British penetration into and subjugation of Isokoland in South Central Nigeria, 1896–1911: A narrative Uwomano Benjamin Okpevra Delta State University, Nigeria Abstract The Isoko, like other peoples of Nigeria, played significant roles in the historical process and evolution of Nigeria and should be acknowledged as such. The paper teases out much more clearly—and, more importantly, the multiple stages of the British expansion into Isoko. That is, how does that multi-stage, multi-phase process affect how we think more broadly about British colonial expansion in Africa in the 19th century? The paper deposes that the Isoko as a people did not accept British rule until the “puni- tive expedition” to the area in 1911 brought the whole of the Isoko country under British control. This is done within the context of the military conquest and subjugation of the people, colonial prejudices, and the resulting social economic, and political changes. The paper deploying both primary and sec- ondary data highlights the role played by the Isoko in resisting British penetration into and subjugation of their country between 1896 and 1911. The year 1896 marked the beginning of British formal con- tact with the Isoko when the first treaty was signed with Owe (Owhe), while 1911 was when the Isoko were conquered by the British and brought under British control. Keywords British penetration, punitive expedition and subjugation, colonial prejudice, Isokoland South Central Nigeria Introduction The history and study of a people is an ongoing process. People review their past in the light of con- temporary experiences and they ask which of the relics of the past have any functional significance for the present and the future. They modify the past in order to make it meaningful for the present and functional in preparing for a better and more positive future. Likewise, past ideas are modified in the light of new evidence and, in the process, we ask new questions. 1 Corresponding author: Uwomano Benjamin Okpevra, Department of History and International Studies, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. Emails: ubokpevra@gmail.com, okpevra@delsu.edu.ng Article International Area Studies Review 2022, Vol. 25(2) 157–173 © The Author(s) 2022 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/22338659211072941 journals.sagepub.com/home/ias