Badagry LGA — Historic Town, Heritage, and Memorial Tourism

Overview

Badagry is a historic coastal town at the far western edge of Lagos State, close to the border with Benin. Founded in the 15th century, it stands today as one of West Africa's most significant sites of memorial and cultural tourism.

Origins and Founding

According to local tradition, Badagry was founded by a farmer named Agbedeh; the name is said to have evolved from "Agbedegreme" ("Agbede's farm") into "Agbadarigi" under later Yoruba settlers, before European slave merchants corrupted it into "Badagry" by the close of the 17th century. The slave trade began here as early as 1473 with the Portuguese merchant Ferman Gomez, who initiated the first sales bound for Europe, and was later joined by traders such as Felix de Souza and Domingo Martinez. The arrival of the Dutch trader Hendrik Hertog, known locally as Yovo Huntokonu, laid the groundwork for the notorious Vlekete slave market, which he had built after acquiring land from the local community.

The Peak of a Tragic Trade

The most intense period of the slave trade in Badagry ran from 1736 to 1789, dominated by Portuguese and Brazilian traders: more than 550,000 Africans were forcibly shipped from here to Europe, South America, and the Caribbean by 1787. It is this painful memory that the Badagry Heritage Museum and the Point of No Return site on Gberefu Island preserve today, drawing pilgrims from the African diaspora worldwide who come to retrace this foundational chapter of their history.

Major Historical Sites

• Badagry Heritage Museum: The former colonial administrative headquarters, now home to rare archives and artifacts documenting the region's history.
• Nigeria's First Storey Building: Built in 1845 by Reverend Henry Townsend, where Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther translated the Bible into Yoruba.
• The Point of No Return: The historic path leading to Gberefu Island on the Atlantic coast, from which captives were forced onto ships.
• Seme Border: The main border crossing linking Nigeria to the Republic of Benin.

Culture and Economy

Home mainly to the Ogu (Egun) and Yoruba communities, Badagry is known today for artisanal fishing, coconut groves, and local craftsmanship.

Key figures for the LGA

• Area: 441 km²
• Population at the 2006 census: 241,093 inhabitants
• Density in 2006: 547 inhabitants per km²

These figures come from the Wikipedia page for Badagry (infobox). The page does not say whether this figure is final or preliminary. The 2006 census is disputed: treat these values as orders of magnitude.