Beyond the Badagry marina is a historic Island where slaves were held before being sold during the dark days of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade,

Today, nothing betrays the agony of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade that occurred over 400 years ago on the island off Badagry known as the Point of No Return. Under reclamation, the shoreline has become a relaxation spot for visitors while speedboat drivers wait eagerly to take curious tourists on a voyage across the lagoon that relives the most inhumane slave trade ever recorded in the continent.
It takes about three minutes to get to the other side of the lagoon by speedboat and it’s a different world entirely from the ancient town of Badagry. Badagry is home to many historical sites in Nigeria especially during the slave days. The Point of no Return holds the record of one of the most brutal act meted out to the slaves during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Over 400 years ago, dispirited men, women and children plied the slave route now dubbed Point of no Return to an unknown fate. After spending days, weeks, and months in the Brazilian Slave Baracoon (cell or jail) - which is the only extant slave cell built by foreigners in Badagry and also situated along the Marina - they were conveyed across the lagoon to an indefinite destination where their fates were finally sealed. At the Baracoon, a minimum of 40 slaves were confined in a cell with little or no ventilation and lived under terrible conditions until the next shipment.

From the jetty, it takes approximately 25 minutes by foot to get to the Atlantic shore. The road is characterised by loose sand. Back in the day, the slaves were made to walk the journey as they are being led to the Point of No Return where middlemen waited to ferry them by canoe to the middle of the sea where the slave raiders who would be the final buyers in Europe and the Americas will further transport them to other parts of the world by ship.

Bound by chains on hands and feet, these weary souls started their harrowing journey to the land of no return. Their masters used large rocks on both sides of the road to prevent them from escaping into the surrounding forest.  Thus they formed a straight file in the middle. Surrounded by so much greenery, they tread on, sometimes chanting songs of freedom, while others wore a forlorn look, and some a mask of death. Their tormentors cared less as they pushed them on with whips and sticks, their minds set on delivering the “goods” and getting paid.

These helpless souls bemoaned their fate, cursed the gods probably. Those who could not survive the torture gave up the ghost before they got to their destination. As human-less as the tormentors were, they dug graves along the slave route in which dead bodies were buried. None was given the privilege of a befitting burial.

Today, a number of graves can be seen at this horrific site which is close to the Slave’s Spirits Attenuation Well. History has it that the slaves on getting to this spot, were forced to drink from this well which erased the memory of their homeland and made them less aggressive and submissive to their supremacists as they sailed into the new world. Families were separated and many did not make it back to their homeland but assumed another personality at their new destinations. At the Atlantic shore, the middlemen separated the male from the female and boarded them on a canoe to the ship after much bargaining.

Reconstruction
Presently, the Point Of No Return is under construction and plans are underway to transform this historic site to a tourist centre. The slave route is being transformed to an expressway by the Lagos state government to aid easy of movement of motorists to the Atlantic Ocean. Asidex that, the Atlantic shore has become a praying ground for people. Though churches along the shore have been demolished, individuals still converge at this spot for prayers.

Meanwhile Gberefu Island, which isabout 25 minutes by foot from The Point Of No Return,  has over the years become a settlement for indigenes and migrants from neighbouring African countries. Three major tribes occupy this island; the Ilaje, Egun and Ghanaian nationals. Far west of the Atlantic is a small community called Yovoyan. This is the Ghana and Togo settlement but predominantly occupied by the Ghanaians The village is popularly known for fishing which is the predominant occupation and is evident by the number of canoes lined up at the shore. As early as 5 am, the fishermen set out to sea where they spend an estimated 5 or 6 hours catching fishes in the sea. They can only go for two trips in a day.

Once they return from the sea, it is the duty of the women to clean these fishes and sell them to tourists or take them to the Badagry market for sale. Since the market day is every five days, they depend mostly on visitors who tour the site. The harvest of fishes in a single trip is gargantuan. There is no electricity in this village thus there is heavy reliance on generator and this inadvertently affects the selling price of the fishes.

The community can only boast of two schools but there are number of churches in this community.
There is also a linking bridge to the Nigeria and Benin Republic expressway which serves as an access point to this settlement.

Though quite small in population, the settlers pride themselves in their fishing occupation and peaceful environment. They are hospitable and speak the Yoruba language fluently. It is hard to differentiate them from the Yoruba speaking Eguns on the Island. Other individuals earn a living by being tour guides at the mythical slave route; others are engaged in transportation services, either by motorcycle or speedboat.

badagry is a wonderful place.if you could drop some pictures it would make your write up look lovelier

badagry is a wonderful place.if you could drop some pictures it would make your write up look lovely

djbazz:
Beyond the Badagry marina is a historic Island where slaves were held before being sold during the dark days of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade,

Today, nothing betrays the agony of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade that occurred over 400 years ago on the island off Badagry known as the Point of No Return. Under reclamation, the shoreline has become a relaxation spot for visitors while speedboat drivers wait eagerly to take curious tourists on a voyage across the lagoon that relives the most inhumane slave trade ever recorded in the continent.
It takes about three minutes to get to the other side of the lagoon by speedboat and it’s a different world entirely from the ancient town of Badagry. Badagry is home to many historical sites in Nigeria especially during the slave days. The Point of no Return holds the record of one of the most brutal act meted out to the slaves during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Over 400 years ago, dispirited men, women and children plied the slave route now dubbed Point of no Return to an unknown fate. After spending days, weeks, and months in the Brazilian Slave Baracoon (cell or jail) - which is the only extant slave cell built by foreigners in Badagry and also situated along the Marina - they were conveyed across the lagoon to an indefinite destination where their fates were finally sealed. At the Baracoon, a minimum of 40 slaves were confined in a cell with little or no ventilation and lived under terrible conditions until the next shipment.

