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Discover
the Slave Route in
Nigeria
A
darker historical era saw many people of
West Africa leave their shores for
plantations in Europe, North and South
America and the Caribbean. The infamous
slave trade in Nigeria is not known to
many people like the slave trade in Ghana,
Senegal, Togo and Benin. Nigeria and Ghana
were former British colonies. Senegal,
Togo and Benin were former French
colonies. In
December 2000, I attended the Fourth
Eco-tourism Symposium in Nigeria as a
delegate of the Africa Travel Association.
The Lagos State Waterfront and Tourism
Development Corporation invited conference
delegates to a two-day pre-symposium tour
of Lagos States. On the first day, we
toured the city of Lagos. On the second
day, we toured the town of Badagry and
learned that Badagry was an important
slave route in West Africa. Badagry is one
of five divisions created in Lagos State
in l968 This
ancient town of Badagry was founded around
l425 A.D. Before its existence, people
lived along the Coast of Gberefu and this
area later gave birth to the town of
Badagry. It is the second largest
commercial town in Lagos State, located an
hour from Lagos and half hour from the
Republic du Benin. The Town of Badgry is
bordered on the south by the Gulf of
Guinea and surrounded by creeks, islands
and a lake. The ancient town served mainly
the Oyo Empire which was comprised of
Yoruba and Ogu people. Today, the Aworis
and Egun are mainly the people who reside
in the town of Badagry as well as in Ogun
State in Nigeria and in the neighboring
Republic du Benin. Today,
Badagry is an historic site because of the
significant role it played as a major
slave port in Nigeria. The town of Badagry
is promoting an African Heritage Festival
in May, 2001 to enlighten the world to its
historic sites, landscapes, cultural
artifacts and relics of human slavery.
Badagry wants to share this world heritage
site with others. They are preserving
buildings, sites and memories of this
iniquitous period so those tourists can
unearth the dark impact of this era.
Places of interest include the Palace of
the Akran of Badagry and its mini
ethnographic museum, the early
missionaries cemetery, the District
Officer's Office and Residence, the First
Storey Building in Nigeria constructed by
the Anglican missionaries, relics of slave
chains in the mini museum of slave trade,
cannons of war, the Vlekte slave Market,
and the Slave Port established for the
shipment of slaves before the l6th
century. The
Lagos State Waterfront and Tourism
Development Corporation is sponsoring the
African Heritage Festival, May 2001, in
collaboration with Nigerian Tourist
Development Corporation, Badagry Local
Government and some NGOs. Chief Moses
Hungbo Owolabani is the Executive Chairman
of Badagry Local Government Council. The
tentative program of events encompasses
initiation into Nigerian tribes, boat
regatta, educational and economic forums,
music and dance festivals, and numerous
recreational activities and picnicking on
miles of beach front property. For
further information, contact Lagos State
Waterfront and Tourism Development
Corporation, 3B Itinrin Court, Victoria
Island, Lagos, Nigeria. The telephone
numbers are 0ll-234- 1-774-1886 or
0ll-234-1-775-4192. New!
Photos
from the
Symposium. |
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In
the early 1500's, slaves were transported
from West Africa to America through
Badagry. It is reported that Badagry
exported no fewer than 550,000 African
slaves to America during the period of the
American Independence in l787. In
addition, slaves were transported to
Europe, South America and the Caribbean.
The slaves came mainly from West Africa
and the neighboring countries of Benin and
Togo as well as others parts of Nigeria.
The slave trade became the major source of
income for the Europeans in Badagry.