Elmina Castle & The Last Slave Shipments

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Elmina Castle & the Last Slave Shipments: Insights from History

The Role of Elmina Castle

Constructed by the Portuguese in 1482, originally named São Jorge da Mina, Elmina Castle stands as the oldest European structure in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Initially established as a gold trading post, it evolved into one of the most crucial slave trade centers along the West African coast.

Control of the castle transitioned from Portugal to the Dutch in 1637, and then to the British in 1872.

The End of the Legal Slave Trade – Timeline at Elmina

Portuguese and Dutch Eras

During the Portuguese and later Dutch periods, Elmina served as a primary departure point for enslaved Africans, predominantly sent to Brazil, the Caribbean, and Suriname.

Although the Dutch officially abolished their slave trade in 1814, enforcement was sluggish, allowing illegal trading activities to continue into the 1830s and even the 1840s.

British Control (Post-1872)

When the British assumed control of Elmina in 1872, the transatlantic slave trade had already been abolished (1807 for trade and 1833 for slavery itself in British territories).

Consequently, under British rule, Elmina Castle was no longer a participant in the slave trade and instead was repurposed for administrative and military functions.

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When Did the Last Slave Ship Leave Elmina Castle?

The exact date marking the conclusion of the final slave shipment from Elmina Castle remains uncertain, as historical records do not provide a definitive timeline. However, based on established historical trends, it is widely believed that:

The last legal slave shipments from Elmina likely transpired during the early 1800s, specifically within the years 1814 to 1816. This period coincided with the Dutch abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, signaling a significant turning point in the history of slavery in the region.

Yet, akin to the situation at Cape Coast Castle, it is crucial to note that illegal trading activities continued to occur along the Gold Coast and throughout the Gulf of Guinea long after the legal abolition of the slave trade. Numerous ships engaged in this illicit commerce often resorted to deceptive practices. They would display false flags, bribe local officials, or even load captives directly from remote beaches, winding rivers, or hidden ports, circumventing the castle courtyards entirely.

In particular, Dutch and Portuguese merchants were notorious for maintaining covert slave shipments from various coastal locations, including Elmina, Axim, and Whydah, persisting with these operations well into the mid-19th century. This illicit trade created a complex web of transactions that operated outside the boundaries of legality and moral consideration.

In summary, while legal slave trading at Elmina Castle likely came to a close between the years 1814 and 1816 during the Dutch colonial era, it is essential to recognize that illegal slave shipments may have continued into the 1830s or even throughout the 1840s. This continuation occurred, especially after the establishment of British control, which limited direct operations from the castle itself. Importantly, there is no officially recorded designation for the "last slave ship" departing from Elmina Castle; much of this final chapter of slave trading history was shrouded in secrecy, characterized by a lack of comprehensive documentation, and often involved deliberate attempts to erase the details of these activities from collective memory.