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All The Way From 1842: How The First Christmas In Nigeria Was Celebrated by Ayoolaolowo01(m): 9:20pm On Aug 18, 2020
December has never failed to bring the streets of Nigeria alive with shades of red, white and green adorning buildings, cars, poles, and streetlights simply because it’s the month of Christmas.

Indeed, Christmas is a very special period not just in Nigeria but in the entire world. For over 200 years, December 25 has been a festive time. Christians see this day as when their said Messiah Jesus was born, and for others, it is a time when Jollof rice, stew and chicken will be very plenty.

Although, the actual date Jesus Christ was born remains unknown, the Western Christian Church tagged December 25 as his birthday and this was accepted all over the world. You might have been longing to know when, where and how the first Christmas in Nigeria was celebrated or in short, the history of Christmas in Nigeria. As usual, we have got you covered.

The history of Christmas in Nigeria started with the repatriation of freed slaves from the United States of America to Badagry in Lagos, Nigeria in 1838. About five hundred freed slaves settled in Badagry and among them was James Ferguson, a Methodist and leader of a trading group.


On March 2, 1841, this James Ferguson, after being granted approval, invited the missionaries in Sierra Leone to start missionary work in Badagary. The authorities responded to James’ invitation on September 23, 1841 and then sent a missionary named Reverend Thomas Birch Freeman to Badagry. Reverend Freeman Arrived in a small ship called Spy. The ship was stayed in a place called Gberefu (KLEFU) Sea Beach.

Reverend Freeman did not come alone. He was accompanied by two African assistants: William De Graft and his wife who were both from Ghana which at the time was still called Gold Coast. The job of the reverend was to preach Christianity to the people. A day after his arrival, he was taken to Asisoe Tin, under the Agia tree, and there, he first preached a sermon about Christianity.

Meanwhile, some of the freed slaves had left Badagry to settle in the rocky town of Abeokuta. Sodeke, the Alake (King) of Egba, then invited Reverend Freeman to preach Christianity in his town. Reverend Freeman travelled to Abeokuta on December 11, 1842 and returned to Badagry on December 24, a day before Christmas, and met the renowned Reverend Henry Townsend of the Church Missionaries society (CMS now Anglican Church of Christ).

The following day which was December 25, 1842 saw Reverend Freeman and Henry Townsend celebrating the first Christmas in Nigeria under the Agia tree in Asisoe Tin, Badagry.

The Christmas celebration was attended by the devoted population of Badagry natives, the freed slaves and Europeans living in Badagry at that time. The celebration began with Reverend Henry Townsend reading from the scripture and then Reverend Freeman rendered a sermon which he titled ‘The Incarnation Redeemer of Mankind’.

Interestingly, the Agia tree famous for hosting the first Christmas celebration in Nigeria fell on June 1959 after being in existence for over 300 years (that’s a mighty long time) ...Read More Below

https://www.gossipnaija.com.ng/history-all-the-way-from-1842-how-the-first-christmas-in-nigeria-was-celebrated/

Read more contents at www.gossipnaija.com.ng

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