Wikipedia

Badagry

Badagry,also spelledBadagri,[1](Gun:Gbagli) is a coastal town andLocal Government Area(LGA) inLagos State,Nigeria.It is quite close to the city ofLagos,and located on the north bank of Porto Novo Creek, an inland waterway that connects Lagos (Nigeria's largest city and economic capital) to theBeninesecapital ofPorto-Novo.The same route connects Lagos, Ilaro, and Porto-Novo,and shares a border with theRepublic of Benin.As of the preliminary 2006 census results, themunicipalityhad a population of 241,093.[2]

Badagry
Àgbádárìgì
Town
A chair market at Badagry in 1910
A chair market at Badagry in 1910
Badagry shown within the State of Lagos
Badagry shown within theState of Lagos
Badagry is located in Nigeria
Badagry
Badagry
Location of Badagry in Nigeria
Coordinates:6°25′N2°53′E/ 6.417°N 2.883°E/6.417; 2.883
Badagry Local Government Secretariat Entrance Gate
CountryNigeria
StateLagos State
LGABadagry
Area
• Total170 sq mi (441 km2)
Population
(2006)
• Total241,093
Time zoneUTC+1(WAT)
National languageYorùbá,Gungbe
Websitebadagrygov.org
Map

Serving as a lagoon and an Atlantic port, Badagry emerged as a commercial center on theWest Africancoast between 1736 and 1851.[3]Its connecting and navigablelakes,creeks and inland lagoons acted as a means to facilitate trade and as a security bar for residents. During the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, the town was a middleman between European traders on the coast and traders from the hinterland.[4]

Geography

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Badagry is situated on thesouth-westcoast of Nigeria, bordered by theGulf of Guineato the south. It is located 43 miles (69 km) southwest of Lagos and 14 miles (23 km) east ofSeme,a border town inBenin Republic.[5]Like Lagos Island, it is on the bank of inlandlagoons,a system of creeks, waterways that are navigable to Lagos andPorto Novo.The distance between the lagoon and theoceanvaries along the coast, in Badagry, the distance is about a mile.[5]The depth of the lagoon varies according to the season, from highs of 3 meters to lows of a meter. The lagoons have a diverse fish population that includesbonga,croaker,longfinpompano,tilapiaandcatfish.[6]The lagoon consists ofbrackishandfreshwaterwith seasonal variability; west of Badagry,Yewa Riverprovideswaterinflow to the lagoon.[7]

History

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There is a traditionalYorubanarrative that the first settlement within the area was anAworigroup originally fromIle-Ifewho lived at a nearby settlement. Robin Law,[8]ascholarofWest African history,notes an origin that sprouted out of a resettlement for displaced peoples of varied ethnic groups, mostlyOgu people,Ewe peopleandOyo Yorubas.Another source links the people living at a settlement called Gberefu as the Ewe's of Oyo, an island along the Atlantic coast.[5]

One of the recorded notable events in the history of Badagry was the acquisition of land by a European trader who was locally known as Yovo Huntɔkonu. Yovo or Yevu means a white person in Gbe languages.[9]Many sources identify the European to be a Dutch trader called Hendrik Hertogh.[10]Huntɔkonu meaning(laughing or smiling priest)arrived from the west, settling in the area after fleeing thewrathof an African chief. He reached the settlement called Apa under theObashipof Alapa and he was given farmland to use for trading.[10]

The name Badagry was said to be derived from the city's indigenes' methods of subsistence, which include fishing, farming, and salt production. Others think the city was called after Agbede(blacksmith in Yoruba and Gbe languages)a well-known farmer whose okra farm, Agbadarigi or Agbedeglime(inside blacksmith’s wall) was corrupted to Badagry by Europeans. Badagry served as a corridor for Europeans to carry slaves to new destinations in the early eighteenth century. Its cenotaph is called "Point of No Return,[11]"and the well at this location was charmed to make slaves who drank from it forget their fate. Badagry was one of the routes that benefited from the ongoing slave trade conflict betweenPortnovoandDahomeyat the end of the eighteenth century. Slaves taken during inter-villagesconflictwere auctioned off at Badagry.[12]

