We recommend booking Elmina Castle tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Common metals trade, iconic artistic forms, and agricultural borrowing show that trans-Saharan and regional coastal connections thrived. No fees for camera. Even in this tense atmosphere, the first story of the tower was completed after only twenty days. The Ashanti also refused to conclude a peace treaty with the British and Fante because it did not include Elmina. The purpose of these forts and their garrisons was to . Elmina Castle and its Dark History of Enslavement, Torture, and Death [1] The settlement of the North Peninsula, on the began in modern times. It can be assumed that the rapid growth of the urban population already began at that time. From the beginning of their presence at Elmina, the Portuguese tried to convert the locals into the Catholic faith through which several churches and chapels were built. The Castle houses a small museum and guided tours are available. For the right of residence, the new citizens needed the consent of the Dutch and often they had to take an oath of allegiance, which included the promise of certain work achievements for the Europeans. Both halves of old Elmina were located on the southern peninsula. In western Africa: The beginnings of European activity. Accra to Cape Coast Castle and Kakum Canopy Walk Day Tour, Elmina & Cape Coast Castles Day Trip from Accra, A Taste of West Africa - Ghana Togo & Benin, Ghanian adventure safari 8 days 7 Nights( comfort), 2 Days Cape Coast and Nzulezo Stilt Village Private Tour, Historical Day Tour to Cape Coast, Elmina and Kakum, Take Me Home 9 Days 8 Nights with 3 Region Tour, Private Cape Coast Heritage and Hiking Tour, Trails of the transatlantic slave trade in Ghana, Private Multi-Day Ghana Tour about Culture History and Wildlife - 7 Days, 3 Days Historical , Black Roots & Adventure tours in Ghana, Full-Day Private Tour to Cape Coast and Elmina from Accra, 4 Days Trip in Accra, Cape Coast,Kumasi culture & heritage tours, Black History Tour - Back to Your Roots (Accra to Assin to Cape Coast to Elmina), A must-see for foreigners and nationals alike. Azambuja sent brass basins, shawls, and other gifts in hopes of winning the goodwill of the villagers, so they would not be upset during the demolition of their homes and sacred rocks. Here the highway looks out on coconut groves lining the beach, and the massive weight of St. George's. This was the second fort / castle we visited in Ghana which was part of the West African slave trade. As of August 2006, the bridge renovation has been completed and construction on the upper terraces continues. I told him where to go and it was all that I had but he still badgered me until I closed the car door on his face, he continued through the window. The governor offered me a large sum of money as a bribe gift so that the handover would run smoothly and peacefully. Thankfully it was not a major head-on collision but it was close enough! I recently spent a couple of hours touring the "slave castle". If you've seen the roads, so called footways and general infrastructure you'll know what I mean. European involvement also disrupted traditional trade routes between coastal people and northern people by cutting out the African middlemen. St Georges Castle, a Unesco heritage site, was built as a trading post by the Portuguese in 1482, and captured by the Dutch in 1637. Their number can only be estimated. Elmina and the Ashanti have been linked by a 200-year-long alliance. The castle acted as a depot where enslaved Africans were brought in from different Kingdoms in West Africa. [38] For the first half of the 18th century, Feinberg estimated the population of Elmina at about 12,00016,000 people. Two of these new Asafos consisted of refugees from Simbo and Eguafo who had settled in Elmina after the Fante War of 1810. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. Later Dutch maps show that the areas in the west and northwest of Elmina were dominated by Eguafo / Komenda, while the areas in the east were dominated by Fetu. Four of the city's eight asafos opposed the British, and four were considered loyal. We had a good guided tour around Elmina Slave Castle. This figure went up to 377 Europeans in the 18th century. In 1625, the Dutch tried to take Elmina again with a fleet of 15 ships under Jan Dirckszoon Lam. The bigger of the two, Elmina Castle, is a white-washed fortress on the coast of the small town of Elmina in what is now modern-day Ghana. [16] The commanders came mainly from the lower nobility of Portugal and many of the common men were sentenced to exile in Elmina for offences. Renovating the bridge leading into the castle was one of the highest priority tasks in the project. [27] In the 19th century, the Free Burghers settled mainly north of the Benya Lagoon. In normal traffic about two hours and if you looking for souvenirs or something to eat you can find places nearby. At the height of the gold trade in the early sixteenth century, 