Marlon Jackson combines Jackson 5 memorabilia and slave tourism with 5 star resort in Nigeria

I know.  The first thing when I read this article is scratch my head and say “huh?”  I don’t want to bias this too much, rather just put it out there and you tell me what you think.  However, I’ll say that there’s something unsettling about this whole concept.

Here are some excerpts.

BBC News– JACKSONS STAR IN NIGERIA RESORT ROW

One of pop superstar Michael Jackson’s brothers, Marlon, is involved in a controversial plan to develop a $3.4bn (£2.4bn) slavery memorial and luxury resort in Badagry, Nigeria.

The historic slave port is to be transformed through the bizarre combination of a slave history theme park and a museum dedicated to double Grammy-winning pop-soul group the Jackson Five.

The idea is that the band will help attract African-American tourists keen to trace their roots back to Nigeria.

The men behind the plan say it will honour the history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and provide employment opportunities for Nigerians…

…The developers say the Badagry Historical Resort will be marketed to African-American tourists as a mixture of luxury tourist attractions and historical education.

Visitors will be able to see the route their ancestors walked, shackled together as they were whipped toward the “point of no-return”.

They can then retire to their five-star hotel to drink cocktails by the pool…

…Currently fewer than 300,000 tourists visit Nigeria in a year, they say.

It is impossible to get a visa without a letter of invitation.

Flights to Nigeria are expensive, and there is little tourist infrastructure to cater for European or American consumers when they get there.

And then there is the country’s reputation as a chaotic and violent place.

What is Marlon Jackson thinking?

As an African American traveler, are you ready to make travel plans for Nigeria as the result of this resort opening?

Is this exploitation of history or a savvy business move?