Door of Return Festival: Descendants of African Slaves from the U.S., Brazil, Haiti, and Others Visit Badagry

By Peter Dansu  The fifth edition of the ‘Door of Return’ Festival, organized by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in collaborat...

By Peter Dansu 

The fifth edition of the ‘Door of Return’ Festival, organized by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in collaboration with the African Renaissance Foundation (AREFO) and the African Door of Return (ADORE), welcomed descendants of Africans taken as slaves to the Americas back to their ancestral homeland — this time, as heroes. The emotional event celebrated reconnection, cultural pride, and the enduring strength of African heritage.

Founder of AREFO, Dr. Babatunde Olaide-Mesewaku, described this year’s celebration as “a fulfillment of the vision to promote Badagry’s rich history and reposition the ancient town as one of Africa’s leading tourism destinations.”

NIDCOM Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the festival represents more than just a symbolic homecoming. In her words, it strengthens the bridge between Nigeria and its diaspora while opening doors to vast economic and cultural opportunities — especially in tourism.

Also speaking at the event, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka reflected on the deeper meaning of the homecoming, saying, “All voyages consist of two parts — the setting out and the return. No voyage is complete without the other.”

In a statement posted on NIDCOM’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the Commission highlighted the presence of several international dignitaries, including the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Miriam Morales Palmero.

Ambassador Palmero emphasized the deep historical and cultural ties between Cuba and Nigeria — bonds rooted in shared African ancestry and the painful legacy of the transatlantic slave trade. She acknowledged the lasting influence of Nigerian traditions on Afro-Cuban culture, including the Santería spiritual practice.

She expressed gratitude to NIDCOM and Hon. Dabiri-Erewa for championing the event, describing it as a vital step in promoting Pan-African unity and reconciliation. The ambassador also commended the strong cooperation between Cuba and Nigeria in areas such as healthcare (particularly Cuban medical services), education, trade, and diplomacy — pledging to strengthen these partnerships further.

Palmero further called for continued solidarity among African nations and their diaspora communities to tackle global challenges, promote development, and celebrate shared resilience.

One of the emotional highlights of the festival was a solemn procession through the historic “Door of No Return”, an enduring symbol of the slave trade’s horrors. Descendants from the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Haiti, France, and the Benin Republic walked through the monument with reverence, symbolically retracing the painful journey of their ancestors — and reclaiming it as a story of triumph and return.

The symbolic act, described as both spiritual and economic, aims to permanently unite the African diaspora with the Motherland, fostering hope, heritage, and prosperity for generations to come.

A statement from the organizers beautifully summed up the emotion of the moment:

“This sacred journey weaves a profound spiritual and economic bond, forever uniting the African diaspora with the nurturing embrace of the Motherland — igniting hope, heritage, and prosperity for future generations.”

Participants expressed deep appreciation to Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for her leadership and dedication in reconnecting the diaspora with their ancestral homeland — a legacy they described as one that “will be remembered in history.”