24,000 ounces of gold were exported annually from the Gold Coast, accounting for one-tenth of the world's supply. How to Visit Elmina Castle (and what else to do around town) Fort St Jago lies across the lagoon from the castle, and is worth visiting for the views it offers of the town and Castle. Overall, this place is a must-see for all visitors and locals alike. Elmina castles; this castle is the oldest and largest of the early European buildings in West Africa. What are the hours of operation and when are the tours given? The old town of Elmina on the peninsula west of the fort was later destroyed. We had fun when our guide took as for a boat ride through the Elmina Township . He gave a comprehensive history and context of the castle and the times when it would have been inhabited. And let not the irony escape you of the horrors that took place right next to the beautiful seaside setting. A single trip is not enough to give a visitor the joy of the many splendors of Ghanas many attractions. Cape . Visitors may absorb the sights of the former storehouses and slave dungeons, chapels and governors chamber. Thank you, Kwamena. Prince Henry the Navigator first sent ships to explore the African coast in 1418. Since 1957 it has housed the Ghana Police Recruits Training Center and a school. Even though there was disagreement between Ashanti and the Dutch about the nature of these payments, the Dutch regularly paid two ounces of gold per month for Elmina to the new regional power which was the Ashanti Empire. The fort was the first prefabricated building of European origin to have been planned and executed in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Portuguese forbade (as later the Dutch) the enslavement of locals in the surrounding area of Elmina. In 1481, the recently crowned Joo II decided to build a fort on the coast in order to ensure the protection of this trade, which was once again held as a royal monopoly. Their Burgermeester independently concluded contracts with the Dutch. The city and the fortress of Elmina | Exploring Africa Among their ancestors were merchants and miners who traded gold to the Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds from medieval times. The tour takes about 45 minutes. Thus, in 1739/40 there were violent clashes between Elmina and Dutch when the then Governor General de Bordes refused to allow the fishermen from Elmina to pass through the Benya River into the ocean. Forts and Castles Ghana - Easy Track Ghana On the peninsula, there was also the possibility of mining sandstone for the construction of the fortress. Apart from the sound similarity, there is no evidence of this. The Ashanti captured the Elmina Note, a document in which this lease was regulated. Significant is a letter from the Portuguese king to the governor of Elmina from 1523. Contact Mr Noisty on +233 559712206. [33], Europeans never made up a significant proportion of the city's population. Tripadvisor gives a Travelers Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor. African Fashion Night Out is aMix & Mingle Night of Celebration, Education and Enjoyment Date: 30th December Time: 5pm Venue: Fancy Groove Festival 24th MASQUERADE procession, after party at Calanders Beach from 9pm till 4am 25th musical concert and after, British America (minus North America) 18.4%. Explore different ways to experience this place. The main Dutch trades were gold and slaves; they reconstructed the castle between 1770 and 1775. Another scene of interest is the cell where a King of Asante was once held prisoner. hey, the Tories are always using that line so I'll jump on the band wagon whilst I still can!. There was no direct rule of the Portuguese or Dutch over the African city. Decisive for the interest of the Portuguese in the entire coastal section was the fact that from there, the trade routes inland led to the sources of gold in the Ashanti area. There must be close to 100 of them (about every 1/2 to 1 mile) between Accra and Cape Coast. In it, he expressed his concern that the people there were being treated too harshly, resulting in the city's depopulation. Elmina - BRAND ELMINA History of Elmina, slave castle, UNESCO SITE [4][2] It is a major tourist attraction in the Central Region of Ghana. Some historians note that Christopher Columbus was among those to make the voyage to the Gold Coast with this fleet. From the vantage point of this nearby hill, the Dutch launched their successful land attack on Elmina Castle. From the outset, the Portuguese authorities determined that So Jorge da Mina would not engage directly in the slave trade, as they did not wish to disrupt the gold mining and trade routes of its hinterland with the wars necessary to capture free people and enslave them. At the end of June, a peace treaty was concluded between the Fanti Confederacy and the city of Elmina. Wanted to share details of the our Elmina Castle Tour, we were staying locally at the Lemon Beach Resort, we didn't have the time to book an official tour