Chief Mobee was one of the African chiefs who participated in the slave trade in 1883. In Marina, Badagry, the first two-story structure was constructed in 1845.[12]

1736–1840

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Huntokonu set up a trading post on the gifted land in 1736 and it was after Huntɔkonu settlement that Badagry emerged as aslave port,serving principally as an outlet forOyoand displacingApapolitically and commercially.[13]During this period, political refugees fleeingaggressionfrom KingAgajaTrudo migrated to Badagry.[14]Agaja who was seeking an outlet to theseawas warring across the coast and the resulting war caused an influx of people living along thecoastofAnlo,Keta,Weme,Quidah, Allada,Ajatche,andPoposto settle in Badagry.[10]These group came to be known as Ewes/Ogu. Each migrant group were affiliated with Eight heterogeneous quarters[15]and newly arrived immigrants settled in wards related to their state of origin.[16]Badagry's wards were headed by commercial and political autonomous chiefs thereby creating a fragmented political structure.[10]This flexibility was advantageous for trade but also caused internal instability.[10]

Slave trading did not take place on the same massive scale in Badagry as occurred inBonny,Angola,Ouidah, andCalabar;[17]In 1865, the amount of slaves transported out of Badagry was 800, while at Porto Novo, the figure was 1,200, and at Ouidah, up to 5,000 slaves were transported.[10]The peak period of the slave trade in the city state was between 1736 and 1789, but the trade continued into the early nineteenthcentury,with Portuguese or Brazilian traders taking over from the Dutch.[18]

The rise of Badagry on the coast led to hostilities with Ouidah, which combined with Oyo and Lagos to sack the town in 1784.[10][19]After the destruction, Jiwa a politicalrefugeefrom Porto-Novo took over the reins of most of the political structures between 1784 and 1788.[20]In 1821,Oba Adelewas exiled to Badagry, he proved to be a source of leadership, and was able to make Badagry a politically independent state.[19]The founding ofAbeokutaalso proved beneficial to Badagry as the former made use of Badagry as an outlet for trading.[10]Adele was involved with the famous trader,Madam Tinubuand sided with Egba's in their conflict with Ota and Ijebu.[21]Among Adele's followers from Lagos were Muslims, mostlyservantsfrom the Northern region, this group introduced Islam to the Ogu people in the city-state.[10]

After the British abolished the slave trade, notable traderFrancisco Félix de Sousamigrated to Badagry around 1807.[10]Trade in ivory, cloth and palm oil were also important economic activities of residents. Thomas Hutton established a presence in Badagri in 1838, other British traders followed in subsequent years.[22]Unlike in the interior, Badagry's soil was not suitable for commercialagriculture,but farms were set up in areas surrounding the town.[23]Thepalm oiltrade was of considerable value to Badagry, as was an illegal trade in slaves directed by Brazilians. The influence of anti-slave trade raids and cession of Badagry to Britain put a stop to the trade.[10]

1840–1900

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Badagry's location as a coastal town with links northwards to Abeokuta and Oyo made it a port of entry foremigrantsfrom Sierra Leone and missionaries.[24]Around 1837, a settled Sierra-Leonean emigrant of theMethodistfaith wrote a letter requesting a catechist in Badagry. The Methodist already had a missionary party in theGold Coast,and some members were sent to Badagry.[24]this party was led byThomas Birch Freemanand Charles DeGraft. The Methodist missionaries first preached under anAgia treeand later erected a makeshiftbambooChurch.[25]

In 1845, aCMSmissionary party arrived in town Badagry. In the party were Revs,Townsend,Crowtherand Gollmer, two teachers from Sierra Leone, somecarpentersand wives of the party members.[10]The intention of the part was to keep on moving to Abeokuta but as a result of the death of Sodeke, a chief in Abeokuta, they were delayed at Badagry. The party stayed in Badagry for a year and a half, building a mission house with two levels.[26]Eugene Van Cootenjoined the mission in 1850.[27]

However, Christianproselytismin the first half of the nineteenth was not successful in Badagry partly as a result of acivilwar between 1851- 1854 and also as a result of Lagos becoming a British colony.[10]In the years between the founding of the colony of Lagos andcolony of Nigeria,Badagry lost influence to Lagos.[24]

In 1863, wary of French influence in Porto-Novo,colonial Lagossigned atreatyofcessionwith Badagry chiefs.[28]

TheCongress of Berlinin 1884–1885, led to the displacement of the Gbe ethnolinguistic groups in the area, with especially the Badagry-Ogu/Ewe ethnic group falling under the British rule, and marginalized through being removed from the rest of theethnolinguistic group.[29]

Etymology

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Gbede:gli:me- Gbe languages - Inside the blacksmith’s walls.

The first settler was a blacksmith known as Gbede or Agbede who relocated there from Porto Novo area and started anokra/okro farm.[30]In order to protect his farm from wild animals, he erected a low mud wall. Neighboring communities started referring to the settlement as - Inside Agbede’s Walls.[31]In Gbe cluster of languages, ablacksmithis called gbede or agbede. The name was corrupted to Badagry by the European traders. Yorubaimmigrationto the town has totally changed the character of Badagry to a Yoruba town.[32]

Quarters

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The city-state of Badagry was divided into eight wards with each having atraditional head.The eight wards are Jegba (Akran, The ruling house), Asago (Bala), Ganho (Agoloto), Posuko (Possu), Boeko (Mobee), Ahoviko (Wawu), Ahwanjigo (Jengen), and Wharakoh(vihento).[33]

Twentieth century

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Between 1953 and 1965, Badagry was a divisionalheadquartersfor an area composed of Badagry,Amuwo-Odofin,Ojo, andAjeromi-Ifelodun.When Lagos State was created in 1967, it became one of the five administrative zones of the state.[33]

Culture

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A number offestivalsare celebrated in Badagry, including theAjido Zangbeto[34]cult, Igunnuko festival and Badagrydiasporaand heritage festivals.[35][36]Ajido Zangbeto festival was supported by Lagos state, various groups, like the royal father's, women of Zangan, Yonnusi, Kregbeto, Zan holu, Ohugigo, and others danced as friends guests and tourists paid tribute to the king, Aholu Saheed Sedonu Adamson, Topon Toviaga 1, of Ajido kingdom. Aholu Adamson said, "Zangbeto" is a socio cultural heritage that is celebrated in high esteem with commitment by the Egun (Ogu) people. Ajido keyed into the Lagos state Government's proclamation that Lagos state was the hub of tourism.[1]The native language of Badagry is Ewe/egun (Ogu)adialectof Aja/Ewe and similar to the Fon language, an Aja sub-group that is spoken in Porto-Novo.[29]

Ancient Badagry had a traditional religion close to vothun and various traditional places of worship.Shrineswere located in different quarters of the town including Nabruku at Ijegba, Vlekete at Posuko, and Mathe at Adariko. In modern Badagry, adherents of Islam and Christianity populate the town.[33]

Zangbeto masquerade is a powerful cultural form among the Ogu (Egun) people. This particular masquerade is one of the traditional ways of crime control, policing and security among Egun people of Badagry. Zangbeto’s primary aim is to secure the community. The masquerade also serves to entertain people as they dance by spinning around fast, shrinking and growing in height as the masquerade turns.

An illusion about Zangbeto masquerade dates back to when an Egun man was said to have been pursued by his enemies, Egun man needed to flee from his hometown unnoticed in the night. But then, it was said to have used supernatural powers to disguise himself, not to be caught by his enemies which are after his life. He covered his body with dried leaves and raffia and by making scary sounds with the horns of an animal. He was eventually able to leave the town unharmed and undetected by his enemies. He later found a settlement called 'Hugbonu' and subsequently, had men with him dressed in a similar manner; the men helped him secure the settlement as well as preventing attacks on him. This was beginning of the Zangbeto masquerade.

