Badagry Historical Resort

[Nixoderm]

Jacksons star in Nigeria resort row

Andrew Walker
BBC News, Nigeria

The Paradise condominium block of the Badagry Project [photo courtesy TMG]

One of pop superstar Michael Jackson's brothers, Marlon, is involved in a controversial plan to develop a $3.4bn (£2.4bn) slavery memorial and luxury resort in Badagry, Nigeria.

The historic slave port is to be transformed through the bizarre combination of a slave history theme park and a museum dedicated to double Grammy-winning pop-soul group the Jackson Five.

The idea is that the band will help attract African-American tourists keen to trace their roots back to Nigeria.

The men behind the plan say it will honour the history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and provide employment opportunities for Nigerians.

But the plan has been condemned by Nigerian commentators.

Slave tourism

The African-American history trail is worth billions of dollars, the developers say.

Ghana and Senegal have successfully turned slave ports into tourist attractions.

The Jackson Five The developers say the Badagry Historical Resort will be marketed to African-American tourists as a mixture of luxury tourist attractions and historical education.

Visitors will be able to see the route their ancestors walked, shackled together as they were whipped toward the "point of no-return".

They can then retire to their five-star hotel to drink cocktails by the pool.

Visitors will be able to pay their respects at the site of a mass grave for those who died before boarding ships across the Atlantic Ocean.

And then travel a few yards in a buggy to play a round of golf.

They can visit a replica slave ship to see the conditions Africans suffered, before visiting the world's only museum dedicated to the memory of the Jackson Five.

Academics believe around 10m people died during the trans-Atlantic slave trade between 1600 and 1900.

The Jackson's upbeat tunes like ABC and Blame it on the Boogie enlivened US and UK discos throughout the 1980s.

On display at the museum will be animatronic vignettes of the band, memorabilia and "holographic displays" of the group that launched the career of Michael Jackson, after their split in 1989.

'The right place'

"The Badagry Historical Resort development project will certainly enhance the quality of life for millions of people across Nigeria," promotional material for the resort says.

But critics have dismissed the project as a cynical money-making scheme, inappropriate for the subject of such seriousness as the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

The idea to bring together slavery and the Jackson Five came during a visit to Nigeria by US businessmen and former Jacksons singer Marlon Jackson.

"The Jackson Family had been looking for a place to site their memorabilia collection for some time," Gary Loster, a former mayor of Saginaw, Michigan and CEO of The Motherland Group says.

"We visited the site of the slave port in Badagry and Marlon turned to me and said: 'Let's put it here, this is right'".

"It's such an emotional place, and I think we all felt that it was the right place to have the Jackson family memorial."

Money

But respected writer and historian Toyin Falola has condemned the project.

"It is not appropriate from a cultural or historical point of view, those who are looking for money care about money and no other thing," he said.

Slave ship The professor of history at the University of Texas and author of many books on the Nigerian diaspora and African-American history, said the development was exploiting painful history.

"Money-making and historical memory are allies in the extension of capitalism. You cry with one eye and wipe it off with cold beer, leaving the other eye open for gambling," he said.

Writer, columnist and PR consultant C Don Adinuba said if the resort was being built by a company run by a white person, there would be uproar.

"This plan is morally reprehensible, it's like dancing on the graves of dead people and telling them you're honouring them."

The developers say they will treat the slave memorial with sensitivity.

They hope it will become a "historical destination" similar to the Holocaust museum in Berlin.

The luxury hotels near the site will provide jobs and development to the local economy, they say.

'Aggressive'

The developers, who include the creator of the hit TV series Power Rangers, have ambitious plans for the resort.

The Motherland Group says their resort alone will pull in 1.4m visitors in the first year alone, rising to 4.4m in five years. map

But that would represent an incredible increase.

Mr Loster says they will have to work with the government to change some of the bureaucratic restrictions on tourists if their project is to attract the numbers it needs.

Currently fewer than 300,000 tourists visit Nigeria in a year, they say.

It is impossible to get a visa without a letter of invitation.

Flights to Nigeria are expensive, and there is little tourist infrastructure to cater for European or American consumers when they get there.