but glad we didn't as the tour conducted by the Guides at the Castle was amazing, informative (whilst very harrowing) engaging and very interesting. He established his own trading post. It is the oldest European structure in sub-Saharan Africa. The castle is worth a tour, both in memory of those who passed through its gates, and as a reminder against future atrocities. It was expanded when slaves replaced gold as the major object of commerce, with storerooms converted into dungeons. African Colonialism,, Bruner, Edward M. "Tourism in Ghana: The representation of slavery and the return of the Black Diaspora. This resulted in an alliance between the city of Elmina along with the Dutch as well as the Ashanti. The Portuguese were able to impose a tax on fish and newly elected local Ghanaian leaders were officially recognized by them. It is hard to give a 5 star rating for this dungeon of horrors. The Portuguese built the fort in the 15th century, it is still in good condition. According to individual sources, the city rights only referred to the fortress there and not to the African settlement. The people on the West African coast were organized into numerous populations that were drawn according to kinship lines. Buongiorno!Quanto vista lingresso adulto, quanto il tempo minimo per visitarlo? I did give them 5 but then they came out with all the teary-eyed puppy dog stories of "I need to feed my family" "my children needs to go to school" "Brexit, Covid, War in Ukraine!" The Governor-general of Elmina therefore also bore the title "Governor-General of the Northern and Southern Coasts of Africa".[24]. The Portuguese had several motives for voyaging south. When I handed over 5 the cheeky leech said, "you should double it, it'll help the children". [9] The negotiating partner of the Portuguese was a local ruler named Kwamina Ansa, called Caramansa by the Portuguese. How long a drive from Accra and if I get there at 12noon when can I enter 2 people? We had to detach him from the mob and usher him into the vehicle for his own safety. The slave quarters were a sight to see, I'm not surprised the ruler of the castle died young, what with the diseases going around back then. St. George Castle, also known as Elmina castle, is located in Central Region of Ghana, about a 3.5 hour drive along the coast from Accra. The inhabitants of the city then sent a letter to the Dutch king, protesting against the planned sale to the British and pointing to the 250-year-old joint connection. The coast of later Ghana in contrast to the inland hardly had any larger villages at that time. unimaginable. Built in 1482, this was the hub of the Portuguese (1482-1637) and Dutch slave trade (1637-1872) on the Gold Coast. In addition, non-Akan ethnic groups such as the Ewe and Ga people from eastern Ghana, settled in Elmina. By the 18th century, Asafo societies were of decisive importance for the power structure in the city. During the period of Dutch control a new, smaller fortress was built on a nearby hill to protect St. George's Castle from inland attacks. Higher-level disputes, on the other hand, were brought to the Portuguese and later to the Dutch who were viewed as neutral parties. At the urging of the Portuguese, Elmina declared itself an independent state, whose Governor then took control of the town's affairs. Next to the castle is a picturesque fishing harbour, and within walking distance are sites such as Fort Coenraadsburg (St. Jago), the Dutch cemetery, and the 'Posuban' buildings of Elmina. After the papal ban on selling firearms to Africans had already been lifted in 1481, the Portuguese began to arm their Ghanaian allies. Since the population of the city took refuge at the Castle or in the surrounding area, there were no fatalities. The king (edenahee) of Elmina was appointed by the Asafos and the Asafo leaders received a larger amount of the notes also called "food money", from the Dutch than the king. The people of Elmina were offered Portuguese protection against attacks from neighbouring coastal tribes, with whom the Portuguese had much less genial relations, even though they were friendly with the powerful trading nations in the African interior. He also looked out for our safety, ensuring that the children especially were secured away from potential hazards such as when he opened the floor flaps to the water wells and dungeons. Within walking distance to Elmina Castle, Fort St Jago originated as a chapel built between 1555 and 1558 by the Portuguese, which was later converted into a lodge and watch tower. Western Africa - Exploration, Trade, Colonization | Britannica Construction of Elmina castle was started by the Portuguese in 1482 and was originally completed in 1486. He also denied the Portuguese access to their freshwater supply. It was still used decades after the expulsion of the Portuguese in contact between Ghanaians and Europeans. 