The Two Princes Of Calabar Essay

In the 18th century West Africa, the unsavory slave industry was a vital part of the Old Calabar lifestyle. Both Europeans and Africans participated in the area’s slave trade. Due to this business, New Town and Old Town traders of Old Calabar accumulated power through trading. Those Efik who assimilated into power were well-versed in the slave trade business with the Europeans. The Efik and the English traders grew a close relationship built on trust and as a result the two parties were very successful. Efik even adopted parts of the European lifestyle such as their language, fashion, manners, and concept of monarchy. Of the so called “royal” family were two princes named Ancona and Little Ephraim. During the Massacre of 1767, the princes were wrongfully captured and enslaved by an English captain. Author Randy Sparks, of The Two Princes of Calabar, describes the princes as “creolized” because of their long odyssey across the Middle Passage and their numerous travels during their enslavement. It is because of this “odyssey” that the author Randy Sparks accurately characterizes Ancona and Little Ephraim as “creoles.” Being that the brothers adopted different aspects from various cultures, the term “creole” is …show more content…
In the novel it says that “knowledge of Methodism in Virginia could explain why the Robin Johns asked to meet Charles Wesley” (Sparks, 111). The Robin Johns integrated themselves into the English culture by going to theatres, dressing like the natives, and even adopting their Western faith. It is not clear on whether or not the princes adopted this faith out of necessity or from genuine; nevertheless, Sparks describes it by stating: “encouraged by the Wesley’s… the Robin Johns converted to Christianity and were baptized” (Sparks, 125-126). It is because of their stay in England as well their experience abroad that the Robin Johns had to