Hands Off Our Heritage!” Awushe Mesewaku Rebukes Hon. Bonu in Door of Return Row|LAGOS EYE NEWS

A storm of controversy has erupted in Badagry over the intellectual ownership of the internationally recognized Door of Return project, as Dr. Babatunde Mesewaku, the Awushe of Badagry Kingdom, issued a strong-worded response to Hon. Solomon Bonu over comments perceived to undermine the project’s local origin.

In a detailed three-page statement, Dr. Mesewaku dismissed claims that downplay Badagry’s role in the creation of the cultural tourism initiative. He asserted that the Door of Return was conceived in 2014 under the African Renaissance Foundation and first implemented in 2017 through a strategic partnership with Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).

Describing Hon. Bonu’s remarks as an attempt to “ignore the craftsmen” behind the concept, Dr. Mesewaku condemned what he called a growing tendency to credit external parties for ideas born from within the community. “It is rather unfortunate for Hon. Bonu pretends he is unaware that a Badagrian birthed the concept… and prefers to give credit to an outsider,” the statement read.

He emphasized that the project is not only an intellectual property of Badagry but also a significant cultural and economic asset with the potential to reposition Lagos and the African continent on the global tourism map.

He further noted that Ghana’s widely acclaimed Year of Return initiative drew inspiration from the Badagry model.

Dr. Mesewaku called for due recognition of those who nurtured the idea over a 24-year journey, warning against attempts to erase Badagry’s contribution to pan-African heritage.

“You cannot continue like this,” he cautioned, urging respect for local initiatives and those behind them.

The dispute has reignited discussions around cultural ownership and the importance of acknowledging indigenous contributions to Africa’s heritage.

As Badagry continues to assert itself as a cultural and historical hub, voices within the community are demanding rightful recognition on the global stage.