Visit to a Slave Camp

This is a blog from a while back that I'm just getting to post.  

When we went to Paga on the border between Ghana and Burkina Faso AND home of the very friendly crocodiles, we also toured a slave camp.  It was very somber, but very interesting.  We were the only visitors there at the time and we had a local guide showing us all around and telling us about how life would have been during the time of the camp which dates back to the 1700's.  This camp was where slaves were brought from all over -- even neighboring countries -- to be held until they were sold.

At the time that the camp was active, there was a natural spring that flowed from the rock.  This is where the food was prepared.  Then the food was served by dumping it onto the rocks.  The slaves soon realized that they could use stones and carve out "bowls" in the rock to increase their chances of getting food before it ran off the side of the rock's edge

When the slave camp became inactive, the spring was destroyed so it would never again be able to be used in such a way.  Now the only water there is what collects from the rainfall.

There was also an "entertainment" area.  The slaves would actually gather together and play music and sing to occupy themselves.  There are some rocks there that when struck with other rocks, it makes various drum-like sounds.  You can see in the picture as we are walking up the hill, there are some men gathered around a large rock in the distance.  These men gave us a re-enactment of the drumming and singing.  Then Cindy got a chance to drum with them.

Modern day Ghanaian men who re-enacted the slave drumming and singing.

But, obviously, that was all that would have been entertaining at the slave camp while it was active.  There was a large natural rock formation that served as a watch tower.  A man would be hired to keep watch.  Any slave caught trying to leave would have been punished.  Any slave found not following orders would be punished.  Any slave being insubordinate would be punished as an example to the other slaves.  Any slave caught trying to stir up the other slaves against the guards in any way would be punished.

Punishment involved being strapped to this rock and beaten.  The slaves would be made to stare, open-eyed, into the sun during the beating and then for extended periods of time.  Many of them were blinded as a result.  Right near one of the punishing stones is a cemetery where dead slaves would be buried in mass graves.  As a slave was being punished, they would have a ready reminder that death could be very near.  This was to ensure allegiance to the guards.  This particular stone in the picture was beside the platform where slaves were bought and sold.  Any slave not submitting to his / her new owner would be MADE to submit.

When we were there, it was a very peaceful, calm, green place.  But it seemed that just behind the facade of green, was a very dark and unpleasant past.

"So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, 

God has made you also an heir."  

Galations 4 : 7

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"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, 

for you are all one in Christ Jesus."  

Galations 3 : 28

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"Though I am free and belong to no man, 

I make myself as a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible."  

1 Corinthians 9 : 19

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"You have been set free from sin 

and have become slaves to righteousness."  

Romans 6 : 18

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