BY Frank Meke
From the iconic eight feet tall twin drum known as “Sato” to the Vlekete slave market, the undisputed first ever one storey building in Nigeria, a UNESCO backed heritage museum, the Island point of No return and fascinating beach fronts and enchanting lagoon waterways, Badagry is indeed a tourism destination as no other in Nigeria.
Buried over the years in neglect and ignorance by a nation and people that celebrates less endowed climes with average if not un-comparable cultural and historical offerings Badagry begs and want to flourish. From the federal, state and local governments, not excluding the corporate community and the Nigerian media , there appears to be a conspiracy to deny and down play the tourism relevance of Badagry, a coastal city founded around 1425 with historical economic migratory routes generating mega revenue and trade traffic.
As a gateway city, Badagry provides boundless exciting experience for visitors and huge tourism business opportunities ranging from fisheries, boating and hospitality enterprises and with proposed deep sea port and discovery of the black gold, the silent and whispering conversation about this land of the slave merchants is about to change. Unknown to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, his recent visit and political identification with the Badagry nation has opened the space for local and global interest on this once neglected marine economic and historical tourism destination even though most who goggle the “site” are “speculators”, there are however verifiable facts that business is about to boom and burst at seams here.
Today, and in the history of tourism business development and growth Nigeria, Badagry now has a Convention and Visitors Bureau, an indigenous tourism organization that will not only drive the promotion and marketing of Badagry as a destination but has strategically identified and orgainsed major stakeholders to effectively occupy the historical city tourism space for financial gain and honour.
Though, Badagry from Topo, Ajara, Ibereko and Apa kingdoms, all key areas that provides the historical road map of this emerging boom and burst destination, it is undeniable that tourism businesses and infrastructure are still work in progress here, with offerings repackaged, facilities upgraded, township roads lot better than the hellish mile 2 west coast expressway. The “Badagrians” made up of the Aworis and Egun nations are naturally hospitable and visitors friendly and trust the Igbo nation of Nigeria, they have turned the border post of Badagry into a home with the Akran, De wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, king of Badagry providing an exemplary pan Nigeria traditional leadership space for the merchants from the east on his cabinet.
Indeed, with the proposed deep sea port and Folawiyo oil well, the economic and tourism bell is about to toll for a new narrative on Badagry but I fear for the preservation of its tourism historical gold mines as merchants who will descend with investments do not care a hoot about relics and iconic structures but about profits only. Therefore, there is need for “Old and new” Badagry, the latter a smart city project while the old city retains its significant and iconic features maybe with a legally guided municipal architecture. That is one leg forward for Badagry of the future and what you are about to read here, tells the richness and excited narratives of tourism Badagry.
Fams Embassy – A boost for Badagry hospitality
Those who worry about where to sleep, dine and wine in Badagry need to kill the fear as Fam Embassy and Suites, an upscale hospitality provider occupies the strategic Ibereko skyline, few minutes turn around into the old city. A three floors affair with over 136 rooms with suites on each floor and a paint house with a roof top ambiance that showcases the geographic richness of Badagry, Fams Embassy hotel also has a non smokers night club, Olympic size swimming pool, restaurant, a gym and exclusive lodger bars where visitors can be entertained while waiting for their hosts, syndicate meeting rooms and a laundry facility that could even serve the business community in Badagry.
Mr. Fatai Shokunbi, who chairs the management of the hotel including the Badagry Convention and Visitors Bureau, told me the N150million hospitality investment is a strong indication that Badagry holds the key to tourism economic revival in Lagos and also the hospitality profile to challenge expected and prospective hotel investors into Badagry. And true to his words, Fams Embassy is the place to stay, travel journalists who “farmed” their body at the place sang the praises of Mr. Shokunbi and his staff for giving Badagry visitors a luxurious option, a template that would boost the new Badagry tourism and hospitality. One unbelievable feature of this paradise is the 24/7 power facility that keep the rooms and the drinks temperate all day long.
Understanding the currency of slavery
The UNESCO supported Seriki Abass Brazillia Baracon, a holding port for slaves in those ungolden of slave trade is one major site to visit in Badagry. The legendary Baracon apart from the preservation of hidden relics of the slave trade era, also offers great insight into “the exchange rate” mechanism used by inhuman white slave merchants, check this out: an umbrella fetches 40 slaves, a cannon gun (Big) exchanges for 100 slaves, a bottle of gin (spirit) 10 slaves, a dane gun – 40 slaves, ceramic pot/plate – 10 slaves and a mirror – negotiable. Jesus, may God have mercy on humanity, wonder maybe the cry of the slaves contributed to the neglect of Badagry – just a thought!
