He Was a Slave… Then He Built a Slave Prison

Badagry, Nigeria holds some of the most powerful and painful stories of the transatlantic slave trade. In this documentary, I visited the Brazilian Barracoon a holding prison where enslaved Africans were kept before being shipped across the Atlantic. But the story goes deeper. This is also the story of Seriki Williams Abass, a man who was once enslaved himself… yet later became a major slave merchant in Badagry. And just a short distance away stands Nigeria’s first storey building, a symbol of a different path. Here, we explore the life of Ajayi Crowther, a former slave who returned to fight oppression through education, language, and faith. Two men. One history. Different choices. This documentary explores the contrast between slavery and freedom, power and responsibility, and how the legacy of Badagry still speaks today. If you enjoyed this video, please like, share, and subscribe for more powerful African history stories. Let me know in the comments, what are your thoughts on this story?