7 Amazing Forts, Fortresses and Castles in Africa - History Lists Between 1550 and 1637 the Portuguese rebuilt parts of the castle. We will never forget the Door of No Return. St. Georges Castle is featured on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It was also a time to feel pride for the bravery of my ancestors. [35] Many Euro-Africans worked in the lower echelons of the city's Dutch administration, and in the 19th century many of them sent their children to school in the Netherlands or England. Enslaved people imported to those regions that are part of present-day USA Hostility between groups increased, and the traditional organization of native societies suffered, especially after the Portuguese introduced them to fire-arms, which made the dominance of the stronger nations easier. They also formed military units in the event of war. In 1872, the Dutch Gold Coast, including the fort, became a possession of the United Kingdom.[2]. St Georges Castle or Sao Jorge da Mina, after the patron-saint of Portugal, as the castle was known to the Portuguese, afforded the Portuguese a trade monopoly in the area, with unrivalled access to the regions gold. In it, the Portuguese were allowed to build the first European fortress in sub-Saharan Africa. When the Fante besieged the city in 1811, Fort Wakzaamheid ("Vigilance") was built at the end of the South Peninsula. The drawbridge was equipped with guard houses at both ends to deny foreign Africans access to the city. Since salt had already been extracted in Elmina before the arrival of the Europeans and transported inland from there, a trade route to the interior already existed at the time of the arrival of the Portuguese. The European population in the city was low in Portuguese times. Overview of Forts and Castles. A blockade of the city, which was completely surrounded by the territory of the Fante Confederacy, remained in place in 1869 and 1870. So Jorge da Mina served as a transshipment entrept. The Dutch paid tribute (for the Dutch it was called "food money") for Elmina to the Kingdom of Denkyira and later to the Ashanti Empire. [6][7][8][9], Upon arrival, Azambuja contracted a Portuguese trader, who had lived at Elmina for some time, to arrange and interpret an official meeting with the local chief, Kwamin Ansah, interpreted from the Portuguese, "Caramansa". Nevertheless, the 250-year relationship was not without conflicts. [34] In addition, a house was built in the city, in which such children were taught until the age of 5 or 6 years in writing, basics of the economy, in individual crafts and in agriculture.[35]. Only way to get around this is be dropped at the entrance of the castle by the draw bridge. Trade with the Europeans helped make certain goods, such as cloth and beads, more available to the coastal people. Prominent examples include Jan Niezer, who visited Europe several times and maintained direct trade contact with European and American companies. Visit the St. Georges Castle Museum is located within St. Georges Castle (often called Elmina Castle), a fortress in the Central Region. Since the capture of the lease for the two fortresses of Elmina by the Ashanti in 1701, the city was also important to the Ashanti Empire. [5] This new Elmina was, until today, no longer south but north of the Benya. Europeans in Elmina were of diverse background including Germans, French or Flemish. The castle car park should be out of bounds to these things. [53] Elmina Castle, built in 1482 by the Portuguese, one of the former slave forts along Ghana's Atlantic coastline. Our Guide's name was Martin and he was absolutely excellent. A stumbling block for the Portuguese in Elmina was the bureaucratic and inefficient organization of their rule, which was based on direct instructions from Lisbon. The British and Fante alliance repulsed the Ashanti invasion. The plan met with fierce opposition from various villages previously under British influence, which were now to become Dutch. This is probably due to the role of the Portuguese as neutral outsiders. Family was extremely important in society, and family heads were united in communities under a recognized local authority. Built by the Portuguese in 1482, it was captured by the Dutch 150 years later and became the headquarters of their West Indies Company for the following 250 years. In it, the Portuguese were allowed to build the first European fortress in sub-Saharan Africa. This is incorrect since traces of some of these redouts can still be found today. This measure and the attempt to send 32 recruits into the city with rams to tear down the foundations of the burnt houses on the future route resulted in failure and the new roads were not built. Around 1482 they returned with a fleet of 10 caravels and two cargo ships under the command of Diogo de Azambuja. It was a round redoute, built of stone and clay on a hill that offered a good overview of the area north of the settlement. Elmina - Wikipedia The castle is the oldest European building in Africa below the Sahara. The trade in gold, slaves and palm oil brought the city into direct contact with Europe, North