Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has lent his support to a campaign seeking to honor Igbo ancestors more than two centuries after a historic act of resistance at Igbo Landing.
The campaign focuses on a tragic event in May 1803, when enslaved Igbo people brought to St. Simons Island, Georgia, walked into the sea in defiance of their captors. This mass suicide has become a powerful symbol of resistance against slavery and a cornerstone of memory for both the Gullah Geechee people and the Igbo diaspora.
Soyinka’s endorsement has helped amplify the campaign’s message locally, nationally, and internationally, drawing attention to the historical and cultural importance of Igbo Landing. Advocates say commemorating the site will preserve the legacy of those who resisted bondage while educating future generations on the brutal realities of the transatlantic slave trade.
The Gullah Geechee are an African American ethnic group inhabiting the Low country region of the United States, including coastal areas and Sea Islands across Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida. They are direct descendants of enslaved West and Central Africans, including the Igbo people. For the Gullah Geechee and broader Igbo communities, Igbo Landing is both a sacred and symbolic site, representing courage, resilience, and a refusal to submit to oppression.
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Central to the campaign is the idea of giving the Igbo ancestors a “befitting funeral,” in accordance with traditional Igbo customs. In Igbo culture, funerary rites play a vital role in ensuring that the deceased’s spirit transitions peacefully to the afterlife. These ceremonies often involve community participation, burial rituals (Ikwa Ozu), libations, and symbolic sacrifices to honor the dead and protect the living.
The campaign has outlined several objectives, including erecting a historical marker, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting education. A marker was unveiled on May 24, 2022, at Old Stables Corner on St. Simons Island by the Georgia Historical Society, marking a first step toward recognizing the site’s historical significance. Organizers hope the initiative will be incorporated into school curricula, ensuring that young people understand the events at Igbo Landing and their ongoing relevance to discussions about human rights and social justice.
By combining scholarly advocacy with cultural and historical recognition, the campaign aims to transform Igbo Landing from a site of tragedy into a place of reflection, remembrance, and education for generations to come.
Africa Daily News, New York.
