I had such an amazing experience touring around Badagry Lagos Nigeria.
Badagry is small town located between Lagos Nigeria and Seme Border, Benin Republic. I had the opportunity to learn
about cultures, food, and many other things.
on may 10 2018, I took the bold step of touring Badagry. Right from childhood have been told by my parent that Badagry was an ancient town with amazing art and educative histories.because of my parents have always wanted to tour Badagry and see things for myself, the Native is so lively and friendly. while touring I met incredible
man name cornerstone, he took me around and told the history and culture of Badagry. one of the
things i discover from my tour was the power of our native name, our native name tells a story,
tells where we come from, it helps for easy identification.
my native is "Ejovwokeokoghene" meaning leave her for God, this name is actually common in the southern part of Nigeria, it is given to an Urhobo person, so you can actually tell where I come from, my state and even place of origin, unlike my English name Victoria.
So I went visiting the chief Seriki Abass Slave Museum, Brazilian Slave barracoon was where I learned more about the history of Badagry slaves.
Chief Seriki Abass was the founder of the Brazillian Slave Barrocoon, he founded the barracoon in 1902. I also learned about the two categories of slaves, we have the domestic and field slaves. the domestic slave works for the master while the filed slave works on the plantation or farm.
Seriki Williams Abass was born in a town in Yoruba called Ijoga Orile, his birth name was Faremilekun and his father's name was Fagbemi.Seriki Abass was captured as a slave at the age of six.Seriki Abass was captured by the Dahomeans which is called the Benin republic today. Dahomey was changed to Benin republic in 1975.
Seriki was actually a slave until when Williams took him to Brazil and taught him how to read and write which was actually wrong for slaves, slaves were not permitted to be educated. so the Williams was actually Seriki master name.
through Seriki was able to speak french, Dutch and Spanish he could also write as well.
when the Europeans came to Lagos Badagry they gave Seriki some items in exchange for slaves, these are all the items and the number of slaves for it.
: The umbrella goes for forty slaves.
the umbrella is about 30 to 35kg, and there is to be carried by one slave and the shocking part of it is that the umbrella must not fall if fallen that particular slave will be
beheaded.
: A bottle of gin goes for ten slaves.
: The long canon gun goes for hundred slaves.
: The short canon gun goes for forty slaves.
: Ceramic bowl goes for ten slaves.
: The bead goes for 10 slaves.
all the slaves were used as trade by barter for the items listed.
The rooms where forty slaves were been kept.
Seriki sold a piece of land to some cutters for 16 pounds in 1905.
majority of the slaves taken to Brazil are from the Yoruba that is why it is called the
Brazilian Barracoon.
I saw the chain is called the waist chain, they put this chain on the waist of the aggressive slaves to make them weak. they put an iron rod in the fire to brand or write the name of all slaves for easy identification.
I went inside the room it was very small, that room forty men will be inside the room for three to four month, the excrete and do everything there.in that room, none of the slaves is allowed to come out so that they won't escape.
I also saw the three pot where they kept Seriki Abass soup, his ablution and drinking water.
later on, I went to the second slave cell, I got to see the inspection room and also their cell. forty
men are been kept inside the room.
A certain shirt was given to Seriki by his European friend that shirt is called regalian and it over 200 years.
The iron muscle is used to cover the mouth of the slave to make them weak so that they won't be able to stand up against their master.
I saw some of the bricks used in building the barracoon it called the burnt bricks and it was imported from Liverpool England in 1940.
Walking through the slave route in Badagry Lagos Nigeria was a dream come through and also an unforgettable moment for me. there so many places i did not mention but you can watch that on my the video.
please watch my experience at Badagry slave center share your comment with me, like and please subscribe to my channel.
thank you.