Legendary American-African musician and dancer Jeffrey Daniel has called on Africans in the diaspora to reconnect with their roots by visiting or relocating to the continent, following his own permanent move to Nigeria.
Daniel, a founding member of the iconic soul-funk group Shalamar and pioneer of the backslide dance move famously popularized as Michael Jackson’s moonwalk, made the call during a courtesy visit to Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in Abuja.
Reflecting on his experience at the fifth Badagry Door of Return Festival, Daniel described the moment as one of joy, healing, and reconnection. He likened the Door of Return to a spiritual gateway that contrasts sharply with the painful history of the Point of No Return, where enslaved Africans were forcibly taken away.
The American dancer highlighted the global achievements of Nigerians in diaspora, noting that many excel in technology, sports, science, and the arts. He urged Africans worldwide to return home and contribute to rebuilding the continent, emphasizing that Nigeria should never be abandoned despite its challenges.
Welcoming him, Hon. Dabiri-Erewa described Daniel’s return as historic and symbolic, reinforcing NIDCOM’s mandate to encourage diaspora Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to reconnect, reinvest, and contribute to national development. She noted that Daniel’s decision sends a powerful message of identity, heritage, and cultural reconnection.
Daniel, 70, remained active in the global music scene and continues to perform with Shalamar, while also serving as a former judge on Nigerian Idol.