And then there is the country's reputation as a chaotic and violent place.

Mr Loster admits their projected figures are "aggressive".

"We know the problems facing us, we have visited Nigeria several times," he said.

[sammyjay77]

I am not interested in BBC's exergerative article but the Development itself. Any one ever heard of this? BBC made it sound like Nigerians are condemning it.

But respected writer and historian Toyin Falola has condemned the project.

Who is this woman- I have never even heard of her. How does one person's opinion constitute a controversy when Nigerians at home have not complained

This would be one of the best development to happen to Nigeria and the Black race at large.

I like it!!

[Naija]

Nigeria has never enjoyed good news. Anyway i hope we improve security in the country for instance.

[sammyjay77]

New $3b Lagos holiday resort debuts soon
From Oghogho Obayuwana, Abuja

AS a direct response to the Federal Government's long spanning foreign investment drive, a complete business and Holiday Resort in Badagry, Lagos State is to become operational soon.

It is being developed by The MotherLand Group, one in the circle of the potential investors, lobby groups, top American businessmen, intellectuals and friends of Africa, who met with the Nigerian delegation to the inauguration of President Barack Obama last month.

Fielding questions from The Guardian, the Chief Executive Officer of the group, Gary Loster, an African American, disclosed that the $2.9 billion project billed to position Badagry, as the tourist hub of Nigeria will start by June this year, with a gradual release of products before its completion in 2012.

It will house the Nigerian Theme Park spoken gloriously about by tourism experts, Condominiums, a golf course, casino, Jacksons musuem, amphitheatre and even casinos.

Tracing his roots to Nigeria, Loster maintained that Badagry has all it takes to become Africa's prime tourism centre.

"It was a famous slave coast. We remember it. There is a lot of nostalgia about this beautiful Nigerian site. We are working with the private sector and the state government to upgrade the infrastructure in the area. In the mould of the Disney world in Florida, lots of revenue will be generated as it is done all over the world through the touristic revenue traffic. This is our contribution to the need to invest massively in Africa," he said.

Addressing the Nigerian delegation and friends of Africa representatives during one of the inaugural balls last month, Loster said, "the Badagry project is not just about a massive investment. It is a historical project. What we are looking at is being able to go to Badagry and re-enact actually what happened. As we know, a number of slaves were taken from Badagary. I believe its in excess of half a million. We want to make sure that the world knows about the important contribution that Nigeria made to the U.S and the Caribbean but at the same time, we want to put a amphitheatre, a museum so that remember who and what happened in Badagry."

He continued, "what it also means for Nigeria is that we want to employ our people. We have private investors, who are also working with us in the project. We want to educate our people. Its going to increase tourism and bring new opportunities for the local people. Put people to work. So its going to be a wonderful project. By the economic law, it will employ Nigerians and bring people from the U.S and Europe to begin to visit and see how wonderful Nigeria is and what it has to offer."

On the impact of President Barack Obama's emergence on the new investment drive and the organisational strength of the group, he said, "its all in the spirit of can do. Our group is a professional organisation made up of lawyers, businessmen and financial experts, who are looking at working with Africa and in particular Nigeria. We seek faith in Nigeria where political education has become necessary.

It will underline the economic impacts that we can have with the U.S-Nigeria relations, as well as, the region of Africa. That today's American president is from Kenya is very important. He also has an understanding now with the continent. Now we can join hands with our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora."

During the American inauguration, some state governors were also in Washington ostensibly to take advantage of the influx of leading captains of industry and influential politicians to try and swing investments to their states.

These included Senator Gabriel Suswan (Benue), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Chief Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Godswill Apkabio (Akwa Ibom).

It was also a good opportunity for the inauguration of the US chapter of the African Business Round Table by another group led by its Chairman, Barmanga Tukur. The consultations and high stake meetings were plethoric. Apart from the MotherLand Group, there were meetings also with the National Small Town Alliance, the World Alliance of Mayors, as well as, a member of the powerful black congressional caucus Marcia L. Fudge.

