Badagry, a coastal town in present-day Lagos State, Nigeria, has a long and complex history that predates its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. Before the arrival of European traders, Badagry was a fishing and trading community, part of the Yoruba-speaking Aja Kingdom. Like many African societies at the time, slavery existed in Badagry primarily because of local conflicts, wars, and debt. However, slavery in African societies often differed significantly from the brutal chattel slavery introduced by European traders, which later transformed Badagry into a significant slave port between the 15th and 19th centuries.
Badagry’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade marked a significant shift in its history. As European demand for enslaved people grew, Badagry became a key site for the capture, sale, and export of Africans to the Americas. Local chiefs, European traders, and missionaries shaped the town’s trajectory during this period. Following the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, Badagry transitioned from a slave-trading hub to a historical site with numerous monuments preserving its past.
Origins of the Slave Trade in Badagry
Before its involvement in the slave trade, Badagry was a flourishing coastal town with an economy based on fishing, salt production, and trade with neighbouring communities. It was part of a more extensive network of Yoruba-speaking cities under the influence of the Oyo Empire. While forms of slavery existed, they were often tied to traditional practices such as capturing prisoners of war or settling debts. Enslaved people in pre-European Badagry were generally integrated into society and usually had rights, including the possibility of gaining freedom over time.
Photo Source: ATQ News.
The arrival of European traders in the 15th century dramatically changed the scale and nature of slavery in the region. The Portuguese were the first to establish trading relations in West Africa. Still, by the 17th century, other European powers, including the British, Dutch, and French, had also established a presence in Badagry. These traders demanded large numbers of enslaved people to meet the growing labour needs of plantations in the Americas, leading to the transformation of Badagry into a key slave port.
Role of Local Chiefs
Local chiefs in Badagry played a pivotal role in the transatlantic slave trade. They controlled the inland regions where enslaved people were captured, often through raids and wars, and sold them to European traders. In return, they received valuable goods such as firearms, textiles, and alcohol. This mutually beneficial exchange system strengthened the chiefs’ political power and wealth while fuelling European demand for human labour. The involvement of local leaders sustained the slave trade for centuries as they facilitated the capture and transport of enslaved Africans to European ships docked at Badagry’s coast.
Notable among the chiefs involved in the slave trade were Chief Mobee and Sariki Williams Abass.
Chief Mobee: Chief Mobee acted as a liaison between European merchants and local traders, significantly selling enslaved people. The name “Mobee” is said to have originated from the Yoruba word Obi, meaning “kolanut.” Chief Mobee was said to have offered kolanuts to the European traders by saying, “mú obì je” (meaning “take kolanut and eat”), and the Europeans eventually called him Mobee. His compound, now preserved as a museum, displays relics from the slave trade, including chains and shackles used to imprison enslaved Africans, serving as a sobering reminder of the town’s dark history.
Photo Source: The THAMARAH.
Sariki Williams Abass: Captured and sold into slavery at a young age, Sariki Williams Abass later regained his freedom and became a powerful trader. He rose to prominence in Badagry and played a crucial role in managing the sale and export of enslaved Africans to European traders. His legacy is commemorated at the Sariki Abass Slave Museum, which houses various artefacts from the era.
These chiefs exemplify the complex roles that local leaders played in the slave trade—both as participants and key facilitators of the capture and sale of enslaved people to foreign traders.
British Involvement
The British were heavily involved in the transatlantic slave trade, with Badagry serving as a significant port for British ships. British merchants transported enslaved Africans to work on plantations in the Caribbean and the Americas. However, as opposition to slavery grew in Britain, abolitionists began campaigning for an end to the trade. In 1807, the British Parliament passed the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, which made the transportation of enslaved people illegal in British territories. British naval forces subsequently patrolled the West African coast, including Badagry, to suppress the illicit slave trade. Despite these efforts, the trade continued in some areas due to resistance from local traders and chiefs who still profited from it.
Role of Missionaries
Christian missionaries played a crucial role in the abolition of slavery in Badagry. From the 1840s onwards, missionaries from the Church Missionary Society (CMS) arrived in Badagry to spread Christianity and Western education. They strongly condemned slavery from both a moral and religious standpoint. CMS missionaries helped foster new attitudes towards human dignity and individual rights, providing education and vocational training as alternatives to the slave economy. Their work laid the foundation for the formal abolition of slavery in Badagry as the town shifted from the slave trade to religious and educational development.
The First Primary School in Badagry
One of the significant legacies of missionary work in Badagry was establishing Nigeria’s first primary school. Founded in 1843, the Nursery of Infant Church (later renamed St. Thomas Anglican Nursery and Primary School) held its first classes in Nigeria’s First Storey Building, constructed in 1845 by CMS missionaries. Initially serving as a mission house and school, this building is now a museum. The school, which was eventually moved to its present location, continues to educate the local population, reflecting the lasting impact of missionaries in Badagry.
Monuments of the Slave Trade in Badagry
Today, Badagry is home to several important monuments and historical sites that commemorate its role in the transatlantic slave trade:
The First Storey Building: Built-in 1845, this structure housed the first missionaries and served as the site of Nigeria’s first primary school. It is also where Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a prominent Nigerian scholar and missionary, translated the first Bible brought to Yoruba into the Yoruba language. The building now functions as a museum, preserving the history of missionary work and the slave trade, providing visitors with a deeper understanding of Badagry’s historical significance.
The Badagry Heritage Museum: This Museum, originally built as a district officer’s office during the colonial era, now houses exhibits and artefacts that tell the story of Badagry’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. The museum offers a sobering insight into the lives of enslaved Africans, preserving the town’s painful history while educating visitors on the impact of the slave trade on the region.
Located on Gberefu Island in Badagry, it marks the last route enslaved Africans took before being shipped to the Americas. Along this path, they were forced to drink from the ‘Attenuation Well,’ which was believed to cause memory loss, making them more manageable as they faced enslavement. These locations reflect Badagry’s deep and tragic history in the transatlantic slave trade, serving as sad reminders of the immense human suffering endured.
Slave Relics Museum: The Mobee Slave Relics Museum and the Brazilian Barracoon in Badagry house chains, shackles, and other artefacts from the slave trade. These relics serve as stark reminders of the brutality endured by enslaved Africans during the transatlantic slave trade, preserving the memory of this tragic chapter in history. Both museums stand as vital landmarks, commemorating the role Badagry played in the slave trade while educating visitors on the inhumanity of slavery.
Vlekete Slave Market: Established in 1502 and named after the Vlekete deity, the goddess of the ocean and wind, played a pivotal role in the transatlantic slave trade in Badagry. It served as a significant business hub where African intermediaries sold enslaved Africans to European slave merchants, making it one of the most substantial and populous slave markets in West Africa. Thousands of Africans were trafficked through this market, forever altering their lives. Today, the market stands as a monument to those enslaved and sold, commemorating the human suffering endured during the transatlantic slave trade.
Travel Tips for Visiting Badagry’s Slave Trade Monuments
Best Time to Visit: The dry season (November–March) is ideal for exploring the historical sites comfortably.
Guided Tours: Hire a local guide for in-depth insights into the transatlantic slave trade and Badagry’s history.
What to Wear: Wear comfortable shoes and light clothing. A hat and sunscreen are also recommended.
Photography: Ask permission before photographing certain museums and sensitive historical areas.
Respect for History: Be mindful of the emotional significance of places like the ‘Point of No Return’ and the Slave Relics Museum.