Badagry - Journey Through 'The Unknown'
Many centuries ago, fishermen from present day border communities between Benin and Togo first settled on an island called Gberefu. With time, they engaged themselves in pottery and salt production, sourcing materials from the Atlantic Ocean, while maintaining farms across the lagoon.
Later, they began to suffer attacks from sea pirates. This led Agbethe, head of the fishermen, to relocate to a farmland in 1425. Thus began the birth of present day Badagry. Kunle Ogunfuyi visited the ancient town and presents a kaleidescope of palaces, the 'Point of No Return', markets and sites along the marina.
Travelling from Lagos to other parts of the country appears to be easier than traveling within Lagos. The major hindrance is not unknown: The perennial traffic jam associated with most roads in the state. Two days before embarking on the trip to Badagry, I had called Mr. Ijinla, the Managing Director of Ijinla Art and Tours, Badagry, my guide around town. Dosu Joseph Road leading into the heart of the town is under rehabilitation by the state government, so if you are planning to visit, Ite Olorisa Road is your alternative.
Badagry a coastal town in Lagos State, about 57kilometers by road from Mile Two, is bordered in the north by Ogun state; in the west by Republic of Benin; in the south by the Atlantic Ocean and the east by Ologe Lagoon.
According to Chief Frances Akojenu, the Baba Oja of Badagry and Mr. Olufemi Ogun, manager, Ijinla Art and Tours, the history of Badagry is postmarked with various phases.
In 1473, Fernao Gomez, a Portuguese merchant who had monopoly from the then King of Portugal, first reached the shore of the land with his team of explorers and established a trading relationship between Badagry and his country.
History recounts that the explorers had started their exploration into the west coast of Africa from Senegal in 1445, Ghana in 1471. They reached Whydah in Benin and Badagry in the same year (1473). They later divided and named West Africa into four major coasts based on the principal products derived from each area. Badagry was part of the then slave coast. Slaves were gathered from different parts of Nigeria and brought to Badagry, which had a thriving and huge slave market. It was a convenient point, being one of the easiest routes out of Nigeria.
As the slave business boomed in the coast, Vlekete slave market was established in 1502, where an average of 300 slaves were sold every market day. The Vlekete Slave market reached its peak at five days interval. Conservative records show that an average of 17, 000 slaves were sold annually. The slave trade lasted 300 years.
Slaves were exchanged for goods like gin, mirror, gun and gunpowder and others. Manual labour and other forms of harrowing experiences were frequent fare that slaves were treated to before being transported.
In 1510, a slave port was established in Badagry. After crossing the lagoon from the old slave port century park to Gberefu, slaves were marched through bush paths to a departure port known today as 'Point of No Return'. The location describes the inevitable exit of the slaves, Chief Akojenu explained.
Marina, a riverside road in Badagry, accommodates most of the historical sites such as Seriki Faremi Williams Abass Court, the Brazilian Baracoon (an underground where Slaves were kept in sub-human conditions) was built in 1804. The most notorious of this Baracoons was owned by the slave merchant, Seriki Abass who sold his slaves mainly to Brazilian merchants. The place along with many historical places has been designated a National Monument.
Badagry also boasts of the first storey building in Nigeria built in 1845. It was built by Rev. Henry Townsend.
The Mobee Royal Family Original Slave Relics Museum; where relics of slave chain, shackles and various locks are kept in the custody of the Mobee family. Other sites worth seeing in Badagry include the Old slave port Century Park, Slave jetty to Gberefu, managed by Ijinla Art and Tours. Badagry Heritage Museum, the former District Officer's Office that houses the museum built in 1863.
In 1956, Agbalata Badagry market was established during the reign of late Oba C.D. Akran. The market served as a central trading place for the then Western Region and other parts of the country. The major goods at the market are salt, coconuts, palm oil, cane basket, mat and jute bags among many others.
In recent years, new sites on the Badagry landscape include the Badagry Prison of the Nigerian Prisons service, Ministry of Women Affairs Poverty Alleviation Centre, Badagry Library, French Village and Administrative and Staff College of Nigeria.
Along the Marina, there are lots of bamboo relaxation spots offering variety of dishes, especially fresh fish pepper soup. It is always an inviting delicacy to get you on your way to the 'Point-of-No-Return. Planning a trip to Badagry? Be sure to get a guide, it saves time and energy.
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