Zangbeto masquerade could do a lot of interesting things with the help of magic/ supernatural powers. This is the main reason they are held in high esteem by the Ogu (Egun) people and are regarded as deity. There are public displays of power such as crossing rivers by walking on water, turning bucket of water into wine as well as dancing bottles. Zangbeto watch over the community at night wandering around to detect thieves and dispense justice. They are followed by a group of drummers and makes an 'eerie' humming noise to announce their arrival. During the night watch their horn sounded to announce the beginning of the watch and also to alert people that the group is about coming out, using the magical powers, Zangbeto masquerade could notice anyone loitering within a radius of 500 metres and above. Aside securing lives, they also help to settle disputes and make peace among Ogu ( Egun people) Zangbeto masquerade serves numerous function in the lives of the Egun people of Badagry.[37]

Agemo Francis Sewanu, a mixed media Nigerian Artist, was born in Badagry Lagos, in 1986. He studied fine Arts at the Delta State University Abraka from where he graduated in 2008. Agemo, whose works have been influenced by the Thron, Atinga, Tolegba and Tovothun,( gods and goddess) of Egun (ogu) people is representing Nigeria. Francis Sewanu Agemo art has evolved over the years through the upbringing with his grandparents, who are faithful worshipers of the Thron, Atinga and Tovothun (gods and goddess of Egun people). Francis Sewanu Agemo had enriching cultural encounters at the shrine and these have informed his artistic development. Agemo, who spoke to vanguard in an exclusive interview stated that "he has over time developed his forms and figures that bear semblance to the objects of worship like totems, statues, masks and raffia threads. Francis Sewanu Agemo made us known that his art poses a look at the duality between tradition and Contemporaneity.

Francis Sewanu Agemo, art exhibition which opened on September 19 and run till September 23, Agemo's works are attracting a lot attention from other artists, curators and art lovers of other cultures who are obviously fascinated to be witnessing original African culture, especially from the ancient international slave town of Badagry, transmitted to them in art form. This magic, Agemo told vanguard is made possible "with my artistic philosophy which he made possible" with my artistic philosophy which I refer to as Tracontemporary- A blend of traditions that is not alienated from contemporary realities and transformations.

Agemo is a kind of historian on canvas. His paintings are mostly narrations of fragmental histories and societal discussions, political issues, ancestral rites and abandoned beliefs. Most times Francis Sewanu Agemo tell stories on his canvass about abandoned beliefs, culture and tradition of his people one of the famous works of Agemo is titled "The lucky woman", which he did during a residency at Alexis Galleries, Lagos. "This work," said Agemo, "is talking about a man who has two wives but the first wife is not able to give the man a male child. All her children are girls. So the man is now looking for another wife that can give him the male children he needs. Here, he finds the woman. Though she is ugly and deformed ( she has only one eyes) she is able to give the man the child he looking for." The message in this work is that physical appearance- ugliness and deformity don't really count. Which it comes to productivity and achievements. These things are not hindrance to success in life. There is an inner beauty, and that is what counts. One may look ugly in appearance but the character or product of that person may be what is desirable. The ugly and the deformed woman is the one who is able to produce the male child; hence she becomes the lucky woman, which is where the title of the work was derived from.

Agemo believes that the world is very small. It may be smooth or rough which is a reality of life; everyday as we go out, we may meet good or bad.

Good and bad all work together says Agemo. Most of his figures for his art drawn from status in Badagry, artifacts and cultural products- the shrines, e.t.c which Francis Sewanu Agemo the artist uses to create his own concept.[38]

Economy

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The major economic activities in Badagry include fishing, trading, andtourism.Badagry's closeness to the sea and its historical past with theTrans-Atlantic slave tradeandmissionariesattracts tourists to the town. Apre-fabricatedhouse built by Thomas Birch Freeman is considered by some as the first story building in Nigeria while Freeman's Methodist Church is the first settlement of Christian missions in Nigeria.[39]

The governor of the state, Governor Sanwo-Olu urged theNigerian Ports Authority(NPA) to build two additional Seaports, one inLekkiand another in Badagry. He said "Lagos State needs to have two otherPorts,which will not only serve us but also build the nationaleconomy.We have initiated the development ofLekkiSea Port, which has started. We are building another Port in Badagry. But we are still in conversation with the NPA to grant the approval because we have added five developers,financiers,and partners on the Badagry Port. If we can finish the construction of both Sea Ports, it would free up.the congestion in the Apapa axis and create a newbusinesshub for our people ".[40]

