The Atlas Obscura Podcast Priscilla’s Homecoming (Classic)
Sep 19, 2025
The podcast uncovers the poignant legacy of Priscilla, an enslaved girl linked to the past of Bunce Island, a former slave castle. It delves into the island's historical significance and its connection to rice plantations in South Carolina, showcasing the cultural ties to the Gullah Geechee community. Tomlin Polite shares her emotional journey back to Sierra Leone, where a ceremonial tribute honors Priscilla's spirit. This exploration highlights the resilience and continuous thread between past and present in these rich cultural narratives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Kitchen Table Revelation
- At 19, Tomlin Polite learned a stranger had traced her family tree to a girl named Priscilla who was purchased by Elias Ball.
- That meeting with Edward Ball launched a decades-long journey connecting her to an ancestor taken from Sierra Leone.
Bunce Island's Outsized Role
- Bunce Island was a small but central slave castle where tens of thousands were held before transatlantic shipment.
- Its size and role made it a key node connecting Sierra Leone to American plantation economies like Charleston.
Rice Skills Shaped Transatlantic Links
- Sierra Leoneans were prized by rice planters in South Carolina and Georgia because of their rice-growing expertise.
- That agricultural skill helped create strong cultural and demographic links between Sierra Leone and Charleston.
