Elmina & Cape Coast

This weekend I went to Elmina, the site of the 1st West African Slave Trade Fort. Elmina was originally a fishing and salt-producing village, (pictured: the boats ready for sea!)

until the mid 15^th century when the Portuguese arrived in search of gold. The Portuguese named the town after the gold mines they found there, which soon became “El Mina.” Gold is common in the area and formed an important part of the trade industry.

St. George's castle was originally built as a Franciscan church, and is one of the oldest European structures outside of Europe. (pictured: St. George's viewed from the road)

<---original Franciscan Church

Courtyard built around the Church---->

The castle was later renovated and served as a slave fort for over 200 years under the Portuguese, Dutch, and finally the British. Slaves from all over West Africa were led in shackles to Elmina, where they were sorted and kept in dungeons for up to 3 months before the ships arrived. Millions of people were traded as slaves to the Americas in return for alcohol, guns, fabrics, and Bibles.

<----doorway into women's dungeon

"Cell of No Return" where rowdy slaves were left to die-->

Cape Coast, 10km west of Elmina, is a town with a similar history. It was ruled at different times by the Portuguese, Dutch, Germans, and British before it was finally closed at the end of the slave trade in the mid-nineteenth century.

Cape Coast's Castle Courtyard:

Me in the Courtyard!:

View from the castlefront:

Standing in the slave dungeons where literally thousands of Africans died en route to the Americas was definitely a profound tourist experience. Thankfully, the towns seemed to have done a wonderful job of recovering from their atrocious pasts. Elmina has even returned to its fishing roots. The traditional African lifestyle bustling right in the shadows of the slave fort is quite an interesting contrast, and stands as a reminder of the past as well as hope for a peaceful future.