{"id":4171,"date":"2025-06-05T11:21:28","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T17:21:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nicolecutts.com\/blog\/?p=4171"},"modified":"2025-07-25T08:18:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T14:18:17","slug":"a-return-to-the-source-my-birthday-pilgrimage-to-ghana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.nicolecutts.com\/blog\/?p=4171","title":{"rendered":"A Return to the Source: My Birthday Pilgrimage to Ghana"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ghana Birthday Pilgrimage Introduction\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LeEVkQmdM3M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Introduction Video<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This year, I marked my birthday with a journey of remembrance and reconnection\u2014a pilgrimage to Ghana to walk in the footsteps of my ancestors and honor the strength they carried across oceans and generations. From the haunting stillness of the slave dungeons at Cape Coast and Elmina to the sacred waters of Assin Manso where the &#8220;Last Bath&#8221; was taken, this was a soul-stirring return to the source. But it was also a celebration of freedom and resilience\u2014standing in Accra\u2019s Black Star Square, visiting the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial, and bearing witness to Ghana\u2019s bold emergence as the first independent nation in sub-Saharan Africa. This blog reflects on that sacred and layered journey\u2014part history, part healing, all a big beautiful adventure!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Part 1\/4 My Visit to the Assin Manso \u201cSlave\u201d Market and River Site\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/O6CpSEQ2rHE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">My visit to the Assin Manso River (pt 1)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Part 2\/4 My Visit to the Assin Manso \u201cSlave\u201d River, Ghana a.k.a. The Last Bath\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/b1YU5zEqzqE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">My visit to the Assin Manso River (pt 2\/4)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Part 3\/4 My Visit to the Assin Manso \u201cslave\u201d River\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Wh0WEv8Yc4Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Part 3\/4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Part 4\/4 My Visit to the Assin Manso \u201cslave\u201d River The Last Bath\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OdSmRTPvbg4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Part 4\/4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"My Visit to Cape Coast \u201cSlave Castle\u201d in Ghana (pt 1)\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0dsT8YAi8Ck?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cape Coast Dungeons Part 1\/6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Part 2\/6: My Visit to Cape Coast Slave Dungeons in Ghana\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aerjRGPxH5Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cape Coast Dungeons Part 2\/6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Part 3: My Visit to Cape Coast Castle Ghana\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wgOHCXSadZw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cape Coast Dungeons Part 3\/6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Part 4: My Visit to Cape Coast \u201cCastle\u201d Ghana\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/INRfD-tpGCo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cape Coast Dungeons Part 4\/6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Cape Coast \u201cCastle\u201d Ghana part 5\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/W1eJwftc-Z0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cape Coast Dungeons pt 5\/6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Part 6\/6 My Visit to Cape Coast \u201cCastle\u201d Ghana\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6xy3xxW-cUc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">My Visit to the Cape Coast &#8220;Slave Dungeons&#8221;: The Final Episode (pt 6\/6)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"What Really Happened in the Elmina \u201cSlave Castle\u201d?\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KRun8gbI7xA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">My Visit to Elmina Castle (pt 1)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This year, I marked my birthday with a journey of remembrance and reconnection\u2014a pilgrimage to Ghana to walk in the footsteps of my ancestors and honor the strength they carried across oceans and generations. From the haunting stillness of the &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nicolecutts.com\/blog\/?p=4171\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nicolecutts.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nicolecutts.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nicolecutts.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nicolecutts.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nicolecutts.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4171"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"http:\/\/www.nicolecutts.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4192,"href":"http:\/\/www.nicolecutts.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4171\/revisions\/4192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nicolecutts.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nicolecutts.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nicolecutts.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}