There are other peoples from far away countries that are brought by the organizers to add colours to the festival by displaying their cultural heritage.
Badagry has succeeded in engraving her name on the history books of mankind; and to commemorate this achievement, the Badagry Festival is held.
Popularly known for the role it played during the slave trade period, the name Badagry is believed to have been culled from the means of livelihood of the indigenes of the city which include fishing, farming, and salt making.
Nevertheless, there are other people who believe the city was named after Agbedeh a popular farmer, whose farm was named Agbadarigi, but it was later rephrased Badagry by the Europeans.
This town, which later became a city, was one of the few places across the Atlantic that served as a route for the Europeans to transport slaves to various destinations around the world. Badagry was also the auction point for slaves captured during inter-village warfare.
However, since 1999, the Badagry Festival has become an annual event held in Badagry, Lagos State, to reflect and commemorate the significance of the ancient town during the slave trade era to highlight the diversity of African cultures.
The festival which is organised by African Renaissance Foundation (AREFO), a non-governmental organisation founded for the preservation and resuscitation of tangible and intangible cultural and natural heritage of the African people, can be said to be a convergence of culture and a display of African royalty.
Like most festivals celebrated within and outside the state, indigene and faithfuls of Africans culture are attracted from the rounded corners of the world to celebrate the Badagry Festival.
There are other peoples from far away countries that are brought by the organizers to add colours to the festival by displaying their cultural heritage.
And counted among the major highlights of the festival includes the Liberation Day Celebration, Football Competition (Oba Akran Cup), Arts & Crafts Festival, Nature/Water Sport Activities, Vothun Henwhe Festival, Zangbeto Exotheric Masquerade Festival, Gbenepo Royal Carnival, International Day for the Remembrance of Slave Trade and Its Abolition, Carnival Day and more.
Unarguably, the Badagry Festival cannot be compared to the New Yam Festival in terms of popularity; nor can it find common ground with the Eyo Festival when it comes to acknowledgment.
But it is highly remarkable as it presents a unique opportunity for Diasporans and locals to celebrate the beauty of our common history in a peculiar way.
ALSO READ: Displaying the glory of African spirituality
Badagry Festival: Celebrating the story of a common history
CLICK HERE TO READ FULL CONTENT
Brought to you by: RIDBAY | WEBSITE DESIGN & DIGITAL MARKETING
