By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Prof. Wole Soyinka, Babatunde Hunpe, And other organisers of Diaspora Festival [Photo Credit: CityMood] |
BADAGRY, LAGOS – The ancient coastal town of Badagry, a poignant symbol of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, transformed into a vibrant epicenter of cultural reconnection and celebration as the 2025 Badagry Diaspora Festival drew a constellation of dignitaries, led by Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.
The event, which resonated with powerful messages of homecoming, has set the stage for a landmark return of over 2,000 diaspora voyagers in 2026, promising to be one of the most significant cultural events on the African calendar.
Organized by the African Renaissance Foundation (AREFO) in collaboration with the African Door of Return Experience (ADORE) and the Badagry Local Government, the festival served as a powerful platform to strengthen the bonds between the continent and its global descendants.
Prof. Soyinka, in a stirring address, framed the journey of the African people as fundamentally incomplete without this vital reconnection to ancestral roots. His presence lent immense gravitas to the proceedings, emphasizing the festival's critical role in healing historical wounds and forging a unified future.
The festival's significance was further amplified by a major announcement from the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa. She revealed that plans are already in high gear for the 2026 edition of the Door of Return Festival, which will see the historic participation of over 2,000 voyagers from Brazil and Cuba. In a move that underscores the event's national importance, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to personally receive the returnees in Badagry, with Prof. Soyinka himself coordinating the monumental homecoming.
Government support for the festival was palpable across all levels. Representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe, commended the people of Badagry for their role as custodians of a profound heritage.
He reiterated the Lagos State Government’s commitment to leveraging cultural tourism as a tool for unity and economic growth. This sentiment was echoed by legislative representatives, including Hon. Bonu Solomon Saanu, Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism, who described the festival as “a heritage bridge between Africa and her children abroad.”
On the local front, the Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering support for the festival and all initiatives aimed at boosting tourism and local economic activities. This commitment was jointly reinforced by the council chairmen of Badagry’s three localities—Hon. Hunpe, Hon. Rauf Ibrahim Kayode Yemaren (Rikay) of Badagry West LCDA, and Hon. Joseph Gbenu (Àjọṣe) of Olorunda LCDA—who pledged to sustain Badagry’s legacy as the cradle of return and a global symbol of peace and cultural harmony.
The 2025 festival culminated in a deeply symbolic ceremony: the presentation of Certificates of Return to international returnees and diaspora families, including representatives of the family of Mere Jah from the United Kingdom. With the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Her Excellency Miriam Morales Palmero, in attendance to commend the strong Cuba-Africa cultural ties, the event successfully wove together diplomacy, heritage, and a collective vision for the future, firmly positioning Badagry as the continent’s premier destination for the African diaspora’s long-awaited homecoming.