The Badagry monument that tells the story of pain, power, and redemption through the legacy of Chief Seriki Williams Abass
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Located in Badagry, Lagos State, the Seriki Williams Abass Slave Museum—also known as the Seriki Abass Barracoon—stands as a solemn reminder of Nigeria’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and the complex legacy of Chief Seriki Williams Abass, a former slave turned slave merchant.
A Gateway to History and Memory
The image depicts the entrance to the Seriki Williams Abass Slave Museum, one of Nigeria’s most haunting and historically significant landmarks. Situated in Badagry, Lagos State, this museum occupies a 19th-century barracoon—a holding cell where enslaved Africans were kept before being shipped across the Atlantic.
The structure was once owned by Chief Seriki Williams Abass, a man whose life tells a complex story of bondage, survival, and complicity. Born in the early 19th century, Abass was captured and sold into slavery at a young age. He was taken to Brazil, where he learned to read, write, and speak Portuguese fluently. Upon his return to Nigeria, he became a powerful middleman in the slave trade, working with European merchants to supply enslaved people from the interior to the coast.
The Man Behind the Museum
Chief Seriki Williams Abass, born Ifaremilekun Fagbemi, hailed from Ijoga-Orile in Ogun State. After his capture and eventual return from Brazil, he settled in Badagry, where he established a thriving business empire. His multilingual skills and connections with European traders elevated him to a position of immense influence.
Although he had once suffered the horrors of enslavement, Abass participated in the trade for decades, maintaining large holding rooms—known as barracoons—where enslaved people awaited transportation. His barracoon, now a museum, is said to have held at least 40 captives per room, often shackled and awaiting an uncertain fate across the ocean.
After the abolition of the slave trade, Abass transitioned into legitimate commerce and governance. He served as a traditional chief and maintained relations with the British colonial administration until his death in 1919.
Preserving the Legacy of the Enslaved
The Seriki Williams Abass Slave Museum was designated a national monument in 2003 by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM). Today, the site offers visitors a glimpse into the dark history of slavery in West Africa.
The museum’s exhibits include chains, branding irons, documents, and photographs that detail the transatlantic slave trade. Some of the original wooden holding rooms are still intact, preserving the eerie atmosphere of a place that once echoed with the cries of men, women, and children bound for the unknown.
Guides at the museum narrate the stories of the enslaved, the traders, and the eventual abolition efforts that reshaped global history. Visitors can also explore nearby landmarks such as the “Point of No Return”, where captives were loaded onto ships bound for the Americas, never to return.
Badagry: A City of History and Resilience
Badagry itself is one of Nigeria’s most historically significant towns. Located along the Atlantic coast, it was one of the major ports for the exportation of enslaved Africans between the 16th and 19th centuries.
Today, Badagry stands as a centre of remembrance, featuring several notable attractions, including:
The First Storey Building in Nigeria (1845)
The Slave Route and Point of No Return
The Vlekete Slave Market
The Heritage Museum
These sites, including the Seriki Abass Museum, collectively form a living classroom for history, reminding Nigerians and the world of the human cost of slavery and the resilience of those who endured it.
Beyond its historical significance, the museum symbolises the complexity of human morality. Chief Seriki Williams Abass represents both the victim and the participant—captured and enslaved as a young man, yet later complicit in perpetuating the same system that once destroyed his own freedom.
This contradiction invites reflection on the cycles of oppression, the human thirst for power, and the redemptive potential of memory. By preserving this history, Nigeria confronts its past not to glorify it, but to ensure it is never repeated.
A Journey Through Time
Visitors to the museum often describe the experience as deeply emotional. Standing within the barracoon’s narrow rooms, one can almost feel the weight of chains and hear the whispers of those who never made it home. It’s a reminder that the past lives on—not in bitterness, but in the pursuit of truth, justice, and reconciliation.
References
National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM)
UNESCO Slave Route Project
Vanguard Nigeria: “The Story of Chief Seriki Williams Abass”
Celebrity fashion designer Victoria James, popularly known as Veekee James and her husband, Femi Atere, have announced the arrival of their first child, Eliana.
Veekee James announced this in an Instagram post on Wednesday, revealing that the baby girl was born on May 2, 2026.
