All in order for Lagos-Oyotunji Cultural Heritage Fiesta

Anti-child trafficking activist, Rotimi Vaughan, has said plans are in top gear to hold a historic cultural heritage programme, termed: “Lagos-Oyotunji Cultural Heritage Fiesta” to hold shortly at the Oyotunji African Village in Sheldon, South Carolina, USA.




 Vaughan, a lawyer and social entrepreneur, said that the festival is riding on the fact that modern slavery is an “evil reminder of the terribly dehumanizing past of the African continent.” The documentary producer said that efforts are being made by his group- JCV Project Breakfree, to battle the evil practice.


Being a direct descendant of South Carolinian Scipio Vaughan, a former slave who became a prominent and respected family man in Camden, South Carolina, United States of America until his death in 1840, Vaughan is keen to draw attention to striking data available in the area of child trafficking in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.”I have always looked forward to the day I would ably be in a position to transform my intriguing family historical account of slavery, freedom, dignity and the elevation of the black race, into a platform for promoting impactful socio-cultural relations and understanding between Africa and Americas,” he said.


Through a project known as the “Atlantic Bond Initiative, the lawyer is set to establish Strategic Promotions, Exchanges, Relations and Ties between Lagos State [City of Badagry] Nigeria, and the State of South Carolina [City of Camden] and Oyotunji African Village, Sheldon, USA.”Under the conceptualized Atlantic Bond Initiative”, windows of opportunity are now open for the establishment of mutually beneficial bilateral relations and ties between Lagos State, its government and people and the State of South Carolina, USA, its government and people.


Both areas are therefore positioned to enjoy remarkable investment and development opportunities in the areas of tourism, particularly heritage tourism, arts and culture, trade and commerce, agriculture, youth and social development, academic institutions alliances, advancing humanity while combating modern slavery,” he said.


He stated further that, “African Americans in the US, looking to re-connect to their roots, would have a huge spring board under the Atlantic Bond Initiative, from which to dive deep into their past, thereby affecting positive changes in the present State and the future.”


Vaughan also stated that a documentary he produced on modern slavery, child trafficking and forced child labour, telling the untold tearful and sad story of two trafficked girls who were reunited with their families in Ikwo community in Ebonyin State in South East Nigeria by Vaughan and his anti-modern slavery team, after three years of slavery, inhumanity and abuse, after being trafficked to Lagos from Ebonyin State, will soon premiere; titled They Just Want To Go Back Home.

THE NATION