Steve Harvey is moved to tears as he visits Elmina Castle
American comedian and television host, Steve Harvey, was brought to tears last Saturday (August 17, 2019) during a visit to the Elmina Castle in the Central Region.
The 62-year-old Family Feud host was joined by his family at the site of the historical atrocities, which was originally erected by Portuguese slavers.
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Steve's visit to the Elmina Castle included a tour into the dark structure.
The castle, originally erected in 1482, is the oldest extant European structure in sub-Saharan Africa.
Steve, who was dressed in a canary yellow tunic with purple patterns around the collar and sleeves, appeared to well up with tears during the visit to the site.
The overwhelmed comedian was seen resting on a set of stone steps and bowing his head while touring the building.
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Outside, a guide explained the Elmina Castle's dark history.
The building was originally erected as a trade outpost, but it was eventually converted into one of the busiest stops on the Atlantic slave trade.
Dutch forces seized the outpost in the 17th Century, though they continued the slave trade started by its Portuguese builders.
Others on the tour saw Steve and his family exploring the cramped spaces were slaves were confined before being shipped to other colonies in the Americas and around the world, according to TMZ.
Steve, his wife Marjorie Bridges, 54, and their children glimpsed the original shackles applied to prisoners, and even tried them on.
Marjorie's eyes were clouded by tears after bearing witness to the memory of these atrocities.
Steve shared a video to his Instagram on Saturday showing his departure from the castle.
'Leaving out of the Cape Coast Slave Castles there was a group of brothers waiting to meet me... They showed me so much love... Thank you for that welcome back home Soldiers. #TheYearofTheReturn #Ghana,' he captioned.
The men in the crowd presented him with what appeared to be a large sea shell with a greeting written for him.
He also shared a moving video that captured his visit to the castle and showed the dark interior.
'This was real pain I felt going back to Ghana’s slave castles,' he wrote.
'I could feel my ancestors on me... Powerful beyond words that I can explain. I encourage as many of you as possible to go HOME for your ancestors. Their strength is in each of us and we must honor their ultimate sacrifice in all that we do.'
Last year, President Nana Akufo-Addo declared 2019 the Year of Return for people of African descent, encouraging them to visit the nation and even to return to live there full time.