As always, the images and any videos in this posting are best viewed on the web page. View the complete set of blog posts here.
Yes indeed, we are on a new ocean today, the Atlantic! The following image was taken from the sliding door of our stateroom. Does the water look different? I believe not (Cheryl thinks it looks green). We are back on the sea for a day, which means more blog catch-up, working out, enrichment, and, of course, eating….
From Cheryl: heading north in the South Atlantic Ocean; the weather has been much cooler the past three days, hovering in the mid-60s and sunny, which feels good. It’s a big change to go from 90 to 60-degree daily highs. The ocean is greenish colored in this part of the Atlantic. We’ve noticed a wide variation in the color of the ocean waters in different parts of the world. Many factors cause the appearance to be green, blue, navy blue, turquoise, or brown: ocean depths, materials suspended in the water (such as living and non-organic materials), and how water absorbs colors from the visible light spectrum. As sunlight enters the ocean, much of the red, orange, and yellow light gets absorbed within the first few meters. Blue light has longer wavelengths and penetrates deeper, giving a blue appearance when looking at the ocean from above. I am paying attention in “class”.
April 5th was Easter Sunday. Viking gave us a nice Lindt chocolate bunny. They also had Easter-themed food throughout the ship, as well as optional religious events.
Enrichment – “History of West Africa.” Discover the heritage of ancient empires, slavery, and colonialism in contemporary West Africa – David Anderson
On the first slide, he highlighted African Kente cloth: “Kente cloth is a prestigious Ghanaian textile made of hand-woven silk and cotton strips, renowned for its vibrant geometric patterns and cultural significance. Originating from the Asante and Ewe peoples, each color and design carries specific meanings, symbolizing history, religious beliefs, and social status. Traditionally worn by royalty, it is now popular for special occasions.“
The first documented history of Western Africa includes multiple prominent empires:
– Ghana Empire, 6th–13th centuries, which grew immensely wealthy by controlling the trans-Saharan trade of gold and salt
– Mali Empire, 13th–17th centuries, Famous for its immense wealth, this empire was founded by Sundiata Keita. Its most famous ruler, Mansa Musa, made a legendary pilgrimage to Mecca, projecting Mali’s wealth globally. (This may be the wealthiest empire in the history of the world.)
– Songhai Empire, 15th–16th centuries, Encompassing parts of Mali, Niger, and Nigeria, this was one of the largest states in African history.
– Kingdom of Benin, 13th–19th centuries. Located in present-day Nigeria, the Benin Empire was renowned for its impressive urban earthworks and masterfully crafted brass and bronze artwork.
Islam spread to West Africa peacefully through Trans-Saharan trade routes starting in the 8th century, introduced by North African Berber traders and scholars. It deeply influenced the region, giving rise to powerful Islamic empires like the Mali and Songhay, fostering literacy, and establishing intellectual centers like Timbuktu, while often blending with local customs.
Slavery in West Africa included both indigenous forms of servitude and the devastating Transatlantic Slave Trade. While early systems often utilized captives for domestic work or debt repayment, European demand transformed the region. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, 12 to 13 million people were violently captured, sold by local elites, and shipped to North and South America, and many other world destinations. It is estimated that 2 million people died en route from Africa.
European colonization of West Africa, primarily driven by the late-19th-century “Scramble for Africa,” evolved from the Berlin Conference of 1884-85, which divided the African continent into areas of control by the various European countries. No African representatives were allowed to participate in the conference. European countries focused on extracting resources like rubber, palm oil, and minerals. Britain, France, and Portugal dominated the region, imposing distinct administrative systems that reshaped political, economic, and cultural borders before independence movements in the mid-20th century. Germany and the Netherlands also held colonies. The continent has not yet, and may never, recover from this period.
Starting in the 1940s and continuing to the 1960s, African countries gained independence. Many emerging nations were plagued by poor leadership, internal civil wars, multiple coups, and Cold War politics (the USSR supporting one and the West supporting the opposite side). Opportunities for the future include a significant and growing population, a wealth of natural resources, including oil and rare earth minerals. Challenges include climate change, debt management, difficult social conditions (poverty, lack of education, disease, and healthcare), and the influence of the superpowers, including but not exclusively China, and continued local political instability.
