“We Are One People”: Saint Lucia Traces Roots to Nigeria as Tinubu Makes Historic Visit

Segun Atanda/

In a historic address to the bicameral Parliament of Saint Lucia, Senate President Alvina Reynolds today revealed that most formerly enslaved people on the Caribbean island originated from Nigeria, cementing centuries-old ancestral ties between the two nations.

Reynolds, while welcoming Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the chamber, cited a British census conducted in 1815 which showed that of the 16,282 enslaved people then on the island, 3,488 were born in Africa—34% from Nigeria, 11% from the Nigeria-Cameroon region, and 22% from the Congo.

“President Tinubu’s presence here today is historic for this Parliament and for the people of Saint Lucia,” Reynolds said, adding that the visit rekindles a spiritual mission to reunite Saint Lucians with their African homeland.

She recalled the legacy of Sir Darnley Alexander, a Saint Lucian who became Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1975 to 1979—the only non-Nigerian to ever hold the position post-independence. Reynolds also acknowledged the role of Nigerian Catholic priests currently serving in Saint Lucia, including Father Festus, who was present at the joint session.

Coincidentally, the session was held on World Parliament Day. Reynolds praised Tinubu’s history of democratic activism and welcomed his presence along with other heads of government from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, in his remarks, described the visit as “a moment of freedom and celebration” and affirmed that “Saint Lucia is a small fragment of Africa.” He declared that the genetic and cultural ties between the Caribbean and West Africa, especially Nigeria, are indelible.

“Our people have been separated by time and distance, but never in spirit. We are African people who built homes in the Caribbean, always watching and praying for redemption from Africa,” Pierre said.

Referencing the 1998 visit of Nelson Mandela, the Prime Minister said Tinubu’s presence 27 years later signals a continuation of the Pan-African journey.

He highlighted the positive impact of the Nigerian community in Saint Lucia’s sectors—healthcare, religion, cuisine, and tourism—and called for deeper cooperation in air connectivity, creative industries, sports, fintech, and renewable energy.

The Prime Minister lamented the absence of direct air links between Nigeria and the Caribbean, noting that this gap limits trade, tourism, and cultural exchange. He advocated for direct flights and stronger ties, driven by popular Nigerian exports like Afrobeats music, Nollywood films, and the literature of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Saint Lucia, he noted, hosts over one million tourists annually but sees few from Africa. “This connectivity would boost investment, tourism, and deepen people-to-people connections,” he said.

Pierre revealed that a bilateral agreement is in the works to allow for the deployment of Nigerian medical personnel to support Saint Lucia’s ageing population.

The event was attended by top Caribbean leaders, including Prime Ministers Roosevelt Skerrit (Dominica), Dickon Mitchell (Grenada), Terrance Drew (Saint Kitts and Nevis), and other high-level representatives from Antigua, Montserrat, and Saint Marti.

President Tinubu’s visit marks a pivotal step in rekindling Afro-Caribbean unity, with both Saint Lucia and Nigeria pledging to build a shared future on the strength of a shared past.