"One of the most famous castles in Ghana's dark episode of slavery is the Cape Coast Castle. It began as a trade lodge constructed by the Portuguese in 1555 on a part of the Gold Coast, which later became known as the Cape Coast. Up to 1,000 male and 500 female slaves were shackled and crammed in the castle's dank, poorly ventilated dungeons, with no space to lie down and very little light. Without water or sanitation, the floor of the dungeon was littered with human waste and many captives fell seriously ill and died. The men were separated from the women, and the captors regularly raped the helpless women. The castle also featured confinement cells - small pitch-black spaces for prisoners who revolted or were seen as rebellious. Once the slaves set foot in the castle, they could spend up to three months in captivity under these dreadful conditions before being shipped off to the New World. The castle's involvement with slavery eventually stopped as a result of Britain's ban on the slave trade. Cape Coast Castle went back to its previous function as an essential site for (non-human) commodity trade, after which it was turned into an army training facility. In 1957, when Ghana became the first sub-saharan African state to regain independence from British colonial rule, the ownership of the Cape Coast Castle was transferred to the new government and subsequently to the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board. More than just museums, this castle and many others are filled with haunting histories, revealing the horrors of the slave trade. By serving as a strong reminder of Ghana's dark history, the castles continue to pay respect to the millions of people who suffered at the hands of slavers. They are far from forgotten, even in the 21st century. (quoted from an online article - Ghanaian Slave Castles: The Shocking Story of the Ghanaian Cape Coast" by Culture Trip) Mackenzie toured this castle, it was a heartwrenching experience and brought her to tears. The horrors of this place still live on the walls for all to see. 11/14/19
“Although relatively small in area and population, Ghana is one of the leading countries of Africa, partly because of its considerable natural wealth and partly because it was the first black African country south of the Sahara to achieve independence from colonial rule. In addition to being known for its lush forests, diverse animal life, and miles of sandy beaches along a picturesque coast, Ghana is also celebrated for its rich history—its habitation possibly dating from 10,000 BCE.” (Britannica.com) Ghana enjoys all the benefits of being politically stable and a leading democracy in Africa, due largely because of the acceptance of all belief systems. Christians, Muslims and the traditional belief systems all live side by side. They are a country of open hearted, friendly people who have welcomed Mackenzie wholeheartedly. This is a photo Mackenzie took while she was out walking in the town she is living in, called Asamankese. It’s about an hours drive north of the captial city of Accra, situated on the coast.. 11/13/19
Mackenzie has sent lots of photos home from Ghana. These are two of my favourites - her friend Joyce with her pretty pink umbrella. I couldn’t decide which one I liked best, so I combined them. I’m so very grateful for all the kind & thoughtful comments that you left on yesterday’s photo of my mother in uniform. Thank you so much, it was an emotional day for me & it helped to share it with you.... 11/12/19