The Mobee slave dynasty
Looking for real life relics that were features of the wicked slave trade era in Badagry? The Mobee slave museum provides full details and in the place, one could find slave chains such as neck chain, leg chips, children link, ankle clasp, the mouth chip, wrist chip, the water bow etc. chief Sunbo Mobee late proginator and white cap chief of the then dreaded slave trade was however said to have led campaign for abolition of slave trade in 1852. Another white capped chief named Chief Nunayon Mobee was appointed by colonial government of Sir, Macpheson as justice of peace for Badagry in 1950. He later became Menu Toyon I, the Mobee of Badagry kingdom in 1957. Though the present white capped chief Menu Toyon II has transformed the dynasty and kept the relics in trust for Nigerians yet unborn, it is not very difficult for me to betray emotion at such place as Mobee Slave Museum and others such likes that tell the ugly story of man’s inhummity to man which dotted the landscape of Badagry.
A Hunt for Rice And Fish
I was visibly shaken by the slave history of Badagry and needed to get back into the “grooves” so what did I do? I got across to Dr. William, a charming but very quite facilitator of this Badagry, Anjet expedition. I wanted to see the rice and fish market and Dr. William was game but not after getting approval from Mr. Ashamu Fedipe, a senior collaborator and facilitator of the Badagry Convention and Visitors Bureau. For once, I got away from the group and saw the other bustling side of the town-the traders, their wares and new tutorials on bargaining for goods. Seme Border is just 20 minutes drive from Badagry and the marina provided smoked and fresh fish of different tastes and nutritional value. Truly Badagry is not just about history and culture, it is a trade post and melting end point for merchants across the west coast. It was a refreshing experience and am grateful to Dr. William for the exclusive guided tour of Badagry markets.
HUNWAJI HALL AND DINNER AT NEXT LEVEL
The Badagry Visitors Bureau was very professional in packaging the tour as we were exposed to various conference and visitors brands. Hunwaji Hall is an exclusive conference facility with a budget hospitality offering, and is the brain child of retired DCG of immigration, Towanu Abiodun Hundeyin. Its hall and syndicate rooms comes handy for those who wants to party in Badagry and for organizations looking for serenity for meetings and board room peaceful temperament. And for a dinner experience and night out, we had a taste of Nigeria’s best cuisine at Next level hotel, after a lengthy tour of the twin 136 luxury complex. Though it took long for the food to arrive, the taste took the pains of the wait away and its kudos to Chief Jude Akubueze, proprietor of Next Level hotel for rolling out the red carpet for us.
Calendar on World Abolition of Slavery
When next you think about spending the weekend or your holiday in Badagry, just make sure you have pen and notebook ready for quick one on history of slave trade and European Missionary visitation. For instance, the abolition of slave trade movement brought the deal in human trafficking to end in British West Indies in 1833, Australia in 1861, USA 1863, Brazil 1888, Africa in 1870 and Badagry in 1886.
BREAKFAST AT SUNRISE AND COCONUT DRINK AT WHISPERING PALMS
The second day of this very educative expedition began with a breakfast hosted by Sunrise Hotel Group, a budget hospitability concern with services ranging from outdoor catering to healthy living outdoor experience. Femi Olawale who conducted us round the facility explained that SUNRISE is specially built for the budget visitor in mind.
At whispering palms, the iconic resort built and operated by medical doctor turned tourism operator, Professor Femi Pearse, the “Sunrise” brought the heat wave and just by the lagoon waters, a coconut drink came handy and brought the body temperature down. I avoided the boat Cruise and took a nap while waiting for the group to return to base.
FROM Q2 TO AR – RAKHAB BEACH
Hi-lander Oxygen restaurant is the best place to get top gist about latest arrivals in Badagry and a mingle ground for night crawlers. Located on marina waterfront, the nite club cum restaurant tells a new story of an emerging destination and the recommended best soup for the night hangout here is fresh fish pepper soup, particularly the one made with Tilapia fish. And for Suntan and close call to nature, Ar-Rakhab beach and holiday resort along Seme expressway, comes in handy as the right place to enjoy that honey moon or “private” rest. The rooms and suites are neat and clean and its exclusive luxury offering is the beach front where “angels” are on prowl. Frank Edame, the resort manager surely knows how to spoil the guest and as we made to leave, I overheard some people making arrangement to visit again.