From the jetty, it takes approximately 25 minutes by foot to get to the Atlantic shore. The road is characterised by loose sand. Back in the day, the slaves were made to walk the journey as they are being led to the Point of No Return where middlemen waited to ferry them by canoe to the middle of the sea where the slave raiders who would be the final buyers in Europe and the Americas will further transport them to other parts of the world by ship.

Bound by chains on hands and feet, these weary souls started their harrowing journey to the land of no return. Their masters used large rocks on both sides of the road to prevent them from escaping into the surrounding forest.  Thus they formed a straight file in the middle. Surrounded by so much greenery, they tread on, sometimes chanting songs of freedom, while others wore a forlorn look, and some a mask of death. Their tormentors cared less as they pushed them on with whips and sticks, their minds set on delivering the “goods” and getting paid.

These helpless souls bemoaned their fate, cursed the gods probably. Those who could not survive the torture gave up the ghost before they got to their destination. As human-less as the tormentors were, they dug graves along the slave route in which dead bodies were buried. None was given the privilege of a befitting burial.

Today, a number of graves can be seen at this horrific site which is close to the Slave’s Spirits Attenuation Well. History has it that the slaves on getting to this spot, were forced to drink from this well which erased the memory of their homeland and made them less aggressive and submissive to their supremacists as they sailed into the new world. Families were separated and many did not make it back to their homeland but assumed another personality at their new destinations. At the Atlantic shore, the middlemen separated the male from the female and boarded them on a canoe to the ship after much bargaining.

Reconstruction
Presently, the Point Of No Return is under construction and plans are underway to transform this historic site to a tourist centre. The slave route is being transformed to an expressway by the Lagos state government to aid easy of movement of motorists to the Atlantic Ocean. Asidex that, the Atlantic shore has become a praying ground for people. Though churches along the shore have been demolished, individuals still converge at this spot for prayers.

Meanwhile Gberefu Island, which isabout 25 minutes by foot from The Point Of No Return,  has over the years become a settlement for indigenes and migrants from neighbouring African countries. Three major tribes occupy this island; the Ilaje, Egun and Ghanaian nationals. Far west of the Atlantic is a small community called Yovoyan. This is the Ghana and Togo settlement but predominantly occupied by the Ghanaians The village is popularly known for fishing which is the predominant occupation and is evident by the number of canoes lined up at the shore. As early as 5 am, the fishermen set out to sea where they spend an estimated 5 or 6 hours catching fishes in the sea. They can only go for two trips in a day.

Once they return from the sea, it is the duty of the women to clean these fishes and sell them to tourists or take them to the Badagry market for sale. Since the market day is every five days, they depend mostly on visitors who tour the site. The harvest of fishes in a single trip is gargantuan. There is no electricity in this village thus there is heavy reliance on generator and this inadvertently affects the selling price of the fishes.

The community can only boast of two schools but there are number of churches in this community.
There is also a linking bridge to the Nigeria and Benin Republic expressway which serves as an access point to this settlement.

Though quite small in population, the settlers pride themselves in their fishing occupation and peaceful environment. They are hospitable and speak the Yoruba language fluently. It is hard to differentiate them from the Yoruba speaking Eguns on the Island. Other individuals earn a living by being tour guides at the mythical slave route; others are engaged in transportation services, either by motorcycle or speedboat. 

The slave jetty

So touching...

So touching... I am going there tomorrow

I visited there in 2013 with some friends. It's was truly an enlightening experience.
Hearing the stories of what happened back then, I felt sorry for the slaves. They endured alot, some couldn't survive it.

OP, can you say something about William Seriki Abbas? I remember they told us he was sold into slavery when he was 6 years old and he was fortunate enough to get a master that schooled him. He was later set free and he came back to become a slave master.
I don't know if i got the information right, can you throw more light on this please?

have visited there twice in the past one month it's a place to be.

CassieV:
I visited there in 2013 with some friends. It's was truly an enlightening experience.
Hearing the stories of what happened back then, I felt sorry for the slaves. They endured alot, some couldn't survive it.

OP, can you say something about William Seriki Abbas? I remember they told us he was sold into slavery when he was 6 years old and he was fortunate enough to get a master that schooled him. He was later set free and he came back to become a slave master.
I don't know if i got the information right, can you throw more light on this please?

spot on.And these slaves doesn't have names.they bear the names of their masters.

we were told that these slaves were sold out for a bottle of gin, an umbrella and a gun powder.40 slaves were exchanged for an umbrella,20 slaves were sold for a bottle of gin,10 slaves exchanged for a mirror

very touching Kai!!!