Abaddon in Paradise

Well I went to Badagry and got my sea shells and a lot more than what I bargained for. Initially I was not as emotional as I thought I would be. there was not much to see in my view but there was a whole lot to imagine. We were showed around these tiny little holding cells where people were crammed into for months at a time. The ceilings were of corrugated iron so essentially there were sweat boxes.

We then walked to the small boat where the captives crossed over to the small island called the point of no return where they would walk a mile or so to the sea where huge ships were waiting to take them on a journey to hell by fire. They first would stop at his evil little well of forgetfulness where they would be brainwashed into forgetting where they came from and agree by force that they were to accept that they would never return.

We walked the last stretch to the beach in relative silence. Listening to the thunder of the waves as the pounded against the beach is what brought it home; and it was there as I looked out to sea that the emotions just washed over me. Try as I might though there is no way I can even begin to understand the fear and lostness they were feeling or thinking so I won't even try. All I know is the scenery was the same today as it was then.... paradise. The blue green of the ocean its majesty and omnipotence, the valor of the sun's shine, the whisper of the breeze; In all of that glory of nature, all this power in all of this perfection, these people were marched mercilessly and without dignity into cramped conditions chained hand to foot. They were sent first up the coast to the next port where human cargo waited for their turn to board the ship bound for a destination unknown to them at the time, but for those who survived it was later revealed to be perdition. We were told that if 10,000 people made the crossing, between 2000-3000 would survive. The others, God rest their souls, ended up in the sea. I wonder if anyone really took the time to unchain them and if sometimes the living, the sick and the dead were all thrown in together.

Thoughts for another day. I have included a few pictures. Believe it or not on this day I forgot my camera at home and we used Betul's. What I saw though, whether physically or in my mind, will never be erased. It humbles me completely to think that someone like me walked where I walked, saw what I saw and heard what I heard. I however did not hear what they heard, see what they saw or feel what they felt. I am not sure what I should think but what I do think is that those who survived must have had some will to live and been strong in heart, mind and soul. The suffering did not stop with the crossing, that sadly was only the beginning....