Welcome to AFRO-DIASPORIC ARCHIVES, a comprehensive series devoted to the rich and diverse history of people of African and Afro-Diasporic DESCENT, exploring their cultural heritage, contributions to society, and the challenges they have faced throughout history. This archive serves as a vital resource for understanding the interconnectedness of the African diaspora and aims to highlight the achievements and narratives that have shaped the experiences of these communities around the world. We invite you to engage with these stories that echo resilience, creativity, and the enduring spirit of Afro-Diasporic identities.
Today, we start this seris with this tragic event, the Zong Massacre.
Zong was originally a Dutch slave ship that had been captured by a British gunship in February 1781. Having been sold to a syndicate of Liverpool merchants, it departed from Accra in modern day Ghana on 18 August. 442 slaves were on board the ship at this point – more than twice the number that it was capable of safely transporting. By the third week of November drinkable water was running low, but this was not identified until after a navigational error led to the ship sailing 300 miles past its destination of Jamaica. With death from thirst a high likelihood, the ship’s crew voted to purposefully drown some of the slaves in order to ensure the survival of the ones remaining on board. The massacre began on 29 November and continued for two more days.
Due to deaths from disease and malnutrition, in addition to the wilful mass murder, the ship arrived at Jamaica with only 208 of its original 442 enslaved people on board. The ship’s insurers refused to pay out for the deaths of the slaves and the ensuing court cases found that the killing of slaves was legal in some situations. In the case of Zong, however, the court ruled that the crew of the Zong were at fault and found in the insurers’ favour. The massacre and subsequent legal rulings had little immediate impact. Within just a few years, however, the Zong massacre had become a central example of the horrors of the Middle Passage and stimulated the abolitionist movement.
Thank you for reading this installment of ARCHIVES OF THE AFRICAN WORLD, where we delve into the rich cultural heritage, historical narratives, and the profound impact of Africa on global civilization. Your engagement with our content not only supports our mission to educate and inform but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the diverse stories and contributions that have shaped our world.
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