The “Point of No Return” in Badagry, Nigeria, stands as a poignant reminder of the transatlantic slave trade’s harrowing history.  Situated on Gberefu Island, this site marks the final African soil that countless enslaved individuals touched before being forcibly transported across the Atlantic.

Historical Overview

Established as a slave port in 1473, Gberefu Island became a significant hub in the transatlantic slave trade.  Over the centuries, it’s estimated that more than 500,000 Africans were sold into slavery through Badagry’s coast  . The island’s symbolic “Point of No Return” is marked by two poles slightly slanted towards each other, facing the Atlantic Ocean  .

The Slave Route

Enslaved individuals were transported through a series of notable sites before reaching the Point of No Return:

1. Vlekete Slave Market: Established in 1502, this market was a central location where slaves were sold to European traders  .

2. Brazilian Barracoon: A holding facility where slaves were confined before their journey  .

3. Spirit Attenuation Well: Slaves were made to drink from this well, believed to make them forget their origins and reduce resistance  .

4. Gberefu Island: The final trek led to the Point of No Return, where slaves were loaded onto ships bound for the Americas  .

Commemoration and Legacy

Today, Badagry serves as a place of remembrance and education:

Badagry Heritage Museum: Housed in a colonial-era building, it showcases artifacts and narratives from the slave trade era  .

Seriki Williams Abass Slave Museum: Once the residence of a prominent slave merchant, it now educates visitors about the trade’s local impact  .

Door of Return: Erected in 2017, this monument symbolizes a reconnection with the African diaspora and a hopeful future  .

Badagry’s history is a testament to the resilience of those who suffered and a reminder of the importance of remembering the past to inform a more just future.

For a visual exploration of this historical journey, you might find the following video insightful: