Awofisayo, Oladipupo Albert, PhD
Department of History and Diplomatic Studies,
Lagos State University of Education, Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos State, Nigeria. Email: awofisayooladipupo@gmail.com
Fakayode, Folusho Michael, PhD
Department of History and Diplomatic Studies,
Lagos State University of Education, Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos State, Nigeria. Email: fakayodemichael@yahoo.com
&
Adeniyi Oluwasegun Thaddaeus, PhD
Department of History and Diplomatic Studies, Crawford University, Faith City, Igbesa, Ogun State
Email: thaddaeusadeniyi@gmail.com, oluwasegun.adeniyi@crawforduniversity.edu.ng
Abstract
Throughout human history, environment factors have always played an important role in the settlement pattern of people. The movement of people started as far back as 1500 A.D when they started the movement from present day Ghana, Togo, Republic of Benin and other neighbouring countries where they were able to cross Kweme sea to Wesere, Agonrin, Ganyingbo, Gbaji river and settled at Badagry. Most people who cross river Gbaji were fishermen and their women folks mat weavers. In writing this paper, the authors opined that Badagry was not an emporium of slave trade as Europeans made us to believe in the 19th and 20th centuries. Rather, it was the atrocities of the slavers that made the people abandoned their occupations and flee to other settlements for safety. It gradually led to the destruction of indigenous economy and advancement in the trade in slaves in the 19th and 20th centuries. The research methodology involved collection of data, interpretation and analysis of primary and secondary sources, as well as researchers’ experiences and observations on the field work in Badagry. Relevant archival sources and internet materials were used in the writing of the paper but with a lot of cautions to guide against illogical presentation of facts.
Keywords: Migrations, Settlement, Environment, Quarters, Methodology