Gberefu Island

Gberefu Island

Native name: <span class="nickname" ">Gberefu
Gberefu Island
Geography
Location	Close to Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	6°25′01″N 2°52′59″E / 6.417°N 2.883°E
Administration
Nigeria
State	Lagos State
Local government area	Badagry
Demographics
Ethnic groups	Hausa Egun Ilaje
Additional information
Gberefu Island was opened as a slave port in 1473.

Gberefu Island also known as Place of No Return is a populated historical island located in Badagry, a town and local government area of Lagos State, South-Western Nigeria.^[1] Symbolized by two poles slightly slanted towards each other and facing the Atlantic Ocean, the island was a major slave port after it was opened in 1473 during the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade era.^[2] According to Nigerian historians, as many as 10,000 slaves were believed to have been shipped to the Americas between 1518 and 1880 from this island.^[3]

People

Gberefu Island is headed by a chief and it is also made up of ten communities including Daloko, Hungbo, Fowler, Gbogbobawa, Sukena, Hausa, Gbaragada, Konfidame, Yovoyan and Ilaje most of which are farmers and fishermen.^[4][5] The Ilajes, Eguns and some Ghanians form the three major tribes occupying the island.^[4]

Tourism

Since Gberefu Island is an historic site, it has attracted several tourists around the world thereby increasing its notability.^[6] According to a 2015 statistics released on The Guardian, a total number of 3,634 people visited the island in 6 months.^[7]

Bibliography

• Africa Today. Afro Media. 2006.
• Hakeem Ibikunle Tijani (2010). The African diaspora: historical analysis, poetic verses, and pedagogy. Learning Solutions. ISBN 978-0-558-49759-0.
• Tigani E. Ibrahim; Babatope O. Ojo (1992). Badagry, past and present: Aholu-Menu-Toyi 1, Akran of Badagry, reign of peace. Ibro Communications Limited.

References

1. Abiose Adelaja (30 August 2014). "Badagry Slave Route faces environmental degradation". Premium Times. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
2. "Gberefu: Echoes of slaves' footsteps". The Nation. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
3. "Black Americans face slave legacy in Nigeria". News24. 30 May 2001. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
4. Jeremiah Madaki (7 July 2014). "Gberefu, the Island by 'The Point of No Return'". New Telegraph. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
5. "Upgrade Our Ruler, Community Pleads With Fashola". P.M. News. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
6. Ada Igboanugo (11 August 2002). "Badagry Beach…And Beyond the 'Point of Return'". Thisday. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
7. News Agency of Nigeria (6 July 2015). "3,634 tourists visit Point-of-No-Return Island in 6 months — Official". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2015.