The Iziko Slave Lodge Museum

The Slave Lodge is a permanent museum of slavery and uses the building itself as a significant artefact.

The focus of the exhibits aim to increase awareness on issues such as human rights, equality, peace and justice.

The Slave Lodge, Cape Town Museums, Cape Town

At the orientation centre on slavery at the Cape, an audio guide takes the visitor on a tour of the history of the site itself.

Other galleries show that the Cape was an integral part of the Indian Ocean slave trade route – slaves were brought to the Cape from four main areas - Indonesia, India-Ceylon, Madagascar and Mozambique.

One exhibit shows the cramped conditions of slaves aboard a slave ship, such as the Meermin. This was one of several ships sent by the Cape VOC authorities in the 18th century to Madagascar, to trade with local rulers and obtain slave men, women and children for Cape Town.

The "Slave Room" uses sound, projected images and animation to take visitors into the dark and oppressive conditions of slaves' lives in the Slave Lodge.