She wrote, “She’s Here. #elianaatere. 02-May-26. Eliana Adeife Atere.”
Veekee James, Femi Atere welcome their first daughter, Eliana. Credit: Instagram| veekee_jamesVeekee James with her daughter, Eliana. Credit: Instagram| veekee_james
The designer further explained the meaning behind her child’s first name, saying, “EL (God) and ANA (He has answered), signifying ‘My God has answered.
“1 Samuel 1:27 – ‘For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him.’”
Commenting on Veekee James announcement, Media entrepreneur Mo Abudu wrote, “Congratulations, my darling, we give God all glory, she is beautiful.”
Social media influencer Tomike Adeoye wrote, “Thank you, Lord, for our beautiful Testimony!!! Congratulations, Mama ati Papa Eliana.”
Veekee James, Femi Atere welcome their first daughter, Eliana. Credit: Instagram| veekee_james
“Congratulations, Oremii, we are so happy! Enitojokosibiikokoogaogo is here! Oluwasheun! Veekee, strong woman!” Skit maker Folagade Banks commented.
Actress Osas Ighodaro wrote, “God is so good! Congratulations, my darling!! AND SHE IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, sooooo pretty!”
“What the Lord has done for you is marvellous, and His Joy will never depart from you. Congratulations, Veekee,” content creator and actress Kie Kie added.
Veekee James’ husband, Femi Atere, and their daughter, Eliana. Credit: Instagram| veekee_james
PUNCH reported that the couple had earlier announced the pregnancy on February 3, similarly sparking widespread reaction from celebrities and fans who congratulated them.
See more photos below:
Veekee James, Femi Atere welcome their first daughter, Eliana. Credit: Instagram| veekee_jamesVeekee James, Femi Atere welcome their first daughter, Eliana. Credit: Instagram| veekee_jamesVeekee James’ husband, Femi Atere, and their daughter, Eliana. Credit: Instagram| veekee_james
Fans and followers of late Nollywood actor Alex Ekubo across social media platforms have expressed sadness over his demise, describing the incident as shocking and heartbreaking.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Nigerian entertainment industry has been thrown into mourning since Tuesday when news of the actor’s passing surfaced online.
Social media posts by his close colleagues, and trending media reports, stated that he died after a prolonged battle with cancer.
The incident has continued to generate frenzy on social media platforms, with fans across Nigeria and beyond pouring in condolence messages and tributes to the late thespian.
A fan, @Mr. Rekindled of AFC, asked: “Is this some late April Fool joke. God, what kind of news is this? Rest in peace bro I don’t even know what to type”.
@perpetua Ebubech wrote: “Rest well Alex I am done pressurising myself and being ungrateful. Being alive is enough. Aaaaaah Alex”.
@Amed Oshiorenua commented: “This one hurts me ooo”.
@sheismirah_bakr noted that: “Indeed, every soul shall taste death. May we leave behind kindness, love, and good memories May we be celebrated while we are alive, not only mourned when we are gone”.
@oheneba_nanayere_joyce wrote: “Ooo my God, have mercy on us”.
@SAMPSOLO on X wrote: “Omoh, sometimes when I hear such news I just sit down and think about life.
“Everything we’re struggling for can just end in one moment. It’s really scary”.
@nyarkowai23 said: “Aww fine boy. May his soul rest in peace”.
@_emefaaa wrote: “This is really sad, may his soul rest in peace”.
@ceeyahs_xclusivcollection commented: “Social media makes a lot of us look like we are living happily when we are actually fighting our battles. Remember we are all passing through something. Stay humble, stay kind”.
@DOG3tt said: “What’s wrong with Nollywood, why is everyone dying young?”
@bbelleamieeee wrote: “I loved him in Keeping My Man with Ramsey and Ini. Sad news… rest easy Alex”.
Ekubo’s passing has also attracted tributes from his colleagues and other celebrities, with many describing him as a talented actor and a kind-hearted friend.
Veteran actor Richard Mofe-Damijo wrote: “Life is not only fickle, it can also feel unreal. Even as I type this, I still struggle to fully process it, and it deeply saddens me to hear this news.
“Rest in peace to a truly great soul. You came, you saw, and you conquered. We are proud of the life you lived, the journey you embraced, and the legacy you leave behind.
“Sleep well, our dear Alex.”
Actor Bolanle Ninalowo also wrote: “Rest on, Alex. May God heal your family and us all.”
Singer Peter Okoye simply posted: “RIP”.
Actor Chinedu Ikedieze wrote: “Jesus, how?”
In a post on his X page, human rights activist and politician Omoyele Sowore described the late actor as a “rare talent”.
“My profound condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Nollywood star Alexx Ekubo, who I understand passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer.
“I never met him personally, but I still cannot forget a movie of his I watched on an Emirates flight from New York to Dubai en route to Nairobi.
“He was a rare talent whose presence lit up the screen effortlessly. May he rest in power.”
NAN reports that Alex Ekubo, born on April 10, 1986, was widely regarded as one of Nollywood’s most versatile actors, known for his performances in several hit films and television productions.
However, his prolonged absence from the public had raised concerns among fans and colleagues, as he stayed away from social media and public events for a long time.
His last post on Instagram was made in December 2024, shortly after reports emerged that his engagement to US-based model Fancy Acholonu had been called off.
Father of former Big Brother Naija All Stars winner, Ilebaye Odiniya, Emmanuel Odiniya, has broken his silence over the viral altercation involving his daughter, claiming he was provoked before allegedly assaulting her during a family confrontation.
In a voice note purportedly from Odiniya, and shared on Facebook on Sunday by Kogi-based journalist, Jeremiah Promise Enemona Ocheme, now circulating online, the father said the incident was not driven by hatred for his daughter but by frustration over what he described as her changed behaviour after winning the reality TV show.
“I want to put the records straight that what led to that incident was not that I don’t love my daughter. She is one of my best children,” he said.
He claimed he made sacrifices and mobilised support for her emergence as the winner of the BBNaija All Stars edition.
“During her time in the Big Brother Naija house, I contributed a lot. I stood by my daughter and made sure people voted for her massively. I used my influence and connections, including governors and other people, to support her until she won,” he stated.
According to him, their relationship allegedly deteriorated after her victory, accusing the reality star of becoming disrespectful and physically aggressive towards him.
“After she came out and won, she changed. Ilebaye stopped listening to me. I would book her appointments five to six times in a week and she wouldn’t give me audience. She stopped regarding me as her father,” he alleged.
The father further criticised her lifestyle, particularly her alleged cosmetic procedures.
“I warned her against getting cosmetic surgery — face reconstruction with fillers and BBL. She’s too young for that,” he said.
Emmanuel also alleged that his daughter had physically attacked him on previous occasions.
“She has hit me twice, and I didn’t do anything to her. One day she took an AC hanger and hit me with it till blood started gushing out of my body,” he claimed.
Speaking on the latest confrontation, he alleged that the reality TV star assaulted him first before the situation escalated.
“In this recent incident, she insulted me, hit me first with a sea hanger, causing bleeding, pushed me, and then broke an electric lantern on my head,” he said.
He also accused her of neglecting him financially despite his health challenges.
“I am very sick and needed to go for medical treatment in Dubai. I called Ilebaye to help me with some money and promised to refund her. She said she didn’t have money. But I saw her video spraying bundles of naira at a colleague’s wedding,” he alleged.
The father further alleged that his daughter negatively influenced her younger brother and interfered in his marriage.
“She has also influenced her younger brother with drugs, and he was expelled from school because of it. She once advised me to divorce her mother,” he added.
Despite the accusations, Emmanuel maintained that he still loved his daughter and wanted reconciliation.
“I still love my daughter deeply. I want her to change and do better. I ask for prayers from Nigerians. The police have already intervened and settled the matter,” he said.
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Ilebaye, alongside members of her family, including her father and younger brothers, were hospitalised following the confrontation at their Abuja residence.
The incident became public after the reality TV star shared an emotional livestream video crying for help, sparking concern among fans and followers online.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Josephine Adeh, disclosed that all parties involved sustained injuries and were receiving medical treatment.
“The man is in the hospital; he is sick. All of them were badly injured and are all in the hospital,” Adeh had said.
She also stated that the siblings were under police protective custody while investigations continued into the matter.
