Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Memory of slave trade at Badagry Festival
The Africa Renaissance Foundation, is the organiser of an important event known as the Badagry Festival. The President of the Foundation, Mr. Babatunde Olaide-Mesewaku, explained that the need to reflect on the past and make the town a tourism destination inspired him to create the festival.
The 2011 edition of the feast saw traditional rulers, indigenes and tourists gathering since Friday, to meditate and reflect on those whose blood was shed, durning the eras of slavery.
The occasion was also meant to atone for the sins of those who shed the blood of their brothers in Badagry, and to cleanse the community of the sins of the past.
The festival is also dedicated to the abolition of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade in Badagry, whose early history was characterised by slave trade.
On March 15, 1852 (159 years ago), Badagry chiefs sat together and signed a treaty to abolish slave trade in Badagry.
Since the weekend when the festival started, various cultural and educational activities have been taking place. These include a rite of appeasement done in the presence of the Akran of Badagry, HRH De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, who declared the festival open.
In his remarks, the Akran revisited the slave trade debacle and urged Africans, at home and abroad, to foster a closer relationship.
He said, “What took place (slave trade) was a very bad one and should not be allowed to happen again. But happily, the children of the slaves are in other places like America, Brazil and the Caribbean. We should thank God for the descendants of the slaves for creating a larger community of Africans outside the parent continent, where they were taken to work in the plantations. They should not harbour any animosity against us in Africa.”
Akeem Lasisi
This is a great thing to do! I respect honorable Babatunde Olaide- Mesewaku, for honoring his brothers and sisters that were captured and enslaved against their well.
Thank you Mr. Babatunde.
Thanks for sharing Mama Oshun Story.