Antera Duke

Antera Duke was a leading African slave trader and Efik chief from Old Calabar in the Bight of Biafra at the eastern end of what was then considered Guinea (region) and now in eastern Nigeria during the late eighteenth century. He gradually prospered and was member of the local Ekpe society that had a great amount of power over slave trade. He arranged funerals, which for men of standing like himself included the ritual sacrifice of slaves, who were decapitated to accompany the master into the spirit world. Duke and his fellow Efik traders "dressed as white men" and entertained captains of Slave ships.