Top 5 Most Popular Sites for Cultural Heritage Tours in West Africa
                              Top 5 Most Popular Sites for Cultural Heritage Tours in West Africa
 
West Africa has long been a popular destination for cultural heritage tours, particularly
for members of the African diaspora who live in the United States. With the increased
popularity of  genetic  testing sites like Ancestry.com and 23andme.com, a growing
number of African-Americans are traveling to West Africa to connect with their cultural
heritage. Celebrities like Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey, and Michelle Obama have all been
spotted in the slave castles of Ghana after they traced their ancestry to captive slaves
who passed through  those  forts  on  their  forced journey to  the  Americas.  Not  all
cultural heritage tours are created equal, however. While many cultural heritage tours
just visit the most important historical sites, others work harder to ensure that the
tourists connect with their cultural heritage in a deeper and more meaningful way.
This  type  of  cultural  heritage  tour  might  include  homestays,  cooking  classes,
drumming lessons, or any number of activities that allow the tourist to connect with
the people and culture of their ancestral country.
A majority of descendants of American slaves have roots in West Africa, but West
Africa is big! So where do you start? To make it easy, we will tell you about the most
popular cultural heritage tourism sites in West Africa.
 
Ghana Cape Coast Castle, Central Region, Ghana
A  UNESCO  World  Heritage  Site,  Cape  Coast  Castle  is  the  most  popular  tourist
attraction in Ghana, and serves as a reminder of the dark history of colonialism and
the transatlantic slave trade. The site of Cape Coast Castle was originally used by the
Swedes as  a base for  exporting timber and other  natural  resources,  but changed
hands  to  the  Dutch  and  British,  eventually  housing  thousands  of  slaves  in  its
dungeons before boarding ships.  Like many other slave castles in West Africa, you
can stand at the “door of no return,” where captive slaves took their last steps on the
continent of Africa before their harrowing, and often deadly journey to the Americas.
Elmina Castle, Central Region, Ghana 
Just thirty minutes west of Cape Coast Castle, Elmina Castle is the oldest European
building south of the Sahara, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Erected by
the Portuguese in 1482, it was originally called Sao Jorge da Mina, and is now often
referred to as St. George’s Castle. It would later be occupied by both the Dutch and
the British. Until the Dutch abolished the slave trade in 1814, the dungeons of St.
George’s Castle were filled with up to 1500 slaves at a time. With almost no light
reaching the dungeons, the slaves did not have enough room to lie down. Like its
neighboring castle in Cape Coast, Elmina Castle is a frequent stop on cultural heritage
tours and serves as a reminder of the dark history of colonialism and the slave trade.
 
Goree Island, Dakar, Senegal
 
Also  a  UNESCO  World  Heritage  Site,  Goree  Island  is  the  most  popular  tourist
destination in  Senegal,  and was visited by President  Barack Obama in  2013.  The
island’s crucial role in the transatlantic slave trade make it an essential stop on any
cultural heritage tour in Senegal. The House of Slaves was where captive slaves were
held before they boarded ships to the Americas. After the slave trade was abolished,
this strategically important island played a vital role in the colonial history of West
Africa, and was occupied by the Portuguese, Dutch, French and British at one point in
history. Goree Island has much more to offer than just history lessons. Its colorful
buildings and colonial architecture make it a particularly photogenic site, and its clear
waters are ideal for a relaxing swim or snorkel. Various artists also sells their works on
Goree Island, making it a nice place to pick up a local painting.  Senegal
 
Kunta Kinteh Island, Gambia
 
Also a UNESCO World Heritage site, Kunta Kinteh Island sits in the middle of  the
Gambia  River, 30  kilometers  from its  mouth.  While  erosion  has  made  the  island
roughly  one  sixth  of  its  size  when  it  was  active,  ruins  of  British  administrative
buildings  remain  on  the  island  and  are  frequented  by  cultural  heritage  tours  to
Gambia. The island was originally settled in the 17th century by a Polish-Lithuanian
commonwealth, but later changed hands and was occupied by the Dutch and the
British.  Cultural  Heritage  Tours  to  the  Gambia  often  visit  Kunta  Kinteh  Island  in
combination with Juffureh, Albreda and Fort Bulletin.
 
Slave House of Agbodrafo, Togo
 The Slave House  of  Agbodrafo  is  one  of  the  more  off-the-beaten-path  stops for
cultural  heritage  tours  in  West  Africa.  Because  fewer  slaves  passed  through  this
particular site than many of its neighbors in Ghana or elsewhere, you won’t find quite
as  many cultural  heritage tourists  here.  Those  who do visit,  however, are always
moved by the dark history of slavery and colonialism. LIke its neighboring slaves forts
in Ghana, this site in Agbodrafo was the final stop for captive slaves in transit to the
Americas.