Photographer's Note
The last place on earth where human beings were reduced to mere commodities, and bought and sold nearly half a century after the practice was banned in the rest of the world was in Zanzibar (Tanzania), East Africa. Captives were taken from a vast area, extending south of Lake Nyasa (now Malawi) west of LakeTanganyika (now DR Congo) and north of LakeVictoria (now Uganda), to the Stone Town open slave markets. The captives were first imprisoned in underground chambers and if they lived for more then three days, they would then be brought to market. The markets, presided over by Arab traders, opened around four in the afternoon. Accounts mention that the captives were led outside and lined up in rows according to age or gender, suitability for employments or perceived value. Buyers made detailed inspections of eyes and teeth, whilst intrusive examinations were carried out on women. They were tied to a tree and whipped with a stinging branch to demonstrate their strength for potential buyers. Those who did not cry or faint fetched a higher price at market.
Under pressure from the British government, the Zanzibari sultan closed the last slave market in Africa in 1873. In 1879, British missionaries built Christ Church Cathedral at the site of the infamous market. Known as the ‘Slave Market Church’, it was purposely built atop the former slave market as a monument to the triumph of faith over human suffering. Beneath the church are the underground chambers where captives were once held before being sold. On the side of the church is a memorial to the women and children that didn’t survive the ordeal. The cathedral’s high altar is said to be positioned over the spot of the whipping tree where captives were lashed.
Outside in the cathedral’s garden is a monument by swedish artist Clara Sornas. “Memory for the Slaves” by Clara Sörnäs, concrete, May 2, 1998, depicts five [enslaved] people, slightly larger than life, standing in a pit below ground level. “The poignant figures emerge from the rock hewn rock and thus appear hopelessly trapped, shoulders slumped in despair. Around their necks they wear metal collars from which a chain binds them. Its a disturbing and haunting sight.” (https://kentakepage.com/memory-for-the-enslaved-zanzibar/)
This is the close up of the monument. The whole view is in the Workshop.
The chains are originally used for the slaves. The man without a chain is a guard, also a slave.
There is a museum there. Unbelievable that people can be so cruel.
Silvio1953, pierrefonds, ikeharel, jhm, johnjmoe, Royaldevon, PaulVDV, worldcitizen, ricardomattos, COSTANTINO has marked this note useful
Critiques | Translate
Silvio1953
(221729) 2021-01-27 4:32
Ciao cara Malgo, great view of fantastic monument, thanks for sentire view in the WS, fine details, excellent clarity, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio
holmertz
(102774) 2021-01-27 5:34
Hello Malgo,
It's a touching monument, possibly made even more unpleasant to watch because of the genuine chains. The WS gives us a good view of the entire monument, but the closer look in the main upload is the best photo. The artist is correctly written Sörnäs the second time. ;-)
Best regards,
Gert
jhm
(211736) 2021-01-27 5:39
Hello Malgo,
Happy that this time is over, 80 year ago was in Europe also yet captives, but through another regime.
A lovely statue but very sadly.
Colours and sharpness are pleasant to look at.
Very well done, TFS.
Best regards,
John.
pierrefonds
(114536) 2021-01-27 6:32
Hi Malgo,
The point of view is showing the details of the memorial related to the slave trade which was awfull. It is clear and sharp. Unfortunately, there are still persons used around the world in human trading. Have a nice day.
Pierre
marine-coeur
(1072) 2021-01-27 6:47
Hello Emka
Unbelievable that people can be so cruel.
A very important picture-message and note BRAVO.
We wish never ever this kind of things again happen....!
thank u for your important work BRAVE AGAIN MALGORZATA KOPCZYNSKA
Royaldevon
(85932) 2021-01-27 7:51
Hello Malgo,
Your notes are vast but very important to explain the background of your photograph, which I think is very sharp and very explicit!
It is a very sad testimony to man's inhumanity to man!
Even animals were not left without food or whipped!
Thank you for sharing this,
Bev :-)
lousat
(139332) 2021-01-27 9:59
Ciao Malgo,i remember well this monument fo Stone Town dedicated to the slave history of this island,a bad page of history in Africa,great pics as usual. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano
PaulVDV
(62978) 2021-01-27 11:00
Hello Malgo,
To be honest, when I think of slavery, I don't immediately think of East Africa, but of the western countries. Apparently a mistake on my part.
I also thought that Mauritania was the country that last abolished slavery.
A sad monument to a long and sad period in world history.
Best regards, Paul
worldcitizen
(16104) 2021-01-27 13:18
Hello Malgo,
This is a heart-breaking monument, and slavery will always remain a stain om humanity. This close-up allows us to see the chains even clearer, and the horror and sadness on the faces of the slaves. Take care...
ifege
(48159) 2021-01-27 21:50
Hi Malgo
A good appropriate memorial to the slaves and a good POV to show it in your 2 photos.
cheers
Ian
jemaflor
(147224) 2021-01-27 22:47
Hi Malgo,
a well done tribute and a good photo with the view of these faces, good effect with the contrast of light, perfect sharpness, tfs.
jmdias
(115252) 2021-01-28 9:41
malgo
an excellent and unusual monument. I liked the quality of its artwork and the meaning.most of these people died during the trip across the ocean, of course there was a link between the local tribes that sell them to the european, but when we think this was usual few years ago we can imagine how big was the progress of mankind got in these last two centuries.
take care
jorge
pajaran
(115989) 2021-01-28 23:31
Pozdrav.
Interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lepe skulpture vezanih ljudi, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i dobrim tekstom.
Dobar rad sa lepom fotografijom u radionici.
Strasan period u zivitu ljudi koji su prodavani kao robovi.
Lepa fotografija i secanje na ljude koji su zavrsili kao robovi.
Zelim vam lep dan, sve najbolje.
Paja.
ricardomattos
(17460) 2021-01-30 10:37
Czésc Malgo,
Uma triste cena esta mas bem montada e esculpida para que não mais se repita. Até hoje eles sofrem as consequências através da discriminação e preconceito nos paises para onde foram levados. Mesmo no meu país onde a mistura de raças é grande e o preconceito não é tão exacerbado eles ainda tem sofrido com inúmeras injustiças. Muito boa esta foto documental.
Parabéns e abraço
Ricardo
COSTANTINO
(116580) 2022-01-28 22:44
Hello dear Malgorzata
have a pleasant week end
I red carefully all your useful notes
about this photo...this is a reason
a wish to stay with us uploading
impressive photos like this one
with very useful notes...
regards
Costantino
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Malgorzata Kopczynska (emka)
(158204)
- Genre: ¦a¤è
- Medium: ±m¦â
- Date Taken: 2021-01-13
- Photo Version¡GOriginal Version, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2021-01-27 4:18