[Nsukka]

This is only the beginning of a rapidly progressing and and yet to be witnessed long extending trend trend in which is taking place on the African continent via the massive Black-American entrepreneurial population, who've after witnessing white American, European and Asian business troop to large Afro regions of the world and make hefty profits, decided that they too must depart the American boarders in an effort to further grow and strengthen their entities.

With a rapidly weakening American market, no company is safe with a policy of staying national as most African-American financial groups and other corporate entities have been doing, for the most part, over the years. In this regard.. many black-American financial groups, law firm, travel agencies, and general corporate think tanks have come together to form mega groups of mutual African-American corporate interest, like BWB (Blacks Without Boarders), and TMG (The Motherland Group) both in whom have enough presence and backing through it AA members to bring BILLIONS upon BILLIONS of dollars to their cause in which is primarily focused on developing and financing individual members projects into major international based entities, and secondly conjoining funds and talent in mega efforts to enter into and solidify a solid presence within the African, Caribbean and other black markets around the world.

Yeah, they've got the money, they have the years upon years of expertise, though most of all the one thing that works most solidly in their favor in getting what they want most wherever they want, is FAME. The simple fact of that they are mega cash flushed group of the world famous AFRICAN-AMERICAN group is enough to get them contracts the world round with very little hassle, as they're finding out in places like South Africa, Egypt, Liberia, Ghana, Kenya, China, Brazil and more areas in which the groups have already gone into and billions and invested billions and made billions more.

This Nigerian project is by far, the largest, most expensive and daring project the groups have ever taken on, and they plan to use it as a stepping stone to their next level of world expansion and developments, in which will be focused on developing whole new cities within places like Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Brazil and such.. and structuring them as Las Vegas, Atlantic City and or Dubai like entertainment centers. The funds and notoriety for quality development in which they receive via projects like this one in Nigeria, and similar ones taking shape in South Africa, Ghana, Liberia and soon to come Angola and Kenya.. will be pooled into the new urban development plans of the groups.

By the way, most of the major financiers of these groups are not known to the general public, but it is known that a lot of them are made up of the mega wealthy AA sports stars, movies stars, music mongules, like Jay-Z, P.Diddy and more. Many more are wealthy lawyers, accountants, doctors and professionals of all other types. Major American finacial and insurance institutions are also connected via their long standing African-American presence within them.

[pappy]

Good to hear, hope it bears fruit.

[Nsukka]

AFRICAN-AMERICAN PROGRESS IN SOUTH-AFRICAN.

CLICK HERE TO SEE IT

[Artemis]

"It's such an emotional place, and I think we all felt that it was the right place to have the Jackson family memorial."

Now, thats what the world really deserves.

The developers, who include the creator of the hit TV series Power Rangers, have ambitious plans for the resort.

...the professional Disneyfication of Nigeria has found its promoters.




generally i think its not a bad idea do have huge resort at badagry, but ist should be handeld separtely from the slavery memorial otherwise its like a luxury resort at KZ Auschwitz.

[SportBilly]

Originally Posted by Artemis

generally i think its not a bad idea do have huge resort at badagry, but ist should be handeld separtely from the slavery memorial otherwise its like a luxury resort at KZ Auschwitz.

As a person of African descent I think I have to agree with Artemis. This project lives a sour taste in the mouth. Nothing wrong with the resort but the two things should not be mixed. Cry at the graves of your ancestors by day and head for the slot machines at night...., this is whack.

[friendsofthecity]

But, the graves have always been there! I think the sensitivity of the issue is overly exaggarated. The need for them to comprehend their history better if it lies in there so be it(resort) done. I don't think that will have anything to do with blames rather mixed feelings which had been hidden from them for too long - there should be a place on earth for them to do some sober reflection, it really express the understanding of their identity(where they beging from).C'mon guyz! Don't get me wrong.Let's not dwell so much on the bad side cos we are all guilty in one way or the other of any forms of inhuman treatment.

[oga_naija]

ARE THEY CRAZY WHY WOULD AFRICAN AMERICANS WANT TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS

[pappy]

oga naija, it's obvious you've never been in the us before or don't know that many african americans so i'll go easy on you. Alot of African Americans would love to see something like that because their ancestors were taken from those lands centuries ago, to them it's like a pilgrimmage, so it people are willing to come and spend dollars and help the local economy i'm all for it, Ghana and Senegal are doing it and it's helping them, Nigerians we have to start thinking outside the box, if you turn down something that will help your local economy then we'd be fools.

