Door of Return Badagry festival unites African diaspora, celebrating homecoming, healing, and cultural renaissance with global dignitaries and returnees
The Door of Return Badagry festival has redefined history, transforming the once sorrowful “Point of No Return” into a vibrant symbol of healing, reconnection, and a new African renaissance.
The 5th edition of the festival, organised by the African Renaissance Foundation (AREFO) alongside the African Door of Return Experience (ADORE), Lagos State Government, and Badagry Local Government, attracted returnees and dignitaries from Brazil, Cuba, the United States, the United Kingdom, and beyond.
Through chants, royal displays, and emotional reunions, the festival celebrated Africa’s shared heritage and the reconnection of diaspora descendants with their ancestral homeland.
Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, delivering the keynote address, described the festival not just as a commemorative event, but “the opening chapter of a global return.”
He highlighted the significance of diaspora narratives in completing the African story. Soyinka also announced a historic 2026 intercontinental voyage from Brazil to Badagry, a reverse journey of the slave route — this time symbolising dignity, healing, and ancestral reunion.
Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), revealed that over 2,000 African descendants from Brazil and Cuba will participate in the 2026 voyage. “They return not as captives,” she emphasised, “but as kings and queens.”
The Lagos State Government pledged to further transform Badagry into a global heritage tourism hub, including the construction of a permanent Door of Return Monument — a beacon of reflection, rebirth, and cultural pride.
Festival participants shared deeply moving testimonies. Dr. David Anderson, founder of A.D.O.R.E., described his vision for a cultural and healing resort on ten acres of Badagry land, aiming to offer returning diaspora a space for rediscovery and empowerment.
Brazilian visitor Eliza Macimento spoke of the healing experienced by standing on ancestral soil, while her compatriot Carolina brought her children to connect with their heritage.
Music and culture amplified the festival’s message. Legendary musician Jeffrey Daniels of Shalamar declared, “Africa is not just history, Africa is destiny,” while Cuban Ambassador Miriam Morales Palmero highlighted the indelible African influence on Cuba’s identity.
Local leaders, including Hon. Bonu Solomon and Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, affirmed Badagry’s status as sacred ground and a global hub of return.
The festival showcased African aesthetics in full: boat regattas on the lagoon, ancestral masquerades, Zangbeto performances, royal pageantry, and rhythmic drumbeats that reverberated across the coast. Each act told a story of identity reclaimed and wounds beginning to close.
The Door of Return Badagry festival signals a profound shift: from sorrow to strength, from exile to intentional homecoming. Africa is calling her diaspora not as victims but as leaders and visionaries.
The tide has turned, and the Door of Return has opened — not as a point of no return, but as the beginning of a united Pan-African future.
Business3 years ago
