In 2002, during a high-stakes Zimbabwean presidential election, I found myself in urgent need of a visa to observe the situation as part of an international trade union delegation. Faced with time constraints, I sought out the Zimbabwean High Commissioner to Nigeria. While waiting at the embassy, I encountered Lindsay Carlton Eseoghene Barret. He was leaving a meeting with the ambassador, and after a brief conversation with me, he intervened on my behalf. Thanks to his influence, the High Commissioner expedited my visa process.
This brief encounter showcased the global reach of Barret, a man who could have chosen anywhere in the world to call home, but instead, he followed his heart back to Africa—specifically Nigeria—where he would spend decades shaping culture, politics, and journalism. His journey from Jamaica, where his ancestors had been taken over 400 years prior, to Africa, was a personal and profound quest for reconnection.
### From Jamaica to Africa
Barret’s African odyssey began in 1966 when, at the age of 25, he left Paris to attend the First Festival of Black and African Arts and Culture in Senegal. From there, he had intended to move on to Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana to explore the land of his ancestors. However, before the festival concluded, Nkrumah’s government was overthrown in a coup, orchestrated by the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Undeterred, Barret made his way to Sierra Leone as a correspondent for *West African Magazine*. There, he was advised by Professor Davidson Abioseh Nicol, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Sierra Leone, that Nigeria would be the ideal place for him to fulfill his quest. In July 1966, Barret moved to Nigeria, already well-acquainted with literary giants such as John Pepper Clark and Wole Soyinka. Nigeria became his permanent home, and he eventually naturalized as a citizen, adopting Bayelsa State as his own.
### Navigating Nigerian History
Barret arrived in Nigeria just months before the outbreak of the Civil War. His commitment to the country’s unity saw him use his talents to help promote reconciliation during and after the conflict. He was present at a pivotal 1970 ceremony in Owerri, where peace was formally brokered between Biafra and the Nigerian government.
Barret also played a key role in regional peace-building efforts, especially in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf acknowledged his contribution to gender equality and regional cooperation, saying, “Lindsay gave his tremendous talent of thought and words, without meaningful compensation, as he sought to promote gender equality and regional cooperation.”
### A Renaissance Man of Africa
Lindsay Barret’s talents are numerous—novelist, playwright, poet, essayist, journalist, publisher, broadcaster, photographer, and literary critic. He excelled in all these fields, using his skills to tell the stories of Africa and its people. His works reflected a deep commitment to the Black Diaspora and a desire to reconnect with his roots.
His friendships with key figures in West Africa, such as Kofi Awoonor and Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer, are testament to the respect he garnered across the continent. Sawyer, the former Interim President of Liberia, affectionately referred to Barret as “Sir Lind” and praised his dedication to Africa. He described Barret’s writing on ECOWAS and its role in Liberia as “authentic, insightful and professional.”
### Impact on Nigeria and Beyond
Barret’s impact on Nigeria has been profound. His work as a journalist and author has helped shape the narrative of Nigeria’s modern history. Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan commended Barret for his efforts in amplifying the voices of Black people and sustaining a hopeful narrative through his works. Retired General Ike Omar Sanda Nwachukwu, a long-time friend of Barret, wrote, “He is calm as a dove yet strikes like an eagle. He is discerning and unafraid to report or comment on any matter of national interest. He stands by the truth.”
Barret’s influence on Nigerian journalism is equally significant. When he turned 80 on September 15, 2021, some of Nigeria’s most respected columnists paid tribute to him. Peter “Pan” Enahoro humorously remarked from his home in London, “Today is your commencement of real old age… If what you say is a load of nonsense, people will struggle to make sense of it thinking you profound.” Similarly, Uncle Sam Amuka, publisher of *Vanguard Newspapers*, praised Barret as a cherished “Naija idol.”
### A Living Ancestor
On Sunday, September 15, 2024, Lindsay Barret marked his 83rd birthday. Alongside my elders, Epa Tom Odemwingie and Aare Agbaakin Wole Olaoye, I went on a pilgrimage to his home in Abuja to celebrate with the man who has become a living ancestor. We brought with us a bottle of wine, the drink of elders in the Niger Delta, and paid our respects to a man who has dedicated his life to telling the stories of Africa and its people.
Barret remains a towering figure—a global citizen who found his home in Nigeria and used his talents to navigate the cultural and political currents of his time. Through his works and his life, he has left an indelible mark on the African continent and the wider Black world.
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