Amistad’s arrival in Barbados highlights 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British Atlantic slave trade
New York, NY (March 20, 2008) – Visitors to Barbados during April 4th – 20th, 2008 can witness a momentous part of history as the legendary historic Freedom Schooner, Amistad, makes its port of call in Barbados commemorating the 200th anniversary of the British abolition of the Atlantic slave trade. This multi-faceted event provides an opportunity for visitors to embrace the courageous and inspiring struggle during August 1839 when some 40 slaves were successful in taking control of the vessel and its wealth of cargo, but failed in their attempt to navigate back to Africa. During Amistad’s time in Barbados up to 34 crew members will facilitate tours to the public. To book your trip to Barbados to see the Amistad visit: www.visitbarbados.org or call the Barbados Tourism Authority at 1 (800) 221-9831.
An official Amistad welcome ceremony, hosted by the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA), takes place on the evening of April 4th at the Barbados Museum. Visitors can enjoy a full schedule of events and activities at Fort Willoughby, where Amistad will be docked, including; a dedicated heritage tour; plus a series of dance and drama performances, featuring Barbados’ talented youth. Additional activities are being planned by: the US Embassy; the National Cultural Foundation; the Pan African Commission; the Barbados Museum and Historical Society; the Ministry of Education; Goddard Shipping and Tours; the Barbados Defence Force; and the Barbados Coast Guard.
Amistad’s 2007/2008 voyage covers 14,000 miles, including a sail into Sierra Leone, the original West African homeland of many of the Amistad captives, and where they were returned after their historic legal victory in 1839. The dramatic tale was flawlessly captured in the Steven Spielberg film of the same name but it was captain, Bill Pinkney's idea to build an exact replica of the ship and reenact this legendary voyage. As a result, Barbados will be the only Caribbean island to welcome the vessel.
Visitors to Barbados can experience Barbadian history in many ways, including a visit to some of its beautifully restored plantation houses such as: St Nicholas Abbey, Francia Plantation and Sunbury Plantation House & Museum. Similarly, when taking a break from Barbados’ breathtaking beaches, visitors can seek inspiration at the Museum of Parliament and The National Heroes Gallery, The Barbados Museum & Historical Society, the Nidhe Israel Museum and Synagogue, Arlington House Museum or George Washington House Museum, where guests are often surprised to discover was the only house outside of the USA where Washington ever resided.
Information on the Amistad story:
In 1839, 53 Africans were kidnapped from West Africa and sold into the transatlantic slave trade. Shackled aboard the Portuguese slave vessel, Tecora, 49 men and four children were brought to Havana, Cuba, where they were fraudulently classified as native, Cuban-born slaves. Purchased illegally by Spanish planters, Jose Ruiz and Pedro Montez, they were transferred to the schooner, La Amistad for transport to another part of the island. Three days into the journey, led by a 25-year-old Mende rice farmer named Sengbe Pieh, or “Cinque” to his Spanish captors, the Africans seized the ship, killed the captain and the cook, and ordered the planters to sail to Africa. After 63 days, La Amistad and her “cargo” were seized as salvage by the USS Washington near Montauk Point, Long Island, NY and towed to New London harbor in Connecticut. The Africans were held in a New Haven jail on charges of murder. The case took on historic proportions when former President John Quincy Adams successfully argued before the United States Supreme Court on behalf of the captives. In 1841, the 35 surviving Africans were returned to Africa. [Back to Press Releases Main]
