About the Castle
Elmina Castle was erected by the Portuguese in 1482 as São Jorge da Mina (St. George of the Mine) Castle, also known simply as Mina or Feitoriada Mina) in present-day Elmina, Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast). It was the first trading post built on the Gulf of Guinea, so is the oldest European building in existence below the Sahara. First established as a trade settlement, the castle later became one of the most important stops on the route of the Atlantic Slave Trade. The Dutch seized the fort from the Portuguese in 1637, and took over all the Portuguese Gold Coast in 1642. The slave trade continued under the Dutch until 1871 when the fort became a possession of the British Empire. Britain granted the Gold Coast its independence in 1957, and control of the castle was transferred to the nation formed out of the colony, present-day Ghana.
The Girls’ Visit
One of the visions of the co-executive directors at Sweetwater House and also of the English teacher was to expose the girls to some of their history and culture. This focus has been most recently expressed in the visit to Elmina Castle. As you can see in the photo the girls got a close up look at this part of their history. There is still today evidence of the horrors that took place here. May we never forget and never repeat!
Field trips are to become an integral part of the girls’ educational process.
Soon, I will report on the girls’ first music concert… thanks to Don Moen and Tom Allen…