Esuk Mba Slave Market

The Esuk Mba Slave Market operated during the height of the transatlantic slave trade, from the 15th to the 19th centuries.^[1] Local traders and intermediaries captured and sold individuals to European merchants in exchange for goods such as firearms, textiles, and brass.^[2] The market was strategically located along the Cross River, allowing for easy transportation of captives by canoe or land routes to major slave depots like Calabar, which was one of West Africa's key slave-exporting ports.^[3]

Following the British abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in 1807 and the enforcement of anti-slavery laws, the Esuk Mba Slave Market declined. British naval patrols along the West African coast disrupted slave trading networks, leading to the closure of many inland markets.^[4][5][6]

Today, Esuk Mba has gained attention for continuing a trade by barter system, where goods are exchanged without the use of money. This practice reflects traditional economic systems that predate colonial influence. Local traders engage in barter transactions involving foodstuffs, livestock, and household items. This system has been maintained as part of the cultural heritage of the people of Esuk Mba.^[7][8]