Gberefu and Dokdo Island: The hidden story of two great nations

The history of the slave trade in Africa is not complete without the mention of the Gberefu Island in Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria.

As much as it has an unfortunate and tragic story, it is becoming a tourist center for Nigerians and foreigners. It is a spot where people are being slave traded to other parts of the world from Africa and Nigeria.

People are being sold to the Americas, and the nation’s natural resources are being stolen through the Atlantic Ocean. The place was referred to as a point of no return, and this long history has remained a major global issue and discussion until now with clamor and request that the stolen treasures be returned, and the giant economies should show remorse for their wrongdoings.

The history of Gberefu Island can be dated as far back as 1473 when it was opened as a slave port. Ever since its grand opening, the Point of No Return witnessed the influx of thousands of slaves from Africa to different parts of Europe and America. The slave trade went on for about 400 years, relegating the development of Africa. Countries on the west coast of Africa and central Africa became the origin of enslaved people to meet the demand for labor. In 1865, over 800 enslaved Nigerians walked along this path in Badagry, Lagos, to the Point of No return journey to the unknown world.

Many of the enslaved didn’t make it across. Some died on the ship. The revolts were fed to the shark. The peak of the trade was between 1740 and 1810. The slave trade was abolished on 25th March 1807 after William Wilberforce led the movement to abolish the slave trade. However, the slave trade was abolished in Nigeria in 1885.

The transatlantic slave trade was the largest forced migration in human history.

Dokdo, a beautiful island filled with amazing sceneries and many black-tailed gulls flying over the sea and Ulleungdo is an island in the East Sea (Japan Sea) on the east coast of South Korea.

It is a volcanic island that was formed about 2.5 million years ago. The highest point on the island is Seonginbong peak which is 984 meters (3,228 ft) high. The island is surrounded by many small islets, including Gwaneumdo Island, Jukdo, and Dokdo Island.

It is an island with some pretty spectacular scenery. Dodong is the biggest town and Jeodong is a short distance away. Dokdo is about 87.4km from Ulleungdo. It is a small rocky group of islands to the east significant for its fishing grounds and politically important because of a territory dispute with Japan. There are some beautiful murals in town. Ulleungdo is known for squid and pumpkins, and there are ogidongi and heahorang mascots around the island.

It remains a point of dispute between Japan and Korea.

At the mention of Dokdo island, foreigners will think of the beauty, the songs of the birds, peace, hiking to the top of Seonginbong peak for stunning views of the island, marine park, which is home to a variety of marine life, the fresh seafood, such as abalone, sea urchin, and squid while Koreans will remember the issues of sovereignty, the Russo-Japanese War in 1995, and the series of events that transpired until the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1953. Just like the Gberefu Island (A Point of No Return) gives memories of slavery to Nigerians, so does the mention of Dokdo Island represents an emblem that symbolized the sufferings that Korea faced in its history.

Also, the Wailing Wall and the Holo Arirang song by Lee Seungchul bring to remembrance the painful moments in history.

However, after visiting Dokdo island as a 2023 Global reporter, I could understand the reason Japan is consistently claiming the territory. It is a beautiful island with amazing natural resources, water bodies, and a huge source of revenue. It is a place any country will want to have for itself. After visiting the museum on Ulleungdo Island, taking the cable car, and walking through the mountain bridge to see an aerial view of the sea and city, walking through the Haengnam coastal path, Ga Du Bong Lighthouse, Nam yang li village, juniper forest, Yerim Garden view point, seeing the Elephant, toad and shank rocks, and the variety of plants and animals, including the Ulleungdo pine tree, salamander and the Ulleungdo rabbit, I fell so much in love with the island.