Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka was among the distinguished guests who graced the 2025 Badagry Diaspora Festival, where he delivered an inspiring message of cultural reconnection and homecoming that deeply resonated with participants and dignitaries alike.
The festival, held over the weekend in Badagry, Lagos State, was organized by the African Renaissance Foundation (AREFO) in collaboration with the African Door of Return Experience (ADORE) and the Badagry Local Government. The event drew together government officials, diplomats, traditional leaders, and members of the African diaspora from around the world.
Prof. Soyinka described the annual festival as a symbolic bridge linking Africa and its global descendants, emphasizing that the story of the African people remains incomplete until they fully reconnect with their ancestral homeland.
President of AREFO, Dr. Babatunde Mesewaku, expressed delight at the growing international recognition of the festival as a platform for cultural revival and unity among Africans at home and abroad.
In her address, the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, announced that more than 2,000 voyagers from Brazil and Cuba are expected to participate in the 2026 Door of Return Festival, which will be coordinated by Prof. Soyinka. She revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to personally welcome the returnees to Badagry during the historic event.
Representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe, commended the people of Badagry for preserving their heritage and sustaining the Door of Return as a global emblem of homecoming. He reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment to promoting cultural tourism and strengthening diaspora relations.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism, Hon. Bonu Solomon Saanu, described the festival as “a heritage bridge between Africa and her children abroad.” He pledged continuous legislative support for initiatives that promote the state’s historical and cultural identity.
The Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, reiterated his administration’s dedication to supporting tourism-related programmes capable of boosting local economies and preserving Badagry’s legacy as a cultural landmark.
One of the emotional highlights of the festival was the presentation of Certificates of Return to international returnees and diaspora families, including representatives of the Mere Jah family from the United Kingdom. The presentation was performed jointly by Hon. Rauf Ibrahim Kayode Yemaren (Rikay) of Badagry West LCDA, Hon. Joseph Gbenu (Àjแปแนฃe) of Olorunda LCDA, and Hon. Babatunde Hunpe.
In her remarks, Her Excellency Miriam Morales Palmero, the Ambassador of Cuba to Nigeria, lauded the event as a powerful celebration of cultural unity between Africa and the Caribbean.
At the close of the festival, the three Badagry council chairmen—Hunpe, Yemaren, and Hon. Olusegun Kumayon—jointly reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining Badagry’s reputation as the cradle of return and a global symbol of peace, love, and shared African heritage.
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