Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has called on Africans in the diaspora, especially descendants of enslaved ancestors, to return to their roots and reconnect with the continent’s heritage.

Speaking at the Fifth Door of Return Ceremony held in Badagry, Lagos, Soyinka described the annual event as a symbolic homecoming and a prelude to a major historical voyage being planned to reunite Africans across the world with their ancestral homeland.

“All voyages consist of two parts, the setting out and the return. No voyage is complete without the other,” Soyinka said.

“What we are celebrating is the formal beginning of a stupendous event. Just wait for the big event, the Heritage Voyage of Return. It will happen very soon, and you must all be there to participate,” he added.

He commended the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) led by Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the people of Badagry for preserving the spirit of the transatlantic memory through the festival, which he said represents healing, restoration, and the reclaiming of lost identity.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, said the event was a testament to the state’s dedication to cultural renaissance and unity between Africa and its diaspora community.

Sanwo-Olu praised the people of Badagry for keeping their heritage alive and promised that the state government would continue to promote tourism and complete the permanent site for the Door of Return before the next edition.

In her remarks, Dabiri-Erewa said the 2025 edition marked an emotional and spiritual connection between Africa and her children abroad.

“This is our own way of reconnecting with our brothers and sisters in the diaspora,” she said. “Next year will be huge. Today’s event is just a prelude to the Heritage Voyage of Return, which will begin in Brazil and end here in Badagry. President Tinubu, who initiated the Black Heritage Festival during his tenure as Lagos State governor, will be on ground to receive our returning brothers and sisters.”

The Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism, Solomon Bonu, described the festival as a heritage bridge between Africa and her children abroad. He assured of legislative backing for initiatives that promote culture, tourism, and the preservation of the state’s historical identity.

Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Babatunde Hunpe, also reaffirmed the council’s commitment to supporting cultural activities that promote tourism and drive local economic growth.

Among the dignitaries and delegates at this year’s festival were the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Miriam Morales Palmero; Brazilian Acting Consul General, Celso De Arruda França; and American cultural icon Jeffrey Daniels, all of whom described the event as a deeply emotional return to the motherland. (Daily Trust)