Palace of the Mobee of Badagry Kingdom

Important places in Badagry

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The Royal Palace of Mobee

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The Royal Palace Of Mobee is a historical Slave Relics museum housed in a 19th-century colonial building. It is a repository of the role played by local "Chief Mobee" in conniving with slave masters to capture locals during the transatlanticslave trade,as well as the opposite role played by of his son in overturning slavery in the area.[41]The museum shows evidence of the arrival ofEuropeansto the Badagry area and the origins of the humans traded for money, gin and other things.Artefactsthat are reminders of the savagery of the capture, entrapment, and enslavement of African people include yokes, chains, a mouth lock to silence the captives, andhandcuffsfor children. Historical records provide visitors with information about the terrible conditions faced by the slaves during the passage, and images provide representations of life on theplantations.It is a source often referenced during Black History Month.

First story building in Nigeria

The first story building in Nigeria

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The first-story building is located in Badagry, Lagos State. The foundation of the building was started in 1842 and completed in 1845. It was erected byReverendHenry Townsend of the Church Missionary Society (CMS). SamuelAjayi Crowther,the first African CMSBishop,lived there when he undertook the translation of theHoly Biblefrom English to Yoruba. It was also used as a Vicarage for Saint Thomas Anglican church.[42]

Point of No Return

The Point of No Return

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The Point of No Return is located on Gberefu Island. This was the gateway fortransportingslavesoff thecoastof Badagry to Europe and America.[43]

Picture of the Agia Tree where Christianity was first proclaimed in Nigeria

The Agia Tree

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The place whereChristmaswas first celebrated in Nigeria by Reverend Freeman and Reverend Townsend on 25 December 1842.[44]

See also

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  • Important places in Badagry
  • Royal Palace of Mobee of Badagry
  • Badagry (February 1851)[45]
  • Nigeria's first Christian Mission in Badagry. This is located at the museum of slavery.
  • Seriki Faremi Abass Slave Museum, Badagry
  • Seme Route
  • Slave Port Badagry
  • The First Administrative Building, Badagry, Lagos
  • The first primary school in Nigeria
  • Badagry heritage museum model, Badagry, Lagos
  • Badagry heritage museum stone, Badagry, Lagos
  • Badagry, Apapa, Ikeja landmark
  • Residents of Badagry fishing in 2023 - Kemi Taiwo

