We visited the Slave Lodge Museum, which was quite an experience. This building has been standing for decades and has seen the changes of time. This building originally housed the slaves that were brought to South Africa from the VOC (East Indian Dutch Company). At one point in history the VOC were the leaders in slave trade. When slavery was abolished this building became a court house and later a parliament building. SA has turned the building into a museum to mark the history of this building, which is near the heart of Cape Town. A blatant memory that at the heart of the city at one point in time slavery ruled the people of this land.
Going through this building we were told how slaves would be brought into the gates stripped of whatever straps of cloth they had on and were left naked in the inter court yard. Here they would be given food to eat out of a trough and allowed to wash for the first time in months. Many of the men and women who survived this far, were sick or lost their minds from seeing loved ones die or sold away. Here they were left in chains and soon sold.
Going through this museum was a very emotional and grounding experience. What was very humbling for me was the response from some of my coworkers who said they have not gone and probably would never go. When I asked why, they only briefly stated that it is too much. The emotions and experience for them still too raw. Again, I was brought back to the reality that something that is a part of history for me, is something much more tangible for them. Coworkers a little over my age can talk to me about not being allowed to go on specific buses, not being allowed to go to certain beaches or enter white only restaurants. They have their own personal memories of slavery. It’s in moments like this that I recognize the privilege that I have been born into.
We were told not to take pictures… so I took as many as I could smuggle
Pic of front of building door
The slave lodge is the second oldest building in Cape Town! It was built in 1679. This building was formerly known as the “Fortress of Human Misery” … instead of the pretty shutters picture the metal bars and a metal clamp door
Hand shackles and leg shackles which were often linked with another prisoner on the voyage over and in the slave lodge. Often a prisoner died and you were left tied to him/her until someone came to retrieve the body, which sometimes would be days later...
Replica of lower dorm on ship. You have no idea how small this space is… In this space almost ten people would be forced to sleep and go to the bathroom...
The names of slaves are written down as inventory often beside sheep and cattle; their last names and first names were changed. Slaves were given Dutch names, named by regions like Madagascar. Often, slaves were named things like fortune or bless which mocked their circumstances.
Here is The Book of Names, which is in a separate room lighted up. These pages are called the tree of life and contain some of the 6 thousand slaves that lived or died at the slave lodge. This was really heart felt for me to know that life was behind those words. For anybody who has read the Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill you know what I’m saying..
We must all remember the past in order to not repeat the same hate, racism and lies in the future. We are all one human race with the same red blood running through us.
We must remember to Love everybody as We ourselves want to be loved. The bible says we should love our neighbours as we do ourselves. Are we doing this in our day to day lives. Do we show the love and respect to our loved ones, not taking their love and affection for granted. When that stranger on the road bumped you on your way into work this morning and apologized, did you tell him no problem? We must learn to live and let go ...
Have you told someone that you love them today?
If you have, but haven't heard it back... I love You but bigger than me God loves you :)
Keep well and Be Blessed Everyone
Bye munchkin :)
Lady in the townships
