For many Afro-Brazilians, Africa is not an abstraction. It lives in rhythms, rituals, names, foods and faiths passed quietly through generations. Yet for centuries, the physical connection to the continent was severed by the violence of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

One place, however, has remained a powerful point of return: Badagry, a historic coastal kingdom in present-day Lagos State, Nigeria.

Badagry is recognised by historians as one of the principal departure points through which enslaved Africans were transported to Brazil. For descendants seeking to reconnect with ancestral origins, the town represents both loss and homecoming.

Over the years, Badagry has welcomed Afro-Brazilian delegations — priests of Candomblé, cultural leaders, historians and families — who journeyed across the Atlantic to retrace broken lineages and reclaim memory.

At the centre of this reconnection stood His Majesty De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, the #Akran of Badagry, who recently joined his ancestors. During his reign, the monarch became a deeply respected figure among Afro-Brazilian communities, known for receiving visitors not as foreigners, but as returning descendants.

Visitors from Brazil often described encounters at the palace as emotional and affirming. Through royal receptions, spiritual rites and cultural dialogue, the Akran affirmed Badagry’s role as a custodian of ancestral identity. For many Afro-Brazilians, he came to symbolise a royal father figure — one who recognised the pain of separation and offered dignity in return.

Speaking from Brazil following news of his passing, Baba Paulo de Xangô, a respected Afro-Brazilian cultural figure, recalled those moments of welcome, saying simply: “He received us back home several times.” His words echo a shared sentiment across the diaspora — that Badagry, through its monarch, never closed its doors to its scattered children.

The death of the Akran has therefore been mourned not only in Nigeria, but also in Brazil, where Afro-Brazilian communities recognise the loss of a monarch who helped transform ancestral memory into lived reconnection. His reign strengthened cultural exchange between Badagry and Brazil, reinforcing spiritual, linguistic and historical links that survived centuries of displacement.

Today, Badagry continues to stand as a bridge between Africa and Brazil — a place where history is remembered not only in monuments, but in relationships. Though De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I has joined his ancestors, his legacy endures in the growing movement of Afro-Brazilians returning to the source of their heritage.

For many, the journey to Badagry is no longer just about history. It is about belonging. And in that story of return, the late Akran will be remembered as a king who opened the gates of home.