The original AMISTAD

Slave trade freedom ship AMISTAD docks at Falmouth
Copy of the original ship that saw the beginnings of revolt against the African slave trade

 

The 'Freedom Schooner' Amistad sailed into Falmouth on yesterday (Wednesday 8th August 2007) to start its historic UK tour marking the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade.

On board were four students from the former slave ports of London, Liverpool and Bristol who have helped to sail the ship across the Atlantic from her launch from New Haven, Connecticut, USA on 21 June. They are Michael Simon, 19, from Toxteth, Liverpool, Imogen Ashfield, 17, from Eltham, London and Saphra Ross, 20, and Nadia Waithe, 22, both from Bristol.

After a 48-day transatlantic voyage, including a stop in Halifax, the Amistad, a reconstruction of the original ship that was commandeered by African captives in 1839, moored at the County Wharf at Falmouth Docks at 2pm on Wednesday 8 August where it was formally welcomed by the Mayor of Falmouth Councillor Michael Varney and Julia Goldsworthy, MP for Falmouth and Camborne.

It will then sail to Liverpool for the opening of the International Slavery Museum where the ship will be steered into Albert Dock by former Deputy Prime Minister and seaman John Prescott. The Amistad will arrive in Liverpool on the afternoon of Sunday 19 August.

The Amistad will then sail and moor in Bristol and London before resuming its world-wide tour, stopping at Portugal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, the Caribbean and the US. During its stay in each port, the Amistad will be open for visits and lectures from the crew.

During its transatlantic journey, the crew have coped with high seas, seen dolphins and exchanged greetings with the Queen Mary 2.

The schooner was due to arrive in UK in London on August 1 but a detour to the Azores to deal with a crew members’ minor injury meant that the Amistad’s London leg had to be rescheduled to September and presented an opportunity for Amistad to visit Falmouth.

The arrival of the Amistad in the UK marks a significant point in the 16-month 14,000 mile ‘Amistad Atlantic Freedom Tour’ sponsored by Delta Airlines to retrace the infamous slave trade triangle, which includes a ‘homecoming’ trip to Sierra Leone.

In addition to sailing duties, the students have been responsible for class study on maritime and environmental studies, as well as the social and economic history of port cities and the legacy of the slave trade.

A total of 50 students from countries around the Atlantic Basin will serve as Amistad crew during the voyage. Through live web casts and email correspondence to participating schools and museums across the globe, students aboard the ship will share their learning experiences with other students of all ages. The web casts and email are expected to connect several million students worldwide, making the Amistad a floating classroom.

In December, Amistad will sail into the harbour of Freetown, Sierra Leone, the original West African homeland of many of the Amistad captives. This symbolic “homecoming” will be a capstone event of the Atlantic Freedom Tour.

Julia Goldsworthy MP said: “I’m honoured to help welcome the Amistad to Falmouth and the UK.

“The Amistad story is a vital part of the bitter history of the slave trade, when people were treated like property.

“We mustn’t forget the contribution the Amistad captives made to the eventual abolition of slavery – their actions were as influential as those of William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson or Olaudah Equiano.

“Amistad will engage in excellent educational activities at each port city. This outreach work – particularly with families and children – will be hugely important in raising awareness of the legacy issues of slavery and fostering a greater sense of honesty and community. I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to see the Amistad and learn more about its remarkable story.”

AMISTAD America Chairman William Minter said: “We’re delighted to start our historic UK tour in Falmouth. It truly is a pleasure.

“Now is the time for the message of Amistad to be heard. This tour represents an opportunity to share the values of Amistad - freedom, collaboration, and justice - with communities in the UK.

“53 West Africans were forcefully captured from their home and fought for their freedom on board the original Amistad in 1839. Now 200 years after the abolition of the slave trade, the Amistad arrives in the UK to mark Britain’s important role in the road to emancipation of all slaves.”

Imogen Ashfield, one of the students on board added: “We all really couldn’t wait to sail into Falmouth. But for me what I’ve been noticing is how I’m torn: I’ve loved being on the Amistad, experiencing this different way of life, trying new things and learning, but I miss my family and friends and the freedom I had on land, just even to do the simplest things like going for a run!

“The weather has at times been fantastic and the surroundings were so picturesque. The same day I saw a whale I later read how the former slave Olaudah Equiano saw one too on his passage, which was an incredible feeling. This journey has been the experience of a lifetime and something I will never, ever forget.”

Michael Simon added: “I am ready to go back to my life and every person and possession that comes with it however mundane it may be. Saying that I have been infected with a wanting desire to see the world now. I’ll never forget my time on the Amistad.”

Nadia Waithe said: “Being junior watch leader on the Amistad has really helped me to step up in life and to have more confidence. It’s been such an unbelievable journey."

For fellow student, Saphra Ross there’s one thing she’s been missing – chips from her local fish and chip shop.

She added: “How I miss those thick, melt-in-your-mouth chips covered in salt and a bit of tomato sauce. I had planned to go on a detox when I get off this boat but I think I’m going to have to alter my plans a bit. Indulge, then detox!”

The Amistad will return to the United States via the Caribbean and Bermuda in spring of 2008 and travel to multiple ports coming up the East Coast as the US commemorates its bicentenary of legislation to ban the importation of slaves.

AMISTAD America, Inc. is not-for-profit US based charity that promotes improved relations between races and cultures through educational programs and Amistad schooner port visits.

The Amistad's tour of the UK is being supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as part of the commemoration of the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade in the former British Empire.