Obadiah Johnson
Encyclopedia
Dr. Obadiah Johnson born in Freetown, Sierra Leone) was a Creole
who was the second Nigerian to qualify as a medical doctor, and the author with his brother the Reverend Samuel Johnson
of A History of the Yorubas from the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the British Protectorate.
Johnson was of a liberated African
or recaptive family that was originally from Nigeria
and claimed to be an Omoba of the Kingdom of Oyo
. Obadiah was the second Nigerian ever to qualify as a medical doctor. Although this achievement of his was a milestone in history, he became famous only for tackling another monumental undertaking.
In 1897 his older brother, the Reverend Samuel Johnson
completed a major work on the history of the Yoruba
s but, in Dr. Johnson's own words, "A singular misfortune...befell the original manuscripts of this history, in consequence of which the author never lived to see in print his more than 20 years of labour." The manuscripts were sent to an English publisher in London
, England
, through a missionary society, in 1899 but, "nothing more was heard of them".
In 1900, Johnson visited England
and called on the publisher who told him he misplaced the manuscripts and, "that they could not be found, and that he was prepared to pay for them." Although Dr. Johnson smelt a rat immediately, he and his brother decided to "let the subject rest there." The original author, Samuel Johnson, died a year later on 29 April 1901.
Thus, Dr. Obadiah Johnson had "to rewrite the whole history anew from the copious notes and rough copies left behind by the author".
In 1903 there was a crisis over the payment of the tolls that were collected from traders by native rulers, although Europeans were exempted. The alternative was to replace the tolls by a subsidy. Governor William MacGregor
requested views from Christopher Sapara Williams, Charles Joseph George
and Obadiah Johnson as indigenous opinion leaders. All were in favor of retaining the tolls to avoid upsetting the rulers.
Dr. Johnson died in London
in 1920 and, the book, A History of the Yorubas from the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the British Protectorate, was published in London in 1921 by George Rouledge and Sons. This book is recognized worldwide as a pioneering historical study and a book of great merit, which sealed the two Johnsons' places in history.
Sierra Leone Creole people
The Sierra Leone Creoles, or Krios, are an ethnic group in Sierra Leone, descendants of West Indian slaves from the Caribbean, primarily from Jamaica; freed African American slaves from the Thirteen Colonies resettled from Nova Scotia; and Liberated Africans from various parts of Africa...
who was the second Nigerian to qualify as a medical doctor, and the author with his brother the Reverend Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson (Nigeria)
Samuel Johnson was an Anglican priest and historian of the Yoruba. Born a recaptive 'Creole' in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Johnson was an Omoba of the Oyo clan as a descendant of the Alaafin Abiodun of Oyo...
of A History of the Yorubas from the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the British Protectorate.
Johnson was of a liberated African
Sierra Leone Liberated Africans
The Sierra Leone Liberated Africans were slaves freed by the British Royal Navy from slave ships on the high seas and brought to Freetown, now Sierra Leone's capital city. The Sierra Leone Creole Settlers and West Indian immigrants called the liberated Africans "Willyfoss niggers"....
or recaptive family that was originally from Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
and claimed to be an Omoba of the Kingdom of Oyo
Oyo
- Places :In Nigeria* The Oyo Empire or Kingdom, a former West-African empire that covered parts of modern-day Nigeria and Benin* Oyo State, a present-day state of Nigeria named after the Oyo Empire...
. Obadiah was the second Nigerian ever to qualify as a medical doctor. Although this achievement of his was a milestone in history, he became famous only for tackling another monumental undertaking.
In 1897 his older brother, the Reverend Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson (Nigeria)
Samuel Johnson was an Anglican priest and historian of the Yoruba. Born a recaptive 'Creole' in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Johnson was an Omoba of the Oyo clan as a descendant of the Alaafin Abiodun of Oyo...
completed a major work on the history of the Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
s but, in Dr. Johnson's own words, "A singular misfortune...befell the original manuscripts of this history, in consequence of which the author never lived to see in print his more than 20 years of labour." The manuscripts were sent to an English publisher in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, through a missionary society, in 1899 but, "nothing more was heard of them".
In 1900, Johnson visited England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and called on the publisher who told him he misplaced the manuscripts and, "that they could not be found, and that he was prepared to pay for them." Although Dr. Johnson smelt a rat immediately, he and his brother decided to "let the subject rest there." The original author, Samuel Johnson, died a year later on 29 April 1901.
Thus, Dr. Obadiah Johnson had "to rewrite the whole history anew from the copious notes and rough copies left behind by the author".
In 1903 there was a crisis over the payment of the tolls that were collected from traders by native rulers, although Europeans were exempted. The alternative was to replace the tolls by a subsidy. Governor William MacGregor
William MacGregor
Sir William MacGregor GCMG, CB was a Lieutenant-Governor of British New Guinea, Governor of Newfoundland and Governor of Queensland.-Early life:...
requested views from Christopher Sapara Williams, Charles Joseph George
Charles Joseph George
Charles Joseph George was a successful SaroA "Saro" was a freed slave who had returned to Nigeria. trader who was appointed a member of the Legislative Council of the Lagos Colony from 1886 onwards.-Church leader:...
and Obadiah Johnson as indigenous opinion leaders. All were in favor of retaining the tolls to avoid upsetting the rulers.
Dr. Johnson died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1920 and, the book, A History of the Yorubas from the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the British Protectorate, was published in London in 1921 by George Rouledge and Sons. This book is recognized worldwide as a pioneering historical study and a book of great merit, which sealed the two Johnsons' places in history.