Marlon Jackson, Michael Jackson’s Brother Planning ‘Slavery Theme Park’ in Nigeria

Marlon Jackson, a former member of the Jackson Five, is involved in plans to build the Badagry Historical Resort Development Project, which would feature a memorial and a museum about slavery. Well, there’s some controversy brewing on this “project.” Some historians have condemned the project, which would include a theme park with a slave ship replica, along with casinos, shops, a golf course and condominiums. When I think relaxation, I am not thinking about being reminded of slavery and being pissed off at the treatment of Africans. I guess this project would be something for Jackson to do, but it’s not what we need now. This is all about money, since his brother hasn’t exactly had a hit in years, nor his sister Janet, for that matter.

The resort would also house memorabilia from the glory years of the Jackson Five, the classic Motown group known for hits including “ABC” and “I Want You Back”. The development group has said it hopes that the band will help attract African-American tourists keen to trace their roots back to Nigeria.

“This will be an adventurous ride giving you an historical overview of African music. From hologram images, concert footage, a state of the art recording facility, to robotic figures displaying the rhythmic beats from 300 years ago where music began leading up to the biggest African group in the world, The Jackson Five,” says literature from the investment group behind the plan, called The Motherland Group (TMG). Source: UK Telegraph

Exploitation comes to mind when I think about the benefits of this hair-brained scheme. The article states that visitors would be able to visit a replica slave ship and walk the route their shackled ancestors walked before playing a round of golf or relaxing by a pool.

The group has claimed that the slavery theme will help draw tourists and emphasized that its goal is to make Nigeria a “major world player” in African tourism. Gary Loster, former mayor of the city of Saginaw, Michigan, who is involved in the project, said the group hopes that the project can eventually be turned over to Nigerian owners. Gary Loster, news flash: we are in an economic tailspin and your state, Michigan, is in the middle of it. Use your time and efforts to help your state and stop trying to force a new monument to slavery down our throats. As for Marlon Jackson, he’s just looking to capitalize on his name. He couldn’t care less about the implications of slavery. I seriously doubt that we can visit a slavery theme park and have the same feelings as we would from a visit to Disney World.

Filed under: Badagry Historical Resort Development Project, Gary Loster, Jackson Five, Marlon Jackson, Nigeria, Tribute to Slavery