shortfall in the British coalfields caused by the war. They were acutely aware they had saved Britain’s arse and been led to believe their sacrifices would create a better world, whilst their bosses were planning for a future that didn’t exist.

Iva Valley Massacre

In 1917, the Iva Valley mines were built to replace the Udi coal mines which had been closed. Subsequently, the working conditions became deplorable. Including cases of racism and physical abuse — under the management of British managers. In one case, Mister T. Yates, a British national, on September 2, 1945 slapped a worker, Mr Okwudili Ojiyi. The worker took courage and brought up an assault case and Mr T. Yates was prosecuted and penalized.Iva valley massacre report

Still, many of the harsh conditions remained. It all escalated on November 1, 1949 when the workers’ demands for the payment of rostering, the upgrading of the mine hewers to artisans and the payment of housing and travelling allowances were rejected by the management. Hence, the workers began a strike which led the Bristish managers to sack over 50 miners. This led the management to move to remove all the explosives from the mines on November 18th, as they feared the strike was as a result of the growing agitations for Independence.

After removing that of Obwetti mines (sister mine) easily, the explosives at Iva Valley proved difficult, especially with the workers refusing to assist the management. The miners also feared that if they removed the explosives, nothing would stand in the way of the management’s shutting down the mine (this was discovered by The Fitzgerald Commission, which the colonialists were forced to set up to investigate the massacre).

As everything was about to descend into chaos, a Briton and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Captain F.S. Philip, was called to the mine along with two other Bristish officers and 75 armed local policemen to assist in the removal of the explosives. Soon, the workers began protesting, singing.

Mayhem

Phillip and his fellow Britons, seeing only threatening African workers and primitive natives, became jumpy as all his racial stereotypes seemed to manifest before his eyes. According to The Nation: “To Captain Phillip, these were not industrial men conducting a protest but savage, hysterical natives, doing dangerous dances, screeching unintelligible noises, poised to attack.”

More miners began pouring out in their hundreds, protesting, with red pieces of cloth to their miners’ helmets, wrists, or knees, as a mark of solidarity.

Iva valley massacre statue
Memorial statue

Around 1:30 pm, the police party became antsy about the numbers and songs of solidarity. According to the investigations, the Captain only heard a; “tremendous howling and screeching noise going on” to which several men danced in a “dangerous” way.

He ordered his men to shoot and aimed his revolver immediately at a miner, Sunday Anyasado, in front of him and shot the hewer in the mouth. Anyasado, a young native of Mbieri, Owerri, who was only recently married and had come to Enugu to earn a living, was the first to fall dead, instantly killed by a bullet from the Captain. Phillip then shot Livinus Okechukwuma, a machine operator from Ohi, Owerri, killing him as well. As chaos descended, Okafor Ageni, an Udi tub man, came out of the mine and asked; “Anything wrong?” but was killed by a bullet on the spot.

Names of some of the massacred miners

Haunted Iva Valley 

At the end of the mayhem, 51 men had been injured and 21 men had been shot dead; Sunday Anyasodo, the hewer from Obazu Mbezi; Livinus Okechukwuma, the machine operator from Ohi, Owerri; Okafor Ageni, an Udi tub man; Moses, the machine operator from Umuohoho; Simeon, the machine operator from Mbutu; Nnaji, the hewer from Ndibara Amaimo; Nwahu, the engine driver from Amuzi Bende and 15 others.

These men, who have been tagged matyrs, have simply been reduced to just urban legends of Iva Valley miners’; Camps One and Two and November 18 has never been officially mourned in the history of Nigeria.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7va0puncWm/?igshid=1ih7dcky412eh

And as such, the howls of these men are said to be resounding in the valley up on till this day.

November 2019, marked the 70th memorial is the Iva Valley Massacre.

black lives matter colonialism Iva valley Massacre
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram Email
Adaugo
  • Website
  • Instagram

This 27 year old, is Art And All That Is Art. Writer, Film and stage actor, Mental Health Lay counselor and show host.

Related Posts

The State Of California, is named after a Mythical Black Queen, Calafia 

January 20, 2023

The Story Of Hatshepsut, The Female Pharaoh Who Ruled Egypt as a Man 

January 20, 2023

Derek Chauvin, The Police officer who killed George Floyd seeks to have his trial overturned

January 19, 2023

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Top Posts

Ortencia Alcantara And Her Involvement In The Death Of Kevin Samuels

May 7, 202230,969

Relationship Coach Derrick Jackson Announces Divorce From His Wife, After Getting Caught With Another Woman 

December 10, 202215,815

24 year old Ugandan Woman, Monica Karungi ‘Mona Kizz’, Jumps To Her Death From Dubai Skyscraper

May 3, 202211,377

Sandra Regina, Pele’s Secret Daughter Named In His Will, Despite Denying Her All Her Life 

January 18, 20239,317
Don't Miss
News

Ethiopia has banned 15 foreign media outlets 

By AdaugoFebruary 1, 20231

An official letter by Ethiopia’s media regulatory body said it found out in an investigation that there were media outlet representatives and journalists

Nigeria Becomes First African Country To Use Elon Musk’s Starlink Service 

February 1, 2023

Black Parents Awarded $5M Settlement After Their 9-Month-Old Tayvon Tomlin Died at a Florida Daycare Center 

February 1, 2023

Black Woman, Rose Wakefield Awarded $1M After Oregon Gas Station Refused Her Service 

February 1, 2023
Stay In Touch
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • WhatsApp

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Be the first to get breaking news, historical events, culture, fashion, politics, business, entertainment, celebrity, and healthcare updates from beautiful Africans across the globe straight to your inbox

About Us
About Us

MBBA Global is Africa's no.1 platform for breaking news, historical events, culture, fashion, politics, business, entertainment, celebrity, and healthcare updates from beautiful Africans across the globe.

Facebook Twitter YouTube WhatsApp
Editor's Picks

Ethiopia has banned 15 foreign media outlets 

February 1, 2023

Nigeria Becomes First African Country To Use Elon Musk’s Starlink Service 

February 1, 2023

Black Parents Awarded $5M Settlement After Their 9-Month-Old Tayvon Tomlin Died at a Florida Daycare Center 

February 1, 2023
Latest Events

Four African American Celebrities That Recently Became Citizens Of African Countries

January 6, 20201,427

American Actress, Lisa Raye Crowned “Queen Mother Of Ghana” by “king” Yahweh

November 5, 2019121

The African Wedding That Has Left Many Jaws Dropping

May 30, 201866

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.