5 Things to do in Badagry, Nigeria

The Ancient city of Badagry was founded in the early 15th century on a lagoon, of the Gulf of Guinea with the majority of its indigene being migrants from ‘’Dahomey’’ now ‘Benin republic’. This ancient city is popularly known for its historical role during the slave trade era in Nigeria. Being a major player in the exportation of slaves to The Americas (i.e. Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, and Saint-Dominguez now called Haiti), it has added to its rich vein of traditional and cultural history, thereby making it a go-to destination for tourism. So if you wish to make a visit to the ancient city of Badagry to experience firsthand, the history of slavery and see some of the ancient relics and works of art that still exist today whether as a student of history, or a curious mind, or better still in need of a worthwhile vacation experience, among others, you have to try out these 5 things at this lovely destination;

1. EXPLORE THE ENSLAVEMENT MUSEUMS

The ancient town of Badagry according to history played a significant role in the era of the slave trade in Nigeria, as it was a place where slaves were held captive, sold and transported out of Nigeria to other countries. There exist in these towns, various enslavement museums showcasing the memoirs of the enslavement era such as;

• “Mobee slave relic museum” which was named after one of the chiefs who controlled Badagry in the era of slave trade. The name “Mobee” is derived from the Yoruba word for kola nut “obee” which was said to be what the leaders used during the era of slavery to welcome the white men by saying the word “E KABO EYIN ORE MI OYINBO, E MU OBEE JE” which was later used by the white men to refer to the chiefs whenever they approached and since then the clan adopted the name “Mobee”.
• “Seriki Williams Abass Slave Museum” which is also known as the slave Baracoon, is a Brazilian word for slave prison. The man Seriki William Abass was a Nigerian, a former slave turned merchant who traded in slaves during his lifetime. In his compound, there were 40 Baracoons where enslaved persons were kept before being transported to the various parts of the world.
• The Heritage Museum, These museum houses various instrument and artifacts used in the era of enslavement, ranging from iron chains of various sizes, to artworks of slaves in pain, canons, whiskey bottles used in exchange for as much as 40 slaves, and the tomb of various slave merchants such as Late chief Sunbu Mobee who died October 16 1893, Seriki Williams Abass, among many other historical reference. Visit Badagry for more discoveries.

2. VISIT THE FIRST STOREY BUILDING IN BADAGRY

The first Storey building in Badagry is an old monument that has remained through the thick and thin of time. It was built in 1842 by Rev Bernard Freeman and other missionaries. The building is custodian to a number of historical events and landmarks such as the first primary school (Nursery of Infant Church which later became St. Thomas’ Anglican Nursery and Primary School) established by the Wesleyan mission (Methodist Church) in 1843 and founded by Rev. Golmer in 1845. The first Bible to be translated from English to Yoruba was also written in this building by late Bishop Ajayi Crowther and can be sighted. This ancient building also harbors an age long “wooden chair” said to be there since 1915 making it 102 years old, a legendary sight to behold. Also within this premise is the first water well, dug in 1842, called “miracle well” by the indigene of Badagry because of its purity. There is a general belief among them that one can possess anything they lacked ranging from getting pregnant to having a child, a husband, among other desires of man, once they drank from the well. There exists a lot of historical monument to record in this facility such as the currencies introduced by the missionaries after slave trade, among others.

3. Take a Boat ride to “Gberefu Island: Point of return”

A boat ride from the marina across the peninsula to the slave route popularly called “the point of no return” now called “The Point of return” due to the fact that many people now travel the route and return is an electrifying and a must experience during your visit to Badagry slave port. The point of return as it is now called which is approximately a seven minutes ride from the marina is located across the peninsula on Gberefu Island. It is a must visit destination to explore as it is the route used by slave masters and merchants to transport slaves to various destinations from the Atlantic.

4. Have a soothing coconut drink.

A trip to Badagry without a taste of the local coconut drink is a 10 unit carry-over course. The drink is prepared by locals who pluck fresh coconut from the palm, cut it open, then put a straw in it and ready for consumption.  When next you visit Badagry ensure to have a taste of the nourishing coconut drink, hmmmmm….yummy! 

5. Turn up on Gberefu Island and Take paparazzi shots by the Atlantic.

Gberefu Island is a picnic site by the Atlantic ocean for fun lovers to unwind. You can sip the soothing coconut drink while relishing the sweet sensation of the ocean wave, listening to music, dance, karaoke sessions, and taking paparazzi shots. This shoreline is accessed off the peninsula after a 2km fun walk. It is indeed an experience to last a lifetime. Plan to visit Badagry for a picnic by the Atlantic and take lifelong memory paparazzi shots that will leave you feeling like a celebrity on the red carpet. There are lots and lots of attractions that await you at Badagry, it is such a beautiful, educative, captivating and fun destination to explore, and it’s better experienced than told. Remember like the saying goes, “What the eye sees the mind never forgets”. So what are you waiting for? Take time off work, give yourself a treat, pick up your bags and visit Badagry today with your family and friends for an experience of a lifetime.

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This article was first published on 13th October 2017 and updated on October 16th, 2017 at 9:26 pm

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