Geneva, Switzerland – September 2, 2026 – John Cliff announces the publication and international release of Ubini: Memory, Betrayal and Restoration, a historical work that challenges established accounts surrounding the history of Ubini and the events connected to the 1897 British invasion.
The book presents a family-based historical perspective on the dethronement of Oba Ovonranmwen Nogbaisi and examines questions surrounding the original political institution of Ubini, the succession of traditional authority after the invasion, and the historical narratives that developed under colonial rule.
At the center of Ubini: Memory, Betrayal and Restoration is an examination of how the 1897 British invasion affected the political structure, ownership of land, traditional authority, and historical identity of the territory. The book asks whether the institutions that emerged after 1897 should be understood as a continuation of the pre-1897 Ubini political system or as institutions established under a new colonial order.
John Cliff presents the history through the perspective of his family and its claimed connection to the royal succession. According to the family account presented in the book, Eribo was an heir of Oba Ovonranmwen and Omokaro was the heir of Eribo. The author argues that these succession claims have been overlooked or suppressed in subsequent historical narratives.
The book also examines competing traditions concerning the fate of Oba Ovonranmwen following the British invasion. The author’s family tradition maintains that the Oba sought refuge in their village and was not captured or voluntarily surrendered in the manner described in some established accounts. Ubini: Memory, Betrayal and Restoration calls for these competing accounts to be examined through documentary records, oral traditions, colonial records, family histories, and other historical evidence.
The author argues that the significance of the 1897 invasion extends beyond the military defeat itself. According to the book, the events fundamentally altered the political structure and traditional institutions of the territory and influenced subsequent understandings of identity, land, succession, and historical authority.
The work therefore seeks to encourage historians, researchers, journalists, traditional institutions, and members of the public to examine the evidence surrounding these events and engage with competing interpretations of Ubini’s history. Rather than presenting the subject simply as a matter of controversy, John Cliff seeks to create a historical puzzle for further investigation and encourage serious discussion based on documentary evidence, oral traditions, and family records.
John Cliff is an author and independent historical researcher whose work focuses on African history, colonialism, indigenous political institutions, cultural identity, and the preservation of historical memory. His research is particularly concerned with the history of Ubini and the consequences of the 1897 British invasion, including questions surrounding traditional authority, succession, land, and historical narratives.
Drawing on family traditions, oral accounts, documentary records, and historical research, John Cliff seeks to bring overlooked perspectives into wider public discussion. His work encourages further research, open historical debate, and greater attention to African perspectives in the documentation of the continent’s history.
His broader work includes Ubini: Memory, Betrayal and Restoration, Volume I of the Ubini series, which examines the 1897 British invasion of the Ubini Empire, the deposition of Oba Ovonranmwen Nogbaisi, and the long-term consequences of colonial intervention. The book was released as an English-language eBook in August 2026 and is listed by major bookselling platforms, including Orell Füssli.
The author’s official platform also outlines plans for Volumes II and III of the Ubini series, as well as future works based on history, oral tradition, and cultural storytelling.
The announcement is intended for historians, African history researchers, academics, journalists, authors, students, members of the African diaspora, traditional institutions, cultural historians, genealogy and ancestry researchers, and readers interested in African identity, indigenous political systems, colonialism, and contested historical narratives.
The goal is to encourage readers to think critically about how African history has been recorded and how colonial intervention may have influenced historical narratives and traditional institutions. Readers are encouraged to explore the history of Ubini, the 1897 British invasion, and the story of Oba Ovonranmwen Nogbaisi from multiple perspectives.
For more information about John Cliff and his historical work, visit the official author website at www.johnclifflegacy.com Ubini: Memory, Betrayal and Restoration is available on Amazon, Bookshop and Kobo.
Readers are encouraged to discover Ubini: Memory, Betrayal and Restoration by John Cliff and explore the historical research, oral traditions, family history, and documentary perspectives presented through the author’s work. The eBook is available through participating booksellers, including Orell Füssli and Bookshop.org.
About John Cliff
John Cliff is an author and independent historical researcher focused on African history, oral tradition, colonial history, and cultural heritage. His work examines the history of Ubini, the 1897 British invasion, Oba Ovonranmwen Nogbaisi, and the transformation of political and traditional institutions following colonial intervention.
Through his writing, John Cliff seeks to preserve historical memory, bring overlooked perspectives into public discussion, and encourage serious examination of documentary records, oral traditions, and family histories.
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