The Bonny-Old Calabar Archaeological Project (BOCAP)
The Bight of Bonny is located off the west-central African coast in the easternmost part of the Gulf of Guinea. Historical records attest to the vital role this region played in the transatlantic economy (c. 1500-1800 CE). In the summer of 2023, I commenced an archaeological project in the Niger Delta portion of the Bight of Bonny. In this project, I investigate the participation of two port cities—Bonny Island and Old Calabar—in the transatlantic economy.
From a regional standpoint, my research discusses the dynamics of intra-polity and inter-state competitions that ensued between Bonny and Old Calabar merchants as they navigated their commercial interests. At the global level, this research contributes to the current understanding of African agency in modern-era political economy.
The Iwo Community Archaeological Project
Since 2019, I have been collaborating with Iwo community members and archaeologists from Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Ibadan on the Iwo community archaeological project. In this project, I investigate the emergence of sociopolitical complexities in Yorubaland (southwest Nigeria) before the 19th century CE. Specifically, I explore the formation dynamics of internal frontiers and how political contestations affect daily life in these peripheral spaces.