This is most likely my last update on the blog as I leave Ghana next Wednesday, April 18. I will arrive home on Thursday evening. My traveling last week was nice though I would have loved to of seen even more of Ghana. I traveled along the coastal area only, but I did tour the old slave fort in Cape Coast. I have a few pictures below. The main thing I took away from this tour was the drastic contrast between the horror of the dark, cramped slave dungeons below ground and the beautiful white washed wall-fort above ground and glistening ocean surrounding it. The dungeons are everything you would imagine, but the stories that go along with them are the hardest part. There is a pic below that says ‘Door of No Return,’ this is the last door the slaves went through before boarding the ships that took them across the Atlantic and this is the area they usually last saw family members. A few years back, in a symbolic gesture the remains of two Africans that were taken as slaves to America were brought back to the fort and taken back through the door. So now on the other side of the door (the ocean side) there is the sign ‘Door of Return.’ This is a good place to mention that most Ghanaians are very proud of their heritage and are able to trace their ancestors back for many, many generations. Ghana also still has a tribal system, so Ghanaians relate to their tribe and their native language is from their tribe or their region. So this all makes keeping track of your family lineage easier. But sadly, the descendants of Ghanaians captured as slaves are often unable to even track their ancestors back to Ghana, let alone their tribe. The Cape Coast Fort which was controlled by several different European countries through the years also traded sugar, gold, and cocoa. The related trade stories obviously aren’t has horrible as the slave trading, but nevertheless, lets just say that Ghanaians (okay, Africans) have a long history of outsiders coming in a screwing them over!
I also traveled on to a beautiful eco-lodge that my two British, past volunteer friends are managing. It was a crazy, fun, and relaxing time. Also, I am finally getting somewhat comfortable with tro tros. I missed my town and region while gone. Outside of the Volta Region, Ghanaians speak a different native language. Instead of Ewe, they speak Twi. So as a white person, I was no longer Yavu, but Obruni. I found that I actually missed my Ewe people…..at least when they yell out at me on the street, I know what they are saying!
Nothing too exciting for Easter, they mainly only have church on Sunday and then Monday is also a holiday and they have picnics at all the various churches.
Cape coast Castle/fort
The entrance of the tunnel leading to the slave dungeon.
One of the six dungeons. That one window served as their only light.
This is the view from the fort.
One of the six dungeons. That one window served as their only light.
