ELMINA CASTLE

Since it was Saturday and since one of my goals is simply to get to know Ghana and her culture, Conrad took me this morning to the Elmina Castle.

This fortress is THE predominant historical site in this part of Ghana. And it deserves to be better known worldwide. 

You see, Elmina Castle was ground zero for the African slave trade. The Portuguese built the impressive structure to establish a foothold in Africa's Guinea Coast in 1482. 

This was an entire decade before Christopher Columbus' first trip to the New World!

Here is the main courtyard. The slaves were housed in the dark and claustrophobic lower level while soldiers and the Governor were housed in the more elegant quarters upstairs.

Below is "The Door of No Return" - the place where slaves exited the fortress to board the waiting slave ships.

As well as the slavers, the upstairs quarters housed the chapel.

The chapel!

Posted on the wall above the chapel door is a reference to Psalm 132, which ends with these words:

For the LORD has chosen Zion;

He has desired it for His home:

“This is My resting place forever and ever;

here I will dwell, for I have desired this home.

I will bless her with abundant provisions;

I will satisfy her poor with bread.

I will clothe her priests with salvation,

and her saints will sing out in joy."

The idea of these monsters - after capturing, corralling, raping, and murdering fellow human beings - bowing their heads in "worship" to God is too much. 

Here's a hillside of Elmina today, viewed from the Castle: