Prof. Dr. Ephraim Ikechukwu Elenwo

Reconstructing the Legacy of the Slave Trade in Coastal Communities of the Niger Delta: Memory, Trauma, and Environmental Continuities

This study examined cultural memory and historical trauma associated with the transatlantic slave trade in the coastal communities of Nigeria's Niger Delta, focusing on Okrika, Opobo, Bonny, Brass, and Calabar. It investigated historical experiences of the slave trade, its influence on cultural identity and intergenerational memory, the role of oral traditions, and heritage preservation strategies. A mixed-methods research design was adopted, using questionnaires, Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions, and field observations. Of the 2,000 questionnaires administered, 1,852 valid responses were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and ANOVA at the 0.05 significance level.

Findings revealed high awareness of the slave trade, with mean scores above the criterion mean of 3.00. Cultural memory preservation recorded a mean of 4.18 ± 0.62, while historical identity recorded 4.11 ± 0.68. ANOVA showed significant differences among the study locations (p < 0.05), and t-test results indicated that educational background significantly influenced historical awareness. Qualitative findings highlighted oral traditions, museums, heritage sites, and community narratives as vital for preserving slavery history. The study concludes that the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade continues to shape cultural identity and recommends strengthened heritage preservation, historical education, and community participation. 

2026–2027
BCDSS Fellowship Award

2024–2027
Member University of Port Harcourt Senate Business Committee

2022
Professor in Environmental Management, University of Port Harcourt

2009
PhD in Environmental Management, Rivers State University

2003
MPhil in Environmental Management, Rivers State University

1994
BTech in Urban & Regional Planning, Rivers State University