Descendants of Africans taken as slaves to the Americas returned to Nigeria for the fifth ‘Door of Return’ ceremony, celebrating heritage, unity, and cultural revival.
NIDCOM highlighted the participation of international dignitaries, including the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Miriam Morales Palmero.
The fifth edition of the ‘Door of Return’ celebration, organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), saw descendants of Africans taken as slaves to the Americas welcomed back to the soil of their ancestors as heroes, reconnecting with their roots and heritage.
NIDCOM Chairman and CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the event as more than a symbolic homecoming.
Speaking at the event, Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, said, “All voyages consist of two parts: the setting out and the return. No voyage is complete without the other.”
In a statement, she said the celebration not only strengthens the bridge between Nigeria and its diaspora but also holds immense economic potential for the country, particularly in terms of tourism and cultural engagement.
In a post on its official X account on Sunday, NIDCOM highlighted the participation of international dignitaries, including the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Miriam Morales Palmero.
The ambassador underscored the deep historical, cultural, and ancestral connections between Cuba and Nigeria, rooted in their shared African heritage and the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.
She noted the enduring influence of Nigerian ancestry on Afro-Cuban traditions, including the Santería religious practice.
Ambassador Morales Palmero expressed gratitude to NIDCOM and Hon. Dabiri-Erewa for organising the event, praising its role in fostering Pan-African unity and reconciliation.
She also emphasised the strong cooperation between Cuba and Nigeria in sectors such as healthcare, particularly Cuban medical expertise, education, trade, and diplomacy, pledging to deepen these ties for mutual benefit.
The ambassador further advocated for continued solidarity among African nations and their diaspora communities to address global challenges, promote economic growth, and celebrate shared resilience.
The ceremony included a solemn procession through the historic Door of No Return, a powerful symbol of the slave trade.
Participants from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Haiti, France, and the Benin Republic stepped forward with reverence, honouring their ancestral roots.
The act, described as both a spiritual and economic journey, seeks to permanently unite the African diaspora with their motherland, fostering hope, heritage, and prosperity for future generations.
“This sacred journey weaves a profound spiritual and economic bond, forever uniting the African diaspora with the nurturing embrace of the Motherland, sparking hope, heritage, and prosperity for future generations,” the statement said.
Participants expressed their gratitude to Dabiri-Erewa for leading the reconnection with their ancestral homeland, hailing her efforts as a legacy that will be remembered in history.
THIS STORY ORIGINALLY APPEARED AT SAHARA REPORTERS