The Coast of West Africa

The beautiful southern coast of West Africa. This was our view at lunch a few weeks ago. I suggest clicking on it and viewing the image in its full size. I found this photo on Erika Gonzalez's blog. I could not have stolen and reposted it soon enough.

All photo credits: Erika Ingrid Gonzalez

Basketball in Africa

Obruni, Give Me Your Money!

Sorry for the layoff, everyone. Between switching living locations and starting our social impact projects, I have not had any time to update the blog.

Myself, enjoying a Coke and some drumming following the successful presentation of our video to the various merchants associations of the Cultural Centre.

On Tuesday we woke up at 5:30 am to map out the entire cultural centre. It took about 5 hours to complete. Here we are toward the end taking a quick break from walking. Pictured are (l to r) myself, Ariel Maxie, and Tram-Anh Huynh

The back of the Cultural Centre meets the beautiful Atlantic Ocean.

This is one of the shops that we conducted a four-person interview in. The entire time I was filming I was distracted by the painting. Naturally, I purchased it for 20 Ghana cedis.

I mostly love the clouds and the ocean in this picture. It's nice to know that despite all the struggles the people in these homes face, they can at least enjoy this view and breeze of the ocean.

YayJays

Representing the YayJays on the beautiful Gold Coast, West Africa.

Another Profile

I was lucky that this beautiful girl would let me take her photo yesterday. She really enjoyed seeing the pictures of herself on my camera afterward. This is in Elmina, Ghana.

Ancient Capital, Ghana

Elmina Castle (São Jorge da Mina Castle)

The day after visiting Cape Coast, we visited the Elmina Castle. Built in 1482 by the Portuguese, this Castle and former Slave Dungeon is the oldest European building in existence below the Sahara. It was one of the most important stops on the Atlantic Slave Trade.

Entrances to Slave holding cells.

A male slave dungeon that would hold over 200 people at a time. When the doors are closed, as they were, the room is pitch black with one small opening above for ventilation.

Another slave dungeon as viewed through the bars.

A hallway in the dungeon. Knowing that I was walking on the same rocks on the exact place as hundreds of thousands of slaves sent to the Americas was entirely overwhelming.

Cape Coast

We took a trip west along the coast to Cape Coast and Elmina. The following are pictures from the Cape Coast Castle and Slave Dungeon.

Me sitting on the Governor's balcony atop the Castle.

Courtyard.

Door of No Return. After months in dungeons, these doors were the last step before boarding ships for the Americas.

View through a crack in the Door of No Return.

An original lock on the punishment cell (solitary confinement) door.