Atlantic slave trade Archives ~ Ozi Ikòrò

24

Dec 2025

Calabar as a Seaport: The 400-Year History of One of West Africa’s Most Significant International Trade Hubs.

Duke town, a key settlement in the seaport’s trade network. Photo credit; Wikipedia. For more than four centuries, Calabar has stood as one of West Africa’s most influential seaports, serving as…

24

Dec 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Ethnohistory Historical Studies

From Slaves to Palm Oil: Analyzing the Economic Pivot of the 1840s and Its Impact on Efik Social Structure

Site of a slave market at Akpabuyo in the Calabar area, featured in a major exhibit of the museum. Photo credit; Wikipedia. The Efik people of the Cross River region in…

24

Dec 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Folklores Historical Studies

The Middleman Advantage: How the Efik Controlled the Cross River Estuary and Dominated Trade with European Vessels

Palaver of Chiefs on board HMS Decoy, at Duke Town, Old Calabar River - The Graphic 1880. Photo credit; Wikipedia. The Efik people of southeastern Nigeria developed a remarkable position of…

11

Nov 2025

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Folklores Historical Studies

The Aro Confederacy and the Long-Distance Trade Network

The image is a depiction of the flag of the Aro Confederacy The Aro Confederacy was one of the most influential pre-colonial political and economic systems in southeastern Nigeria. Established by…

12

Oct 2025

Historical Studies

Igbo Institutions and the Strength of Community in the Atlantic World: “Ọ bụ mmadụ ka e ji ama ala”

“Igwe bụ ike” ( Unity is strength). For the Igbo, the survival of the community depended not on kings or armies but on the collective spirit of its…

24

Aug 2025

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

The Osu Institution in Igbo Society: Outcasts, Priestly Functions, and the Atlantic Slave Trade

Alusi shrine with its priest (seated) and the osu (‘ritual slave’), Orsu, West Isuama Igbo. Photograph by G. I. Jones, 1930s. Jones Archive, Southern Illinois University In different Igbo societies, Osu…

20

Jun 2025

Historical Studies

Traces of Igbo Names from the Slave Ships

The Atlantic slave trade, despite its vast erasure of African identities, left behind fragments like names that offer glimpses into the lives of the people stolen from their homelands. Some…

02

Mar 2025

Historical Studies

Slavery in Africa and the Spanish Slave Trade at Bonny

Slavery played a significant role in African history, influencing societies, economies, and interactions with European powers. While many African kingdoms traditionally practiced slavery for domestic purposes, the arrival of European…