This is a documentary about how the Benin Empire Oiled the Global Industrial Revolution

In the twilight of the 19th century, as Britain’s factories roared and locomotives surged forward, it wasn’t just coal that kept the gears turning—it was palm oil. This “red gold,” essential for lubricating machines, preserving metals, and even fueling cannons, became the lifeblood of an empire hungry for expansion.

At the heart of this trade stood the Benin Empire, a highly organized West African kingdom that controlled vast reserves of palm oil. With intricate diplomacy and ironclad systems of governance, Benin safeguarded both its sovereignty and its resources. Its guilds monopolized the oil trade, while its artisans cast timeless bronzes to immortalize the kingdom’s stories.

But when Britain’s Royal Niger Company—an aggressive corporate arm of empire—sought unlimited access to Benin’s resources, diplomacy crumbled. Benin’s refusal to bow sparked one of history’s most calculated acts of imperial violence.

The 1897 invasion of Benin City wasn’t merely a military assault; it was a resource-driven heist. Cloaked in the language of "civilization" and "retaliation," British forces looted thousands of sacred bronzes and razed a sovereign capital. What followed was not just cultural theft, but the corporate annexation of Benin’s oil-rich forests.