Bight of Biafra 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…

02

Jan 2025

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies

Cultural Continuities: The Igbo Origins and Global Legacy of Masking in the Caribbean and Americas

Introduction The Caribbean and Americas are cultural mosaics where traditions from Africa have been preserved, adapted, and disseminated through centuries of displacement and cultural exchange. Among these traditions, masking holds…

01

Jan 2025

Cultural Heritage Ethnohistory Historical Studies

The Shared History of Bandana and George Textiles: A Cultural Journey from India to Africa and the Caribbean

Photo by @rootinnajumieka on Instagram Textiles have long been a medium of cultural exchange and storytelling, bridging continents and peoples. The journey of the Jamaican bandana and the George cloth begins…

01

Jan 2025

Ethnohistory Historical Studies Photos

Haiti’s Independence Day: Celebrating the Igbo Legacy in Haitian Culture

Haiti’s Independence Day on January 1st is not only a commemoration of the first successful slave revolt in the Americas but also an opportunity to reflect on the African roots…