References

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  1. ^ab"Badagry | Nigeria".Encyclopedia Britannica.Retrieved1 August2021.
  2. ^The area is led by a traditional king, Akran De Wheno Aholu Menu - Toyi 1, who is also the permanent vice-chairman of obas and chiefs in Lagos State.Federal Republic of Nigeria Official GazetteArchived2007-07-04 at theWayback Machine,published 15 May 2007, accessed 8 July 2007
  3. ^Sorensen-Gilmour 1995,p. II, 3.
  4. ^Sorensen-Gilmour 1995,p. 2-3.
  5. ^abcHarris, Lynn (2017).Sea ports and sea power: African maritime cultural landscapes.Cham.ISBN9783319469850.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^"Seasonal distribution and richness of fish species in the Badagry Lagoon, south-west Nigeria | Request PDF".ResearchGate.Retrieved11 July2020.
  7. ^Soyinka, O. O.; Kuton, M. P.; Ayo-Olalusi, C. I. (2010)."Seasonal distribution and richness of fish species in the Badagry Lagoon, south-west Nigeria".Estonian Journal of Ecology.59(2): 147.doi:10.3176/eco.2010.2.05.ISSN1736-602X.
  8. ^"Professor Robin Law FBA".The British Academy.Retrieved31 May2022.
  9. ^Sorensen-Gilmour 1995,p. 38-40.
  10. ^abcdefghijklmSorensen-Gilmour, Caroline (1995).Badagry 1784-1863. The Political and Commercial History of a Pre-Colonial Lagoonside Community in South West Nigeria(PhD). University of Stirling.
  11. ^"History of Atlantic Slave Trade Chronicled By Museums, Monuments in Badagry, Nigeria".Global Press Journal.1 December 2017.Retrieved31 May2022.
  12. ^ab"Badagry Festival | Hometown.ng™".9 December 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 4 September 2017.Retrieved2 August2021.
  13. ^Sorensen-Gilmour 1995,p. 135-137.
  14. ^Sorensen-Gilmour 1995,p. 37-40.
  15. ^Sorensen-Gilmour 1995,p. 35-40.
  16. ^Sorensen-Gilmour 1995,p. 5-6.
  17. ^Sorensen-Gilmour 1995,p. 54.
  18. ^Sorensen-Gilmour 1995,p. 55-57.
  19. ^abLaw, Robin (1978). "THE CAREER OF ADELE AT LAGOS AND BADAGRY, c. 1807 - c. 1837".Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria.9(2): 35–59.ISSN0018-2540.JSTOR41857061.
  20. ^Sorensen-Gilmour 1995,p. 9.
  21. ^Sorensen-Gilmour 1995,p. 196-200.
  22. ^Sorensen-Gilmour 1995,p. 11.
  23. ^Sorensen-Gilmour 1995,p. 58.
  24. ^abcAladeojebi, Gbade. (2016).History Of Yoruba Land.Partridge Publishing.ISBN978-1-4828-6248-5.OCLC1147867988.
  25. ^Sorensen-Gilmour 1995,p. 215.
  26. ^Sorensen-Gilmour 1995,p. 234.
  27. ^Van Cooten voices website,Eugene Van Cooten
  28. ^Fọlayan, Kọla (1969). "The Career of Thomas Tickel in the Western District of Lagos, 1854-1886".Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria.5(1): 27–46.ISSN0018-2540.JSTOR41856821.
  29. ^abKunnuji, Joseph (2017)."Guided syncretism: repackaging Badagry-Ogu music in the context of Lagos' postcolonial modernity".African Music.10(3): 79.doi:10.21504/amj.v10i3.2197.Retrieved13 November2018.
  30. ^"Badagry Area Guide".nigeriapropertycentre.Retrieved24 July2022.
  31. ^Onyeakagbu, Adaobi (20 October 2021)."About Badagry, the indigenous people of Lagos".Pulse Nigeria.Retrieved24 July2022.
  32. ^"THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE EGUN PEOPLE".EveryEvery.2 July 2019.Retrieved24 July2022.
  33. ^abcLagos State (Nigeria); Ministry of Information and Culture; Public Information Department (1991).Focus on [name of administrative division.Ikeja: The Dept.OCLC32240791.
  34. ^"Ajido Zangbeto Festival Archives".The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News.Retrieved2 June2022.
  35. ^"Lagos hosts Badagry heritage festival".The Sun Nigeria.4 December 2019.Retrieved11 July2020.
  36. ^"Day Zangbeto Festival shut down Badagry".The Sun Nigeria.24 January 2020.Retrieved11 July2020.
  37. ^"The 'Magical' Zangbeto Masquerade Of Egun People".EveryEvery.13 November 2020.Retrieved19 August2022.
  38. ^OSA, Amadi (22 September 2019)."Artist Agemo Francis takes the gods of Badagry to Europe".Vanguard.
  39. ^Eruotor, Victor (2014)."THE ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: case study, Lagos Nigeria".Theseus.fi.Retrieved12 July2020.
  40. ^"Sanwo-Olu seeks Badagry, Lekki Seaports' approval".Punch Newspapers.16 September 2019.Retrieved6 February2021.
  41. ^"Lagos-Badagry Expressway: Deplorable highway hinders Nigeria's multi-billion naira tourism hub in historic town".Punch.6 June 2021.
  42. ^Udodiong, Inemesit (12 February 2019)."I visited Nigeria's first storey building and found something interesting no one ever talks about".Pulse.
  43. ^Akande, Segun (31 January 2023)."Badagry Slave Route: Slaves passed these 5 notable stops on their journey of no return".Pulse.
  44. ^Oluwafunmilayo, Akinpelu (4 December 2018)."How Henry Townsend and Birch Freeman got Nigerians to first celebrate Christmas".Legit.ng - Nigeria news.Retrieved2 June2022.
  45. ^"Badagry".Wesleyan Juvenile Offering.VIII.London: Wesleyan Mission-House: 12. February 1851.Retrieved30 November2015.

45 Felix Kuadugah: Etymology of Badagry

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Wikivoyage has a travel guide forBadagry.

6°25′N2°53′E/ 6.417°N 2.883°E/6.417; 2.883

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