The Two Princes Of Calabar By Randy Sparks

"The Two Princes of Calabar" by Randy Sparks is a book about the transatlantic slave trade in the from the perspective of African slave traders. The atlantic slave trade began in between the 1400’s and 1500’s when West African traders sold slaves to the Portuguese; Europe was also involved with the trade as they shipped the slaves to America. One of the areas Europe would visit for buying slaves was in Old Calabar (present day southeastern Nigeria).

The Calabar River ran through Old Calabar and near the river once stood 2 towns: Old Town, Creek Town (more onto them later). The culture in this area was made up of the Efik. The Efik are a branch of Ibibio speaking people and they were ethnic traders. The Effik had a bad reputation of being

When the Robin Johns grew rich from slave trading, the Duke family in Creek town grew jealous. The Dukes move out of Creek Town and created their own trading post further down the Calabar River in the late 17th to mid 18th century. That started the rivalry between the two towns. After fighting over trading with the English, in 1767 Grandy King George, the leader of Old Town, accepted to join the English ships in an attempt to settle things with New Town. He even brought his wife as a gift to the leaders, how very hospitable. Although, this offer of peace was a trap set up by the leaders of New Town, Creek Town, and the English traders; each with their own motives. Duke Ephraim, leader of New Town, was out to conquer Old Town and take the riches of the trade for himself in a way to honor his ancestors that founded the town. The leader of Creek Town, Eyo Nsa, was also jealous of Old Town’s prosperity and formed an alliance with New Town to take Old Town down a peg. The English captains intervened in Old Calabars internal affairs because they were interrupting the flow and controlled order of the trade. The English would be left waiting in Parrot island for months, with their supplies running low, as Old Town and New Town fought like toddlers. So, as Grandy King George arrived along with his family members and welcoming-gift-wife, the English prepared their attack. People died, the king escaped, but his brother Little Ephraim Robin John and nephew Ancona Robin Robin John were captured and brought into