Enrichment – “German Colonialism and the Kaiser’s Holocaust.” Survey Namibia’s indigenous structure and the forgotten genocide – lan MacLachlan
Ian started out with a summary of Namibia’s physiography. The Namib Desert along the Atlantic coast is separated from a central plateau by the “Great escarpment”, a massive, 5,000 km-long horseshoe-shaped mountain system that separates the high inland plateau from the narrow coastal desert. The border contains an oddity, the Caprivi Strip, a long, narrow panhandle stretching ~450km east from the main territory to the Zambezi River (the tan strip shown in the second image). Created in 1890, it stems from a German colonial mistake: acquiring the land for river access to East Africa, unaware that Victoria Falls makes the Zambezi unnavigable. He discussed how Germany and other European countries considered colonization critical to their economic future because these countries couldn’t accommodate growing populations and needed raw resources.
The following summary from the internet is consistent with Ian’s historical presentation: “Namibia’s history is defined by indigenous resilience, the brutal impacts of European colonialism, and a long struggle for self-determination. From ancient times, the arid landscape was inhabited by groups like the San, Nama, and Damara. Today, the Republic of Namibia stands as a stable, sovereign democracy.
- Early Inhabitants – Before European contact, the territory was populated by nomadic and pastoralist groups. The San (Bushmen) are widely considered the region’s earliest inhabitants, relying on a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. They spoke Khoisan, which is a language with clicking sounds. Other groups like the pastoralist Nama and the Damara also inhabited the central and southern regions, while the Herero and Ovambo peoples settled in the north and central areas.
- The Colonial Era (1884–1915) – Although Portuguese explorers mapped the coast in the late 1400s, the harsh Namib Desert kept European powers from colonizing the interior until the late 19th century. German South West Africa: In 1884, during the “Scramble for Africa,” Germany claimed the territory (excluding the British-held port of Walvis Bay). The First Genocide of the 20th Century: When the Herero and Nama peoples rebelled against land expropriation and brutal colonial rule in 1904, German imperial forces responded with a campaign of extermination. Between 24,000 and 100,000 Herero and 10,000 Nama were killed through executions, starvation, and imprisonment in concentration camps. (Bob: This is the Holocaust noted in the talk’s title)
- South African Administration (1915–1990) – During World War I, South African forces (then part of the British Empire) invaded and took control of the territory. Following the war, the League of Nations granted South Africa a mandate to administer the region. After World War II, when other territories were transitioning to United Nations trusteeships, South Africa refused to relinquish its hold on the territory, attempting to annex it outright. South Africa subsequently imposed its harsh apartheid policies on Namibia, stripping indigenous populations of their rights and segregating society.
- The Liberation Struggle – In response to South Africa’s illegal occupation and oppression, the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) was founded in 1960. In 1966, SWAPO’s military wing launched a protracted guerrilla war for independence. During this era, the United Nations officially renamed the territory “Namibia” (after the Namib Desert) and formally recognized SWAPO as the representative of the Namibian people.“
- Independence and Modern Era – In 1988, under mounting international pressure and a UN-brokered peace plan, South Africa agreed to withdraw its forces. Namibia formally achieved independence on March 21, 1990, with Sam Nujoma taking office as the country’s first president. (Walvis Bay was finally handed over to Namibia in 1994). Today, Namibia is globally recognized for its political stability, wildlife conservation, and rich mineral resources, though it continues to work toward addressing the deep-seated socio-economic disparities left behind by decades of colonial and apartheid rule.”
Enrichment – South Africa’s Wine Industry.” Discover South Africa’s outstanding wine industry – John Wakeman-Linn
Bob passed on this lecture, so I will share what I learned. John described the history of South Africa’s wine industry. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) started grape production around Cape Town in 1655, and by 1659, the Dutch were producing rather mediocre wine (the Dutch were very industrious, but wine production was not in their wheelhouse). The Dutch thought grapes would prevent scurvy; however, that wasn’t the case because grapes have very little vitamin C. About twenty years later, French Huguenots started to settle in the area. They had wine knowledge and determined which types of grapes would grow in the local microclimates. The industry struggled through the 1700’s, but by the 1800’s, the British became big customers, and this helped propel the industry. In the late 1800’s, the phylloxera disease struck the vineyards. The KWV wine cooperative was formed in the early 1900’s to support the farmers and stabilize the industry. During the apartheid period, South African wines were boycotted, and vineyards were not eligible to enter worldwide competitions. Post Apartheid, the industry has been revitalized, and today South Africa is the seventh largest wine-producing country. The industry significantly impacts GDP and employs 270,000 people. South Africa is first in the world in wine tourism. Note: the ship serves several different South African wines, and I have researched them for your benefit and can highly recommend that you try them as well!
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