Cape Coast Castle, Elmina Castle & Crimes Against Humanity of Slavery

In Cape Coast, we visited two historical sites whose remnants still bear witness to so much cruelty that we do not wish to discuss this alongside beach pictures. Cape Coast Castle was the largest 'transshipment point' in West Africa for the transatlantic slave trade. From here and other fortresses, such as Elmina Castle, thousands of people were tortured, murdered, and shipped over the centuries. The tours were very distressing and emotional.

Trigger warning, this was hard for us to digest..

First, we entered the Male Slave Dungeons, where enslaved individuals were kept imprisoned by the hundreds. Damp, dark, and oppressive. There were about 10 of us, and it already felt very cramped. The tour guide explained that we stood on the trampled remains of 400 years of cruelty.

Enslaved individuals who resisted were put into an even smaller cell, completely without light. There, they were left to die. The bodies simply remained in the cell. When the guide briefly closed the door, you could see nothing at all. It was grotesque...

Next, we went to the Female Slave Dungeons, which were similarly structured to those of the men. However, there was a barred window here through which soldiers selected women to be raped. If a woman became pregnant, she was allowed to leave the dungeon to give birth and was then brought back afterward.

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Some of the women were then brought to the governor. This was also our next stop. The rooms are located on the upper floors. The contrast is just too stark. Huge rooms, bright and well-ventilated, high ceilings, and a feeling of freedom. It’s a good place to live. The view from the window is a dream.

On this level, there was also a church that was located directly above one of the dungeons. Being close to heaven and praying to God while hell lies beneath you.

The Door of No Return. This was the last gate through which the enslaved individuals were brought. Passing through this gate meant losing their roots, identity, family, friends, and homeland. One can see the idyllic beach on the other side. There, the enslaved individuals were taken by small boats to the large ships to be shipped across the Atlantic. Many enslaved individuals took their own lives on this journey by jumping into the sea and drowning. Nowadays, on the other side, there is a sign that reads: Door of Return.