Gberefu Island

Gberefu Island
Native name: Gberefu
	The two poles slightly slanted towards each other
	Gberefu Island
Geography
Location	Close to Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	6°25′01″N 2°52′59″E / 6.417°N 2.883°E
Administration
	Nigeria
State	Lagos State
Local government area	Badagry
Demographics
Ethnic groups	Ewes; Egun;
Additional information
	Gberefu Island was opened as a slave port in 1473.

Gberefu Island also known as Point of No Return is a populated historical island located in Badagry, a town and local government area of Lagos State, South-Western Nigeria.^[1] Symbolized by two poles slightly slanted towards each other and facing the Atlantic Ocean, the island was a major slave port after it was opened in 1473 during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade era.^[2] According to Nigerian historians, as many as 3 million slaves were believed to have been shipped to the Caribbean and Americas between 1518 and 1880 from the island.^[3]

People

GBEREFU ISLAND is headed by two chiefs, all crowned by the same Akran of Badagry Kingdom, and they are; I. Chief Yovoyan (The Duheto of Badagry Yovoyan/Gbragada)II. Chief Najeemu(late) (The Numeto of Badagry Gberefu). The Island's first settlers and real landlords are two Ewe communities (villages) under one umbrella, which are Gbragada, and Kofeganme (Yovoyan).

The Ewes of this Island were salt merchants and seasoned fishermen from Keta (The KETAS) around 1734, but majority of them are fishermen and farmers by occupation in the late 18th and early 19th century, although there are other ethnic groups living in the area, which comprises the Egun(Ogu)/Ilajes in one harmony with there landlords.

Etymology

Gberefu or Agbedefu- Gbe language principally in Ewe mesah- Life is trouble/difficult..^[4]^[5]

Tourism

Since Gberefu Island is an historic site, it has attracted several tourists around the world thereby increasing its notability.^[6] According to a 2015 statistics released on The Guardian, a total number of 3,634 people visited the island in 6 months.^[7]