Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has described the Door of Return Ceremony in Badagry, Lagos, as a historic beginning of a stupendous event reconnecting Africa with its diaspora.
Soyinka, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the fifth edition of the Badagry Door of Return Festival, commended the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and her collaborators for putting the event together.
He also lauded the contributions of the three Badagry local government chairmen and Hon. Solomon Bonu of the Lagos State House of Assembly for their efforts in sustaining the cultural celebration.
According to the literary icon, the festival would herald the planned Heritage Voyage of Return scheduled to begin in Brazil next year and end in Badagry, symbolising a spiritual homecoming for the African diaspora.
“No voyage is complete without the other. What we are celebrating is a formal beginning of a stupendous event that would bring not just the thousands we see here but millions,” Soyinka said.
He added that members of the African diaspora were eager to reconnect with their ancestral homeland, expressing hope that “the sadness that encompassed the Point of No Return will turn to joy.”
Earlier in her remarks, Dabiri-Erewa welcomed 57 participants from Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, Cuba, Haiti, and Benin Republic, who were received through the Door of Return “as kings and queens,” in contrast to their ancestors who were taken away as slaves centuries ago.
She expressed appreciation to Prof. Soyinka for honouring the occasion, describing him as a legend and an inspiration to all.
Dabiri-Erewa noted that the Door of Return Festival represents a historic, emotional, spiritual, and economic reconnection between Africa and its diaspora.
She also commended Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for constructing the permanent Door of Return site, which she said would serve as a lasting tourism legacy for Lagos State.
Representing the governor, Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to promoting tourism and cultural heritage.
He assured that the permanent site for the Door of Return will be completed and inaugurated during the next edition of the festival.
Also speaking, the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Miriam Morales Palmero, said the festival motivates nations to preserve the history of slavery and strengthen ties between countries with shared African heritage.
Quoting Cuban historian Fernando Ortiz, she said, “Cuba without the blacks will not be Cuba,” highlighting the monumental contributions of Africans to Cuban identity.
Hon. Solomon Bonu, Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism, described the festival as “a heritage bridge between Africa and her children abroad,” pledging legislative support for initiatives that promote tourism, culture, and historical preservation in Lagos.
Similarly, the Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, speaking on behalf of other local government chairmen, Hon. Ibrahim Rauf Kayode and Hon. Ajose Peter Kumayon, expressed appreciation to Dabiri-Erewa for the initiative, noting that it would firmly place Badagry on the world map.
He also thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for his support and praised Prof. Soyinka for his enduring love for the people of Badagry and the diaspora community.
