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75 per cent of African Slaves were
Nigerians
by Nkechi Oyedika
As reported in The Guardian of
November 17, 2005
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A startling revelation of how
Nigerians of productive age were taken to Europe in the wake of the slave
trade was made in Abuja yesterday. According to the Culture and Tourism
Minister, Frank Ogbuewu, 75 per cent of Africans who were sold as slaves
came from Nigeria.
Ogbuewu, said in Abuja during a
courtesy call on him by Portugal's Secretary of State Foreign Affairs, Joab
Gomes Garinbo, that this explained why most of the cultural activities
practiced in other parts of the world were similar to those of Nigeria.
He told the Portuguese Secretary
who was accompanied by the country's Ambassador to Nigeria that Nigeria had
diverse cultures that could be exploited by Portugal to advance its cultural
sector
Ogbuewu assured the delegation of
Nigeria's co-operation towards establishing firm cultural relations,
stressing that the relationship would be of immense benefit to both
countries.
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