On August 20, 1914, Alfred C. “Chief” Sam departed Galveston, Texas, accompanied by 60 African American delegates bound for the Gold Coast of Africa.
Chief Sam, born in the Gold Coast, who asserted a chiefly lineage, rose to prominence in 1913 as he traveled through Oklahoma’s all-Black towns, presenting the Gold Coast as a land of extraordinary opportunity. His speeches included visions of diamonds found after rain, trees yielding bread and sugar cane of remarkable size. Through an investment of $25 in stock with his Akim Trading Company, African American families were promised not only passage but also access to fertile land.
Despite skepticism from both federal and state authorities and persistent criticism from Black newspapers, Sam’s vision resonated with many. Numerous families sold their possessions and land to participate in the movement. “Gold Coast camps” were established near Weleetka, Oklahoma, as participants awaited departure, and a weekly newspaper, The African Pioneer, was published in Boley to advocate for and defend the project.
Ultimately, Sam procured an aging German steamer, the Liberia, which he refitted in Maine. The vessel reached Galveston by June 1914, greeted by hundreds of potential emigrants. From this assembly, 60 were selected for the inaugural journey. Their departure on August 20 carried significant symbolic weight, transforming the long-held aspiration of returning to Africa into tangible migration.
The voyage, however, was fraught with challenges. After stopping in Barbados, the S.S. Liberia was detained in Sierra Leone for 45 days by British colonial officials investigating the vessel’s legitimacy. Supplies dwindled during this period. Upon arrival at the Gold Coast, migrants encountered realities that diverged sharply from Sam’s assurances. Complex land tenure systems, the rapid spread of disease and difficult agricultural conditions undermined initial hopes. While some settlers remained in West Africa, seeking employment in coastal cities or relocating to Liberia, others returned to Oklahoma, disillusioned.
Sam ultimately abandoned the S.S. Liberia, leaving investors who were still anticipating their passage to Africa without recourse. Some reports indicate that he did not vanish entirely; rather, he re-entered trading circles, reappearing in North America before his death, which reportedly occurred sometime in the 1930s.
