Thursday 6th August 2009

Our lecture today on Anti-slavery and the Abolition of the slave trade was a particularly interesting one. The sudden (and in historical terms, it was definitely sudden) switch that Britain made from being the leading nation in sending ships to and fro filled with enslaved Africans to becoming a nation that policed the seas ensuring other nations did NOT continue the trade is astounding. The reasons are also complicated and varied. Africans own efforts were paramount - the increasing number of revolutions (not least Haiti) made slaving less profitable; Christians rethinking their ideas (remember the Church of England owned plantations); and the abolitionist movement all played their parts in contributing to the demise in this trade in humans.

The comparison between the holocaust and slave trade came up during discussions, as it normally does. (I was a little disappointed Obama made this observation during his own visit to Ghana.) However, the professors quickly clarified major differences. The holocaust INTENTIONALLY murdered as many as possible. The slave trade - however many millions may have inadvertently died - was ironically aimed at keeping and transporting as many enslaved Africans alive as possible!

I am an African Caribbean British man; very well-read on matters of race; confident, articulate and well versed with examples when discussing my identity, culture, traditions, heritage and attitudes. I could have spoken at length about Ghana before the slave trade; about the effects of that enterprise; about colonialism and the attitudes that shaped (still shape) attitudes towards Africans; about Kwame Nkrumah, Dubois, Angelou who all have links to Ghana but …

… but I realise that this means a lot less than actually visiting a country and truly engaging with it as I feel I began to do with Ghana. Seeing the reddish earth that looks like areas in Jamaica; hearing languages that often rang a linguistic bell; eating dishes that are just like the meals of African origins served across the world; learning how traditional African beliefs that I have read about are actually put into modern practice … the list goes on.

Arriving with no preconceived ideas about this trip, I am so pleased that it was so educational and enjoyable. I'm not going to say there were a few things I observed that I was a little unhappy about. I had to speak to some people about certain behaviours a few times but there were no reprehensible acts and I only raised my voice in mirth, even in the midst of a heated discussion. Hopefully, if such a trip is organised again, a little more thought will go into ensuring all participants arrive happily and are treated equally throughout. I have nothing but praise for the organisers and I know this will translate into enthusiasm for the topic for teachers and countless students - definitely a successful outcome.

D