Atlantic Trade Archives ~ Ozi Ikòrò

13

Pre-colonial Igbo trading routes. In the 19th century, long before European colonial domination, the region now known as Nsukka in southeastern Nigeria was an active participant in intra-African trade networks that…

18

Feb 2026

Cultural Heritage Historical Studies Photos

Traditional Igbo money: Cowries, manillas, brass rods – uses and value

Before the imposition of the British pound and the modern naira, the Igbo people of Southeastern Nigeria operated within a sophisticated and multifaceted economic system. This system was supported by…

05

Feb 2026

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

The Politics of Economics over Expansion: Why the Efik People Chose Economic Expansion Over Warfare

Throughout West African history, societies adopted varying strategies for political and territorial growth. While some groups such as the Oyo Empire or the Benin Kingdom expanded through military conquest, the…

05

Feb 2026

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

The Fluid Frontier: Cooperation and Conflict in the Ijaw-Itsekiri Mangrove Ecosystem

The Niger Delta’s western fringe is a labyrinthine world of salt-water creeks, dense mangrove forests, and seasonal swamps. This unique ecological niche has, for centuries, been the shared home of…

01

Feb 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Ethnohistory Historical Studies

Control of the Ethiope and Escravos Rivers: Naval Skirmishes to Secure Trade Dominance

The waterways of the Niger Delta have long been essential corridors for commerce, diplomacy, and political influence. Among these waterways, the Ethiope River and Escravos River stood at the center…

19

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory

Olu Erejuwa I: The Expansion of the Warri Empire’s Trade Borders in the 18th Century

The reign of Olu Erejuwa I in the 18th century represents one of the most economically significant eras in the history of the Warri Kingdom. The period marked an expansion…

18

Jan 2026

Anthropology and Ethnography Ethnohistory

The Iwoki Ward: The Specialists of the Gun

The mastery of firearms among many West African communities before and during the colonial era depended heavily on specialized guilds, wards, and lineages responsible for weapon production, maintenance, and ritual…

07

Jan 2026

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies

From Defense to Display: The Evolution of Cannons from Military Tools to Symbols of Aristocratic Prestige among the Ijaw and Kalabari

A cannon shown on exhibition in a museum useful to illustrate how artillery pieces shift from tools of war to objects of display and prestige. Photo credit: Jürgen Kehrberger, via…

24

Dec 2025

Cultural Heritage Folklores Historical Studies

House Systems and Trade Empires: How the “Efik House” (Ufok) Functioned as Both a Family Unit and a Corporate Trade Entity

Map of Calabar. Photo credit; Wikipedia. The Efik of Old Calabar developed one of West Africa’s most sophisticated socio-economic institutions: the “House system,” known in Efik as Ufok. Far more than…

24

Dec 2025

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies

“The ‘Comey’ System: Understanding the customs duties paid by European ships to Efik chiefs.”

The comey system was a key feature of commerce in Old Calabar, the main trading center of the Efik people along the Cross River in southeastern Nigeria. From the seventeenth…

Tag: Atlantic Trade

Pre-Colonial Trade Routes and Economic Networks in 19th-Century Nsukka

Traditional Igbo money: Cowries, manillas, brass rods – uses and value

The Politics of Economics over Expansion: Why the Efik People Chose Economic Expansion Over Warfare

The Fluid Frontier: Cooperation and Conflict in the Ijaw-Itsekiri Mangrove Ecosystem

Control of the Ethiope and Escravos Rivers: Naval Skirmishes to Secure Trade Dominance

Olu Erejuwa I: The Expansion of the Warri Empire’s Trade Borders in the 18th Century

The Iwoki Ward: The Specialists of the Gun

From Defense to Display: The Evolution of Cannons from Military Tools to Symbols of Aristocratic Prestige among the Ijaw and Kalabari

“The ‘Comey’ System: Understanding the customs duties paid by European ships to Efik chiefs.”