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Where it's at
Elmina is located along the southern Cape Coast region of
Ghana, west of Accra. The town itself is primarily a fishing
port, with a bustling commercial scene and lively atmosphere.
Famous on account of the colonial fort built here in 1482
by the Portuguese, the small fishing village of Elmina is
a picturesque stop-off along Cape Coast steeped in history.
This area became heavily competed for in terms of its strategic
position for trade, by other European powers. As the plantations
in America took off, the trade in slaves expanded, and Elmina
became the last place many thousands of Africans would see
of their homeland, for many also it would be the last place
they would see altogether, due to the high death rates incurred
during the middle passage in such abominable conditions. At
the height of the trade, 30,000 slaves were passing through
Elmina each year on their way to the Americas. This continued
for nearly three hundred years in appalling conditions. There
were many horrors witnessed here, as it is where the slaves
were detained and tortured before being shipped to the 'New
World'.
History of Elmina Castle
The Portuguese built the castle of St George El Mina
in 1482, in a region rich in gold and ivory resources. Elmina
Castle is one of West Africa's oldest standing buildings;
it means 'the mine' in Portuguese. It was also the first permanent
structure south of the Sahara built by the Europeans. The
dungeons are the most poignant a reminder of those dark times.
The castle served as an outpost for the Portuguese to trade
their goods for slaves, many thousands being kept in the dark,
damp dungeons. It was also heavily guarded against attacks
by other European empires that were keen on gaining its strategic
position, yet not so heavily guarded against less likely inland
attacks by the Africans. The cannons are still in evidence
from the conflicting time. The Dutch captured the castle in
the mid sixteen hundreds after previous unsuccessful attempts,
and other nations that fought to control it include the English.
The castle was originally a trading post for the countries
gold, ivory and timber, this later developed into a point
on the infamous slave triangle transporting human cargo to
America and the Caribbean, raw materials such as cotton and
rubber to Britain and manufactured goods such as clothing
and weaponry back to the West Coast of Africa.
Visiting Elmina today
You can tour the castle with a guide for C/3000 (US$0.40),
and don't forget your camera as the views here are terrific.
If you fancy strolling around at your own pace, entrance to
Elmina Castle costs C/1000. Opposite you can visit Fort
St Jago, the primary defence for the castle against it's
many invasions, and it has now been converted into a guesthouse
providing visitors with accommodation. The entrance and tour
prices are the same as for the castle.
Where to stay
If you don't fancy staying in the renovated fort, your other
options for accommodation include Nyansapow Hotel for
under US$7.50 or the Oyster Bay Hotel for under US$15.
Other things to see and do
The famous festival in Elmina, Bakatue, takes place
on the first Tuesday in July. The literal meaning of the festival
is the opening of the Benya lagoon into the sea, symbolically
it celebrates the beginning of the fishing season, marked
by a parade of the towns chiefs in their full regalia, followed
by singers, dancers and stilt walkers.
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