The Great Passage cruise, set for next year, will retrace the slave trade route from Brazil to Angola, focusing on education and remembrance. Aiming to confront the dark legacy of slavery, the trip will allow descendants of enslaved individuals, like Helena Monteiro da Costa, to connect with their heritage. From the 16th to 19th century, Brazil received nearly five million enslaved Africans, chiefly from Angola, highlighting the need for awareness and accountability regarding this historical atrocity.
Next year, a groundbreaking cruise will embark on a unique journey, retracing the transatlantic slave route from Brazil to Angola, with the intent of educating participants about the harrowing history of the African slave trade. Among those interested in this poignant trip is Helena Monteiro da Costa, a 99-year-old woman whose father was enslaved in Angola during the 19th century before being transported to Brazil. She hopes to return to her father’s homeland and confront the legacy of enslavement.
From the 16th to the 19th century, Brazil was the primary destination for approximately five million enslaved Africans, with a significant number arriving from Angola aboard Portuguese ships under dreadful conditions. This project, referred to as the Great Passage cruise, seeks to foster understanding and accountability regarding this dark chapter in history as it aims to illuminate the cultural heritage that enslavement disrupted.
The planned cruise serves as a significant historical reflection on the transatlantic slave trade, a major atrocity that forcibly transported millions of Africans to the Americas under inhumane conditions. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, Brazil emerged as the largest recipient of enslaved Africans, with Angola representing a key source region. The initiative intends to not only educate passengers on this grim past but also emphasize the importance of acknowledging and confronting these historical injustices as part of a broader understanding of cultural heritage.
In conclusion, the Great Passage cruise symbolizes an important step toward recognizing and educating about the history of the transatlantic slave trade. As participants like Helena Costa embark on a journey to connect with their roots, there lies a profound opportunity for reflection, education, and healing within the legacies of enslavement. This initiative highlights the need for accountability and remembrance, ensuring that such traumas are neither forgotten nor repeated in history.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