[charles4u]

Originally Posted by oga_naija

ARE THEY CRAZY WHY WOULD AFRICAN AMERICANS WANT TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS

You have anwsered your question...cus they are Africans.

Anyway this is a good project when completed.

[Babale]

Originally Posted by charles4u

You have anwsered your question...cus they are Africans.

Anyway this is a good project when completed.

No, In what way are these people Africans?

[oga_naija]

Originally Posted by charles4u

You have anwsered your question...cus they are Africans.

Anyway this is a good project when completed.

What does that mean?

would Jewish people want a theme park of the nazi camps, fun house in the gas chamber

Rwanda a park of the genocide, games on how to kill someone

why on heavens earth would this park be a good thing

what's next a biafra theme park in ibgo land and a park called the killing zone in jos, oh no I got it a park called the NIGER DELTA

[oga_naija]

Originally Posted by pappy

oga naija, it's obvious you've never been in the us before or don't know that many african americans so i'll go easy on you. Alot of African Americans would love to see something like that because their ancestors were taken from those lands centuries ago, to them it's like a pilgrimmage, so it people are willing to come and spend dollars and help the local economy i'm all for it, Ghana and Senegal are doing it and it's helping them, Nigerians we have to start thinking outside the box, if you turn down something that will help your local economy then we'd be fools.

I live in America and this is what African Americans think of this


https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?bl...9&isPopup=true

[charles4u]

Originally Posted by Babale

No, In what way are these people Africans?

This is very simple, you guys are just trying to mix it up. African American are Africans with no doubt and if they wanna invest in Africa or Nigeria then I dont see any problems. After-all what they wanna do is not to build oil companies or rather buy our local market like the whites.

They only wanna create a tourism attraction and investment, good for them and good for Nigeria.

[Babale]

Originally Posted by charles4u

This is very simple, you guys are just trying to mix it up. African American are Africans with no doubt and if they wanna invest in Africa or Nigeria then I dont see any problems. After-all what they wanna do is not to build oil companies or rather buy our local market like the whites.

They only wanna create a tourism attraction and investment, good for them and good for Nigeria.

It pains me dearly to say this but the "white" man took away any right or whatsoever these people had as an African, back in 1500-1919. They do not behave like African and they do not have African value, (and all that is due to the simple fact of the "white" man's DNA within majorities of some these people. Just take a look at P Diddy or whatever he call himself and Jay-Z, only God knows how many times those two ancestors have been mixed with the "white man's DNA".

[charles4u]

Originally Posted by Babale

It pains me dearly to say this but the "white" man took away any right or whatsoever these people had as an African, back in 1500-1919. They do not behave like African and they do not have African value, (and all that is due to the simple fact of the "white" man's DNA within majorities of some these people. Just take a look at P Diddy or whatever he call himself and Jay-Z, only God knows how many times those two ancestors have been mixed with the "white man's DNA".

This is normal, do you know how many Nigerians have mixed with Europeans here..I think am one of them also..LOL

This still doesnt dis-qualify the project cus generally there is no good reason not to make a memorial slavery ground cus it wont just boost Nigeria's tourism but also create jobs and make Nigeria icon as it always should be.

[Nsukka]

This park should be built around Calabar. The VAST, VAST majority of AA of Nigerian ethnic descent (48% of the AA population) is of south-Eastern Nigerian descent, primarily Igbo, and their ancestors departed the region from the worldly historically known Calabar slave ports and holding grounds in which were 3 times as active in the slave trade as Badagary's port.

Also the area is a natural haven for vacationing and tourism, and is already pre-prepped for such a theme park. The environment in the area is much more inducive for such a park and right in the same area you have the Tinapa grounds and Obudu Ranch grounds, as well as those lovely underground Canyons, lovely CLEAN beaches and more natural vacation spots in which will provide extra entertainment for the visitors to the theme Park to engage in while present in Naija.