Badagry and Oriade give Lagos State in Nigeria distinct characteristics: Badagry focuses on architectural and commemorative history, while Oriade highlights mat weaving, agricultural traditions and coastal areas. The destination thus brings together historic buildings and museums, a craft passed down through generations, and varied coastal landscapes. Lagos offers several thematic points of interest for travelers interested in both culture and landscape.

Badagry: Architectural history and remembrance

In the Boekoh neighborhood of Badagry, the First Storey Building in Nigeria was built in June 1845 by Rev. C.A. Gollmer as a CMS vicarage. In 1846, Bishop Ajayi Crowder translated the English Bible into Yoruba in the same building. The combination of its stated function and translation work links architectural history with an episode in linguistic history. For clarity, note the distinction between the dates: June 1845 marks its construction as a vicarage, while 1846 marks the translation into Yoruba.

Badagry’s museums focus on other themes. Today’s Badagry Heritage Museum was formerly the District Officer’s Office and was converted into a museum in 2002. The Mobee Family Museum in the Boekoh quarters contains relics from the 16th- to 19th-century slave trade. The Barracoon in Badagry is now a small museum with artifacts related to the transatlantic slave trade. These places can be distinguished by their themes: the Heritage Museum by its former administrative function, the Mobee Family Museum by its collection of historically dated relics, and the Barracoon by its focus on the transatlantic slave trade. The Badagry local government describes the Vlekete Slave Market as Nigeria’s largest and most populous slave market. The Agia Tree in Badagry is associated with Nigeria’s first Christmas celebration on December 25, 1842; the original tree fell in 1959.

Oriade: Craft, agriculture and coast

A different cultural perspective comes to the fore in Oriade. Mat weaving is an indigenous craft passed down through generations. Twelve Farm is an agricultural cultural site that showcases indigenous farming traditions. These represent two distinct cultural aspects: a traditional craft and a cultural site focused on agriculture. This distinction helps explain Oriade’s cultural focus beyond individual buildings or collections.

Oriade’s coastal areas also offer different points of interest. Refiner Beach is a stretch of coast with calm waters and natural beauty. Okun Ilashe Beach is a deep-water beach with diverse marine life and a local fishing culture. Ilashe Beach is a secluded beach with golden sand. Koko Beach is an expansive coastline with a fresh sea breeze and fishing canoes. One distinction stands out in comparison: Okun Ilashe Beach combines marine life and fishing culture, while Koko Beach is defined by its expansive coastline and fishing canoes.

Discover more destinations: Obalende, Lagos, Maryland, Ikeja, Agege, Mushin, Lekki, Apapa, Epe, Ikorodu, Ikotun, Badagry, Sangotedo, ISAWO, Ojodu.

For the main travel overview: Nigeria.