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Badagry, Nigeria
Their History in the Atlantic Slave Trade |
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or content, may be used without specific written permission.
© Copyright 2003, Joel A. Freeman, Ph.D. All rights reserved.
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During my visit to Nigeria in December, 2001 I 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.
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.
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.
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.
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The town of Badagry wants 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.
***********************************************************
I will now quote from a booklet entitled "History
of the Mobee Family of Badagry and Their Involvement in the Slave Trade",
Olusegun Mobee. I bought this booklet during my visit to Badagry.
In the 24-page booklet Mr. Mobee states, "Slaves were
never captured in Badagry...As a matter of fact, then, slavery was
recognized institution all over the world. Slaves were employed by Kings,
Chiefs, and wealthy people in their houses as domestic servants. A man's
economic and social status were assessed by the number of slaves he
possessed. This type of slavery was known as domestic slavery. Usually,
many of these slaves were captives of war. But many of the slave owners on
learning that European slave merchants were besieging Badagry with goods
such as iron bars, cotton, wool, linen, whiskey, gin, metal wares, and
assorted wines in exchange for slaves, wasted no time to bring their
domestic slaves to Badagry with the hope of exchanging them for the listed
items. It was confessed that the prospects of Trans Atlantic Slave Trade
fueled into tribal wars in Yorubaland as the kings and slaves who had
taken part of the European slave merchants' offer, went all out to wage
war on the other towns and villages with the sole aim of getting slaves to
be exchanged for wine and guns."

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The holding cell for men, used just prior to sending the men off
to the boat. |

A plaque officially commissioning the Badagry Slave Route
Project
May 18, 1999 |
Click on each
image to view a larger picture.
After viewing the larger image, close that window and you will
return to this page -- ready to view the next image. |

The slave market at Posuko was the main center of the Slave
Trade |

This is the wharf from which the slaves were transported across the
water to the "Point of No Return". |

The "Point of No Return is across the water, just to the
right of the boat. |

Slavery was abolished in 1886. This cannon was used to enforce
the law. |
Today,
Badagry is an historic site because of the significant role it played as
a major
slave port in Nigeria. |

Another view of the wharf, from which the slaves left for points
unknown. |

Entry way to the wharf. |

Joel Freeman, with William Kumuyi, facilitating a meeting for
250 government and business leaders. |

Dr. Freeman with slave chains around neck. This was an emotional
experience. |

Dr. Freeman speaking to well over 40,000 people, through 18
interpreters. |

Another cannon used to enforce the abolition of slavery, aimed
at the "Point of No Return". |

Two men who are part of the court of the King of Badagry. |

Thomas Freeman, first missionary from England to Nigeria. |

Freeman Memorial Methodist Cathedral |

First Storey building in Nigeria. |

First copy of the Bible translated into Yoruba language by Rev.
Gollmer. |

The King of Badagry, Nigeria. |
To
learn more about seminar -- Diversity: The Value of Mutual Respect
-- MORE RESOURCES --
The
Lemba: The Black Jews of Southern Africa
Table of Nations--Ham, Shem and Japheth
Badagry, Nigeria -- Slave Trade History
Historical
Timeline of Ancient Egypt
The
Mitochondrial "Eve" Theory
Joseph, Egypt & The Hyksos
Tutankhamen
& Akhenaton
Ancient
Egyptian Religions
Map
of Ancient Africa
Text on Rosetta Stone
The
Pyramid Puzzle
Rosetta
Stone
Ancient
Nubia

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