8/5/2023 0 Comments Castle on the coast of africa![]() Somewhat moving, these tours literally walk visitors through the history of slave castles, bringing to life the heartbreaking experiences of the slaves.Įxtremely popular among African American tourists who want to find out more about their heritage, nowadays the castles are also welcoming more and more local Ghanaians interested in learning about the slave period in their country. Castles such as Elmina, Cape Coast and Ussher Fort have been turned into museums and offer guided tours. Today 30-odd surviving forts, castles and former trading posts can be found along Ghana’s coast, many bearing witness to the largest (forced) migration in history and to the atrocities humanity is capable of committing. Jago), on the hill opposite Elmina Castle, which overlooked its big brother’s house of horrors. Mindful of possible attacks, the Dutch built a bastion, Fort Coenraadsburg (also known as St. Men were sent to the condemned cell with no lighting and were starved to death, while women were beaten and chained to cannon balls in the courtyard. In the dungeons light could only enter through the doorways or a few small holes at either end of the ceiling. ![]() The conditions were similar to that of the neighboring Cape Coast Castle. The Dutch made some substantial changes to the Castle, such as setting up a marketplace where slaves could be auctioned. In 1637, the Dutch seized control of the Gold Coast and continued to use the Elmina Castle as a place to ‘store’ slaves until their departure. However, by the 17th century most of this trade was in people. Over the decades, various parts of the Castle were rebuilt, with trade remaining its main focus. Known as the oldest European structure in Ghana, the castle’s construction began in 1482 following the arrival of the Portuguese on the Gold Coast in 1471, and served to protect the Portuguese settlement area, named São Jorge da Mina (St. George’s Castle), situated in the town of Elmina about 13 kilometers from the Cape Coast Castle. About 10-15% perished at sea during the so-called Middle Passage, never reaching their final destination.Īnother famous slave castle is the Elmina Castle (often called St. But by this point, the irreversible and immeasurable damage was done, and from West Africa alone it is estimated that six million slaves had been shipped to other countries. The majestic fortresses along Ghana’s breathtaking coast housed dark dungeons, overflowing with misery and despair, right up until the slave trade was gradually abolished by each of the colonial powers in the first half of the 1800s. From holding gold, ivory and other wares, the castles gradually imprisoned slaves, who were reduced to yet another commodity. ![]() Placed strategically as links in the trade routes established by the Portuguese in the 15th century, who were the first settlers on the Gold Coast, the forts thereafter were seized, attacked, exchanged, sold and abandoned during almost four centuries of struggle between European powers for domination over the Gold Coast.Īs early as the 1500s, the settlers’ interest turned to the slave trade in light of the growing demand for human labor in the New World (the Americas and the Caribbean). ![]() Back then, Ghana was called the Gold Coast due to its vast quantities of gold, and these strongholds served as fortified trading posts offering protection from other foreign settlers and threats from the African population. Between 14, clusters of castles and forts were erected along the 500 kilometer-long coastline of Ghana between Keta in the East and Beyin in the west.
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