... As AHNACTG hosts Weekend Tour Celebration
Story By Paul Ukpabio
Badagry is renownly known across the world as the home of relics of the slave trade, as it was an early port for slave trade in the West coast of Africa.
From the Brazilian baracoon of Seriki Abass to the Mobee family Slave trade Compound and then the various museums that are in almost every corner, Badagry has enough of slave trade materials for the world to see.
But at this year's World Tourism Day celebration, an equally renown tour guide whose name has gone beyond the shores of Nigeria, and who also happens to be the President of the Association of History Nature and Culture Tour Guides Nigeria, Anago Osho, showcased what he has now popularized as, "Badagry Beyond The Chains."
And this took place in a colourful, historical and memorable Weekend Celebration of World Tourism Day 2022.
According to Anago Osho, "What we have just done this weekend, is to show the world that Badagry is more than visitors coming from all round the world to see only the relics of the slave trade alone, Badagry boasts of over 200 historical tourism sites and beginning from this weekend, we are ready to start showing visitors and tourists these other tourism sites too."
The weekend celebration as packaged started with Friday arrivals and then an evening of dance and wining at a popular landmark lagoon front bar cum nite club at the popular Badagry marina.
Here, no idleness is allowed as guests danced to old skool music spiced with the music of today.
The party team included guests from The Nigeria Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Lagos campus, Hosts of Twins World Festival, Bloggers, Journalists, Tour Guides from across the nation, and Badagry West Local Council officials.
Despite retiring late to sleep in the wee hours of Saturday, the tour of Badagry commenced fully after breakfast.
First stop over was at the factory where the locals produce the delicious biscuit known as 'ajogun' that has now found its way to the breakfast table of many homes in Nigeria and outside the country.
And guess what, it is an elderly woman of 73 years old who along with her daughters, keep the biscuit business healthy and afloat. Mama has also mentored many tourists who came to learn at her production factory. The biscuits are produced amidst story telling, tales of the history of Badagry which you can only hear while you visit.
The tour moved to Dale Whedakoh Kingdom where the distinguished traditional ruler, HRM, Aholu Shewhenu Toyon 1 of Dale Whedakoh Kingdom upon hearing of the approach of the visitors left the Celebration of the 180th anniversary of the Methodist church of Nigeria, where he was a special guest of honour, to return to his palace to await the arrival of the august guests
It was a funfair affair which started with a formal reception inside the palace of the Aholu 1 of Dale Whedakoh kingdom.
The king said prayers as he offered his guests water and wine which were part of tradition of the palace. Then the formal introductions and speeches took place.
NIHOTOUR Lagos Campus Coordinator, Chinyere Catherine Uche-Ibeabuchi who led the Nihotour team, had a special message for His Royal Majesty which was delivered in earnest, amidst jokes, laughter and great relaxation. The King was excited to receive the young enthusiastic Nigerian tourists, successful in their different tourism vocations. He along with his array of chiefs, pledged to attend to the request tabled by the federal government parastatal. After the ceremonial photo session, the King led his chiefs and guests outside to the palace grounds were an event and a crowd were set for a tourism entertainment to celebrate World Tourism Day in Badagry, 'Badagry Beyond The Chains.'
Here, the performances and dances commenced. A royal dance by the Kabiyesi's Oloris (the king's wives) amidst folks songs and drums elucided the true spirit of Africa, the rendition of the songs tallying with the rhythm of the drum beats, coinciding with the movement of the feet and the sound of the gong beats.
On display this particular Saturday afternoon on Badagry Weekend World Tourism Day celebration at Dale Whedakoh kingdom, was the Sato drums. Two huge traditional drums which are rarely used except at great occasions.
The Sato drums comes with a huge history just as it's huge size and special initiated group perform with it. It's sound are deep and speaks to the spirit of the living and even to the spirit of those that have gone by. And drummers need to drum it with much exercise that comes with dancing and jumping. It's drummers are kitted in warlike attires and hit the drums in frenzy and speed!
As a tourism package, the King along with his chiefs partook in the frenzy hitting of the drums and so the tourists who took up the challenge one after another.
There was also the display and performance of the Zangbeto masquerades which entertained the gathering.
The ceremony over, the King with his array of chiefs led the visiting guests into the community, to see some historic sites.
And at each stop, His Royal Majesty took time to tell the history of each site from the ancestral shrines to the significance of some of the buildings in the community. And there were so many traditional items to see and learn about.
Some of the jokes of the day during the feasting and tour was that, the tourists wanted to marry from the kingdom and vice versa.
After a royal ceremonial departure, the tour continued with more stop overs, but ended at Iya Sulia's joint in the heart of Badagry where a buffet was well laid out for the exhausted tourists.
Here, amala, obe eja, gbegiri, ogufe, apon, iyan, eba efo riro flowed in peace às the guests tourists had an early dinner that eventually lasted till 8pm as jokes and banters took over pleasantly in that relaxing atmosphere.
Sunday was the icing on the cake! Badagry West Local Government Council rolled out it's official welcome activities for the guests. And the tour began with a visit to Boglo, led by Hon. Solomon ZOSU, the SSA On Information, Tourism and Special Works in Badagry West LCDA.
Earlier Sosu conveyed to the group a goodwill message from the Chairman of the LCDA, Hon. Gbenu Joseph Henugbe.
He also expressed appreciation to Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu led administration for creating the department of tourism in the local government in Lagos State, noting that this will help the council to have a vote in the budget majorly for tourism projects and programs that will be useful for promoting local tourism and will bring huge socio economic value to the area with increased Internally Generated Revenue - IGR.
The team were taken to a few newly spotted tourism sites in the area such as the Boglo Tomb, Fanuvi Cannon Gun Centre by the Atlantic ocean shore. Here guests saw the first primary school in the area which was founded centuries ago. The journey moved to Apa Palace and the First Customary Court, I'm another part of town.
At Apa Ocean View, the tourists had the opportunity of a boat ride on the lagoon. As the boat sailed amidst fun and laughter, the guests sang songs such as row, row, row your boat, merrily merrily merrily merrily, life is but a dream!
Indeed the 'Afro Boat Cruise' was a great fun experience!
The never ending tour saw another 15 minutes drive to the popular Suntan Beach for a natural feel of the cool breeze with a taste of the hygenic coconut water and local delicacies.
A weekend in Badagry without a visit to the Suntan beach, is no-tourism!
Here, beach lovers formed a big crowd, horse racing, beach football, swimming, all happening simultaneously.
Hon. Gusanu Sovi, Secretary to the Local Government who represented the Council Chairman joined the tourist at Suntan Beach for a warm reception sponsored by the Chairman. He further assured the institute of future collaborations in terms of trainings, empowerment and so on.
For the guest's, it was all the way, chopped barbecued chicken, along with drinks.
Even after being exhausted with fun and plenty to eat, the organizers insisted that the day must end with a grand stop over at Iya Sulia's joint.
And that was accepted with great screams and energetic chorus of a loud yes!
No one seems to do it better than Iya Sulia when it comes to the local Nigerian delicacies.
Like they say in Badagry, anything that happens at Iya Sulia's joint, stays at Iya Sulia's joint! So all the gists and the laughter stayed at Iya Sulia's joint except ofcourse all the fun memories that everyone took home from the wholesome fun-filled Weekend of the World Tourism Day celebration as packaged by Anago Osho Adventures for the Association of History Nature and Culture Tour Guides Nigeria.
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