History of slave trade in Nigeria is not complete without mentioning Badagry. This is why Badagry will continue to be one of the historical places to visit.
Newsclick Nigeria bring you some of the historical sites in Badagry.
First Storey Building in Nigeria
It was in 1842 that the foundation of the first storey building in Nigeria was laid by Reverend Henry Townsend of the Church Missionary Society (C.M.S) on the Marina waterfront in Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria.
Three years later, in 1845, some other missionaries finished building what stands today as a significant relic of Nigerian history. The building served as a vicarage for Saint Thomas Anglican Church but was later used by Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the first African C.M.S bishop who translated the Holy Bible from English to Yoruba Language.
In one of the two rooms on the upper floor of the building, there lay a glass case containing the English and Yoruba version of the bible translated by Ajayi Crowther. It was said that the English bible is 178 years old while the Yoruba version is 175 years.
The building floor housed the room of the first teacher in Nigeria, Mr Claudius Philips. Philips, who wore a black shirt, suit and a white trouser in the portrait which adorned the wall, lived in the room for 23 years, from 1845 to 1868.
In another room, the picture of Herbert Macaulay, Ajayi Crowther’s grandson, hung on the wall.
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Miracle well
This is located inside the first story building. It was dug in 1842. The well served as a source of clean water for some residents of the community.
Over many decades, the locals have seen the water as a force to reckoned with. They call it “Miracle Well” as a result of the many miracles credited to it. It was on record that there was a lady who visited the building, got pregnant and delivered a baby after 15 years of barrenness. This happened after she drank water from the well.
One interesting thing is that the water which is about 180 years has never been polluted or gotten dirty. Infact, people who live in the area still get their drinkable water from it.
Another important fact to know is that the well never gets dry during dry season unlike other wells in the area.
Seriki Faremi Williams Abass Slave Museum
Seriki Faremi Williams Abass Slave Museum, Badagry (Brazillian Barracoon). Barracoon is a Portuguese word meaning ‘slave cell’.
Built in early 1840s, the slave museum is a historic treasure trove containing 40 cells where slaves were kept and sold, slave tools, artifacts and hand written documents of Chief Seriki Faremi Williams Abass, a former slave turned merchant and owner of the Barracoon.
Each cell holds 40 slaves which means the 40 cells holds 1600 slaves in total. The slaves stay in the cell for 3 to 4 months before being transported to Point of No return.
Mobee Royal Family Slave Museum
Chief Mobee was actually a popular and very influential chief who actively engaged in the slave trade during his reign. His real name does not have Mobee in it. During the slavery era, whenever the white slave traders came around, he’d tell welcome them by saying “e mu obi je” in Yoruba. What this means is that they should pick colanut and eat. He never fails to do this every time they come. And since the whites don’t really understand him, they started calling him chief “mu obi” later it transcended to Mobee and before long, the name Mobee stuck. The family also adopted this name ever since till this day.
“Chief Mobee who was later succeeded by his son who played a pivotal role in ensuring slavery stopped in Badagry. When he ascended the throne in 1886, he welcomed the missionaries who helped actualized this dream of putting an end to slavery. He died on the 16th of October 1893.