America, Brazil and, through the recruitment of soldiers, also with Southeast Asia. According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Elmina Castle: 97% of travelers recommend this experience. They lured with a secure income, the opportunity to see the world, and the prospect of old-age security. The documented history of Elmina begins in 1482 with an agreement between the Portuguese navigator Diogo de Azambuja and the ruler of Elmina, called Caramansa by the Portuguese. In 1850, for the first time, the Dutch made serious efforts to get rid of their possession of Elmina, which had become unprofitable after the prohibition of the slave trade. The castle tour made as moody about how the slaves were transferred to the new world. Ghana's castles and forts offer concrete testimony to the drama of human history and stad as witness to one of the world's most tradic events - the Slave Trade. Arrived at Elmina Castle in January 2020. [42] The conflict over Elmina after the handover of the city to the British in 1871 by the Dutch was ultimately the reason for the invasion of southern Ghana by the Ashanti in 1873, which ended with the military defeat of the Ashanti and the Treaty of Fomena, in which the Ashanti had to renounce any claim to southern Ghana. Elmina Castle was the first trading post built on the Gulf of Guinea, so is the oldest European building in existence in suib-Saharan Africa. Slave fortress on Cape Coast Ghana. Elmina Castle was erected by the Portuguese in 1482 as So Jorge da Mina (St. George of the Mine) Castle, also known simply as Mina or Feitoria da Mina in present-day Elmina, Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast). Yeah right, more like help him. Elmina Castle is a white-washed Medieval Castle on the coast of Ghana. Elmina Castle - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos). It is a country of great beauty that attracts tourists from all over the world. Stone houses were built early on to a considerable extent, by local craftsmen. The lagoon also served as a natural harbor. Several more redoutes were constructed in the 1820s with Fort Schomerus on the "Coebergh" (cow hill) and with the later Fort Java on the "Cattoenbergh" (cotton hill) on the North Peninsula. We got the children some hand flicked drums which has kept their attention since! As a result, his area of jurisdiction at the city west of the Elmina Castle[51] was bombed and subsequently plundered by British allies from the surrounding Fante states. As disloyal, Kobena Gyan had rejected the British claims to Elmina. The governor's post was usually used as an opportunity for personal enrichment. Bunce Island - UNESCO World Heritage Centre In the Dutch period, the cityscape of Elmina changed. In order to build the fort in the most defensible position on the peninsula, the Portuguese had to demolish the homes of some of the villagers, who consented only after they had been compensated. Ghana's Elmina Castle: The Darker Side of History - TravelMag Feeling the history of tens of thousands of persons that sufferede the horros inside the castle is very emontional. These motives prompted the Portuguese to develop the Guinea trade. Although the locals accepted it as a power that could settle disputes between Ghanaians. In the 18th century it probably amounted between 12,000 to 16,000 people and in the 19th century it rose again to 18,000 to 20,000 people. The lee of the low headland provided an excellent natural harbour. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Thank you. The most famous is a small chapel built in 1503 on the hill above the city, where the Dutch fortress Fort Coenraadsburg was later to be built. Write a welcome note on the shell and charge you the earth for it claiming the money which can be accepted in Dollars or sterling will be donated to a local school? Located in Elmina, Elmina Castle is one of several former slave forts that can be visited along Ghana's Atlantic coast. The rating is for the staff and the country that saw fit to maintain this place so that we never forget the horror that was the transatlantic slave trade. The governors of Elmina were also governors of all later Portuguese possessions on the Gold Coast. At the same time, the Portuguese mainland was often unable to guarantee a sufficient supply of the garrison. Under British rule, Elmina lost its prominence for the entire region and experienced colonization for the first time. The plan to build a fortress at Elmina was met with rejection. Destination of enslaved Africans (15191867) As a major event, the city's history records the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Elmina in 1960. Colonial Forts of Africa (Elmina Castle, Fort Jesus, Castle of Good [32] Slaves also contributed to this heterogeneous African population, who had been brought to the city since Portuguese times, mostly from the slave coast, but only now reached a significant proportion of the city's population.
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