Cape Coast.
Last weekend Myself and two other volunteers went to Cape Coast. It is about 120km North of Kasoa where I am based. I went there is style. Tro Tro. This meant being squeezed up against other people for just over 2 and a half hours. In this time I have never seen so many diversions or pot hols. Though it all added to the ride.
Cape Coast was once called the Gold Coast and was once the capital of Ghana until 1876. The place is emphamis (hope that is spelt right) for many things. One, that it had the first university in the country. Two, is the great views and golden sands (these however are very very dirty and smell sooo sooo bad). Three, sadly for the base of the largest slave trade in the world.
THE SLAVE TRADE
The slave trade which is also known by many other names was resonsible for about 60 million Africans being removed from thier homes. Of this less than a 1/4 made it to the new lands. They either died on thier way to the dungins (they had to walk), in the Dungins or on the ships. This means that about 12 to 20 million slaves made it to thier new lands which were all around Europe, some to USA, and South America. This would take about 5 weeks and it was not unusual to lose about 50% of those abroad. Chiefs were involved in the slave trade by offering not only their slaves from war but also their own. In return they got 1 gun for every women and 3 for every man that made it to the Dungins. The slave trade offically ended in 1807 by the British. It took several more years however for all other countries to follow suit.
Elina Castle is about 12km away in the town of Elina and was built by the Portregues. The town is a fishing town and has about 20,000 people. The castle is much older and was built in about 1490(I know it is over 500 years old and the oldest building in Africa anyway and it was started in 1481). It also I think looks a lot more like a traditional castle. This castle too, went through many holders in its time. The slave trade history is very simular. From what I saw however the coniditons for the slaves were worse than those at Elimina. One of the differences were was that if a female slave got pregnant and had the child she would be put up in a nice place and looked after by Dutch when they were in control which is now an overpriced resturant.
THE RIDE HOME
Never try to eat on a sunday in Cape Coast. Nothing is open as everyone is at church. In the whole day before tea I had about 400ml of water, a frozzen yoghurt and that was it. So this made the journey home a lot harder to handle. It took us about 30 mins plus some to find the right station to go to, as everyone was telling us a differnt place. then we got our tickets (which is strange as we have never had tickets before). Found out the tickets was for a tro tro that was way to full so we did not want to get on. Our tickets were just taken away from us, with ous standing there. Lucky the person who did this simply on sold them to other people and we had to go and get more tickets. somehow for the same price we took a bus back. It was comfortable and even had a tv which they played two African movies. Pretenter 2 and Choice. Both of which I would be happy never to see again. But at least now i can say I have watched African movies.
But yeah. Cape Coast overall was interesting. It was very dirty and depressing looking often. I changed my mind on liking it over the 3 days we were there. Kakum (Protected forrest) which I have not writen about was fantastic as I loved walking on the canopys 300 mtrs above the ground. If ever in Ghana it is certainly a must.
Cape Coast was once called the Gold Coast and was once the capital of Ghana until 1876. The place is emphamis (hope that is spelt right) for many things. One, that it had the first university in the country. Two, is the great views and golden sands (these however are very very dirty and smell sooo sooo bad). Three, sadly for the base of the largest slave trade in the world.
THE SLAVE TRADE
The slave trade which is also known by many other names was resonsible for about 60 million Africans being removed from thier homes. Of this less than a 1/4 made it to the new lands. They either died on thier way to the dungins (they had to walk), in the Dungins or on the ships. This means that about 12 to 20 million slaves made it to thier new lands which were all around Europe, some to USA, and South America. This would take about 5 weeks and it was not unusual to lose about 50% of those abroad. Chiefs were involved in the slave trade by offering not only their slaves from war but also their own. In return they got 1 gun for every women and 3 for every man that made it to the Dungins. The slave trade offically ended in 1807 by the British. It took several more years however for all other countries to follow suit.
CAPE COAST CASTLE
Cape Coast Castle which was orginally built for the purpose of transporting gold was built in 1662 by the Sweds. It then changed hands to the Dans in 1665. The British then had it after this and manage to secure it until 1876. The place held about 1000 slaves at anyone time. They came from Mali. Burkina Faso, Tago and many many more. The castle held about 5,000 slaves annually. The castle had sections for women and men. Both were very dark and had no toilet facilities. Put simply it was just damp concrete. Here the salves would have to stay for up to 3 months while they waited for their ship to arrive. While inside they were chained to about 20kg balls ( I know that is not the right word, my mind has gone dead). They were feed about once or twice a week. It was common for the women to be rapped by the General who was there. He would stand on his balcony and get the women to stand outside. He would then choose his woman. She was cleaned and given some food so that she would not collapse. AFter this she was often rapped a further 10x by members of the Generals staff. She would then be put back in the Dungin. When the shipped arrived, all surviving slaves were made to walk to the "Gate of no Return" It was not until 14 years ago did the decendent chiefs of those invovled in the slave trade make an appology. A plark on one of the walls now indicates this.
ELMINA CASTLE
Elina Castle is about 12km away in the town of Elina and was built by the Portregues. The town is a fishing town and has about 20,000 people. The castle is much older and was built in about 1490(I know it is over 500 years old and the oldest building in Africa anyway and it was started in 1481). It also I think looks a lot more like a traditional castle. This castle too, went through many holders in its time. The slave trade history is very simular. From what I saw however the coniditons for the slaves were worse than those at Elimina. One of the differences were was that if a female slave got pregnant and had the child she would be put up in a nice place and looked after by Dutch when they were in control which is now an overpriced resturant.
THE RIDE HOME
Never try to eat on a sunday in Cape Coast. Nothing is open as everyone is at church. In the whole day before tea I had about 400ml of water, a frozzen yoghurt and that was it. So this made the journey home a lot harder to handle. It took us about 30 mins plus some to find the right station to go to, as everyone was telling us a differnt place. then we got our tickets (which is strange as we have never had tickets before). Found out the tickets was for a tro tro that was way to full so we did not want to get on. Our tickets were just taken away from us, with ous standing there. Lucky the person who did this simply on sold them to other people and we had to go and get more tickets. somehow for the same price we took a bus back. It was comfortable and even had a tv which they played two African movies. Pretenter 2 and Choice. Both of which I would be happy never to see again. But at least now i can say I have watched African movies.
But yeah. Cape Coast overall was interesting. It was very dirty and depressing looking often. I changed my mind on liking it over the 3 days we were there. Kakum (Protected forrest) which I have not writen about was fantastic as I loved walking on the canopys 300 mtrs above the ground. If ever in Ghana it is certainly a must.
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