Wole Soyinka, diaspora leaders celebrate African unity at 2025 Badagry Diaspora Festival

The ancient town of Badagry played host to dignitaries, diplomats, and members of the African diaspora at the 5th Edition of the Door of Return and Badagry Diaspora Festival, a grand celebration of African heritage, cultural reconnection, and unity.

The event, organised by the African Renaissance Foundation (AREFO) in collaboration with the African Door of Return Experience (ADORE), the Badagry Local Government, and the Lagos State Government, brought together government officials, traditional rulers, cultural ambassadors, and diaspora representatives from across the world.

Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka delivered a powerful message on cultural identity and homecoming, describing the festival as a symbolic bridge between Africa and her descendants. He emphasised that the African story would remain incomplete until its people across the world reconnected with their ancestral roots.

The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, announced that over 2,000 voyagers from Brazil and Cuba are expected to participate in the 2026 edition of the festival, which will be coordinated by Prof. Soyinka. She revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to personally welcome the returnees in Badagry during the historic event.

Also present was Mr. Jermaine Sanwoolu, Head of the Lagos State Office of Diaspora Affairs (LASDA), who noted that the festival continues to serve as a major platform for strengthening cultural diplomacy and diaspora engagement in Lagos.

Other notable attendees included Hon. Bonu Solomon Saanu, Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism; Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, Chairman of Badagry Local Government; and other council leaders who pledged continued support for initiatives that promote heritage preservation and tourism development in the region.

A highlight of the festival was the presentation of Certificates of Return to international returnees and families from the diaspora, including members of the family of Mere Jah from the United Kingdom.

Her Excellency Miriam Morales Palmero, Ambassador of Cuba to Nigeria, attended the event and commended the enduring cultural ties between Africa and the Caribbean, describing Badagry as a “living symbol of return and renewal.”

The Door of Return and Badagry Diaspora Festival celebrates the resilience of the African spirit, promotes cultural exchange, and strengthens the historical bond between Africa and its global diaspora.