THE PLACE IT’S ORIGIN

We are all aware that Conservatives can’t handle the truth about the aftermath of slavery. Slavery ended nearly 150 years ago. There are living African American who have heard their great grandparents tell stories of their relatives firsthand experiences surviving Slavery. During the Great Depression, firsthand accounts by Slaves were collected for those who are interested to hear them personally.

African Americans know this story in their hearts. It is in this background that I have brought these images “THE PLACE IT’S ORIGIN”. Bimbia the Forgotten Slave Trade Village is in Limbe East Coast of Cameroon, West Africa. Under thick tropical rainforest away from all human eyes in the part, because the villagers of Bimbia believed the area to be cursed no one who went there ever came back. Every time I have visited the historic site now twice, I must say each time I’m overwhelmed with emotions and tears. Cameroon is located in Central West Africa. One of the countries that suffered from the Slave trade and the first African Country to also have its citizens return from the USA after the DNA test proved that ancestry roots were transported from everywhere in Cameroon to export to Europe and other Countries such as the United States.

Over 20 million Africans were transported to the New World. In January 3rd 2012, Bimbia hosted visitors from the USA, African Americans to the Slave trade villages for re-enactment and Purification Ceremony. In May 2014, ARK Jammers Inc., a nonprofit organization, organized another trip for “Camericans” and worked with local authorities to find the port and make it accessible to visitors, bringing the site to public view and giving it increased national and international attention.

There are ongoing effort by the American Embassy Yaounde-Cameroon and the Bimbia Community, in conserving and promoting the site as a great touristic destination. But the site not yet well documented and is currently overgrown by bamboo and bush. The Slave cells are fast deteriorating and urgent need of stabilization. The anthropological survey has concluded that dried bananas were used to feed the enslaved that were housed there before their transportation to other countries in Africa, South America or the United States.

What can be seen, or left to see are the slave cells of the buildings where the slaves were housed before being transported. The upper section and the lower section. Upper is the general area for all the slaves and lower is for very stubborn Slaves.

Note: To illustrate the Slave Trade era, the first two images are Re-enactment of Slave Trade in Bimbia, Slave Village.