The year 2022 International Day for Remembrance of Slave Trade with its abolition was recently commemorated by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture with a Fitila Procession in Badagry.
According to a press release by Lagos State government, the Honorable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharm. (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, speaking on the importance and significance of the procession, said it was designed to serve as a form of remembrance for those that died during the period of the obnoxious slave trade.
In her words: “It is a sad experience for our forefathers, who were subjected to the ignoble and inhuman act of slavery, in those days. This is why we have organised the Fitila Procession to remember them as well as pray for their soul and that such a barbaric period will never reoccur again”.
READ: Africa: Reliving the history of Nigeria’s long slave trade through Badagry Heritage Museum
The Fitila Procession took off from the Slave Trade Museum, Vlekete, and ended at the Heritage Museum Badagry where all participants dropped their Fitila in front of the Liberation Statue. A reception was later held for participants featuring local drummers and the traditional dancers from the host community in Badagry.
The dignitaries present at the event included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Olufemi Martins; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Oyinade Nathan-Marsh; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Tunji Seymour; Representative of UNESCO, Mr. Delanghe Philippe and Representative of NCMM, Prof. Abba Isa Tijani amongst others.
