Badagry Tour Part 1: The Famous Slave Merchant Seriki Abass Williams

Seriki Abass Williams was originally from a village called Ijoga Orile in Ogun State, Nigeria.

He was sold as a slave to one Abass at Dahomey Kingdom in Benin Republic.

He was later resold to a Brazilian slave merchant Williams but later released on negotiation to become a slave merchant exporting African slaves for Mr Williams.

However Originally his Yoruba name was Famerilekun but he changed his name by bearing the names of his previous Masters Abass and Williams as was the norm during slave era.

When he came back to Nigeria, he relocated to Badagry town in Lagos State built a house just opposite (GBEREFU  ISLAND) the waterways that leads to the Point of No Return for ease of transporting his slaves.The building was named ‘The Brazilian Barracoon’.  It is up of 40 sets of rooms used as slave prison. The rooms are really very small and each was used to house about 40 slaves.  Male and females were kept separately.

The house of Seriki Abass Williams

He was a Muslim, well-educated and could speak English, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish and Yoruba languages.

He married 128 wives and had 144 children. Not so much was told about his wives and children, although rumour has it that he also sold some of his wives and children as slave. Some of his grandchildren and great grand children are still living within the compound while some moved back to Ogun State, lagos town and Kaduna state. The tomb of his last son is also found within his compound.

He finally died on June 11, 1919.

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About the Author

Emereonye Christiana

Emereonye Christiana is a vibrant and purpose driven personality. she obtained her higher national diploma in Leisure and tourism Management at Federal Polytechnic Idah, Kogi state. Upon completion of her first degree, she proceeded to obtain a Diploma Foundation Certification in Travel and Tourism at International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 2018.
Christiana is a member of Hospitality and management Association of Nigeria (HATMAN) with a recognition of her achievement as a female Youth Ambassador of Association from 2015 to 2016.
She hashad a series of work experience among which is with Osun State Tourism board and presently a tour executive at Sagetravels.com

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