Traditional Languages, Religions And Works Of Badagrian
The traditional language of Badagry people is Egun or Ogu with its different dialects. The summary of the answer to this question from the focus group discussion carried out at the palace describe this better: ‘The Badagry people are the Ogu people erroneously called Egun by other Yoruba speaking people. Their language is also called the Ogu language. They are from four main stocks, namely: the Ga/Ewe, the Whedah, the Whemes, and the Whlas (Whras). The Ogu people of Badagry have their kith and kins in the people’s republic of Benin (formerly Dahomey), Ghana (formerly Gold coast), and the Togo republic. ’ Other languages identified include Yoruba and Tapa.
The different traditional languages are Egun and Yorubas, while some people speak Tapa during Igunuko festival. ’(Interview)Badagry indigenes had their indigenous religious which was characterized by the worship of the Supreme God serviced by numerous divinities called Vodus equivalent to the Yoruba Orishas. These are local divinities and ancestral spirits who served as intermediaries between Man and God. There are numerous Vodus; each with distinctive devotees and festival occasions. Vodus practice is common among the Egun people; so is ancestor worship/veneration. Religious festivals for masquerades such as the Igunuko, Verrekete, Zangeto and Oro are grand, and these enjoy the massive participation of the indigenes from far and near. In Badagry, traditional religious are practiced jointly with Christianity and Islam. Respondents listed religious practice in Badagry to include: ‘Zangbeto, Egun, Oro, gelede, Igunnuko, Muslim and Christian’. ’Ogu, Oya, sango, Vodus, etc.’. ’Olokun and Yemoja e. g. Toplesen, Vudu, Vete. . . In Badagry there are Christians, msulims and traditionalists. . . In Ajara region of Badagry they worship gods like Ajahungbo, Vothun, Hevioso, Athiti, Vete, etc and goddesses like Humesole Othan and Votheun. ’
The Badagry indigenes are traditionally open-minded and accommodating in matters of religion. Religious fanatics are not common among them. There are several die-hards who are either Traditionalist to the core, Christian to the core or Muslim to the core, such do not partake in multiple religion. But for majority of the people, Christians and Muslims still participate in one traditional religion or the other. The underlying philosophy of this behaviour can be found in the following adages as rendered by the Setenme of Badagry Kingdom, Gbonugan Sehubo O Ajose Harrison (aka ground pa) during interview at palace: ‘Aliho dopo ma bio ahime‘ (Egun language) Meaning ‘A market does not have only one entrance. ’ And ‘Aga kope Zisunron na ohe We Agbasa go’Meaning ‘The sky is wide enough for different bird to fly together without collision’ (Ajose-Harrison, interview)The above statements illustrate the readiness of the Badagry people to accept and possibly practice many religions at the same time. For this reason they interact during different religious festivals like Egugun (masquerade) festival, Christmas and Eid el kabir (muslim festival).
On the traditional work of Badagry people, the answers include farming and fishing which is also common among other Yoruba people. The choice of traditional areas of specialisation was related to the natural resources and location of the town. ‘Because of the lagoon in Bdagry called Badagry creek links that connects the kingdom with port Novo in Bening Republic, the main occupations of the people are fishing and farming. They also produce earrings, bangles and beads in commercial quantities’ (Ajose-Harrison)There is an old plantation formerly owned by the Roman Catholics and later taken over by the Western Region government in 1957 that is now under the control of the Lagos state government. The plantation produces coconut, coconut fiber and vegetable oils. With modernisation and closeness to Benin republic, Badagry both legal and illegal importation of goods and services are now common in Badagry.
