So I finally went out and did something No Kidding cultural here in Dakar. Undoubtedly the most touristed site here in Senegal, Gorée Island has a reputation that is both well-earned and notorious. The island is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and provides a blissfully vehicle-free refuge only 20 minutes away from the cacophony that is the Dakar Plateau. It’s very beautiful as well as quaint- and as we neared the pier on our little ferry, I was quickly reminded of Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket…but with a few key distinctions.
More than anything in this post I wanted to put up some of the many photos I snapped. Before I do that however, I’ll quickly explain that Gorée was a slave transportation sites to points north and eastward between the 15th and 19th century. We walked all around the island, but most the most indelible stop was at the Maison des Esclaves (House of Slaves), which provides a perspective of the horrific conditions where slaves were imprisoned prior to embarkation. To be brought face to face with the capacity for human atrocity reminded me strongly of a trip I once took to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Back then I couldn’t bring myself to take a single photograph as I walked around- maybe because the history was too recent, too immediately devastating. I’m not sure. This time it still felt wrong to be taking photos, but I went ahead and did so.
More than anything in this post I wanted to put up some of the many photos I snapped. Before I do that however, I’ll quickly explain that Gorée was a slave transportation sites to points north and eastward between the 15th and 19th century. We walked all around the island, but most the most indelible stop was at the Maison des Esclaves (House of Slaves), which provides a perspective of the horrific conditions where slaves were imprisoned prior to embarkation. To be brought face to face with the capacity for human atrocity reminded me strongly of a trip I once took to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Back then I couldn’t bring myself to take a single photograph as I walked around- maybe because the history was too recent, too immediately devastating. I’m not sure. This time it still felt wrong to be taking photos, but I went ahead and did so.
Here’s another window into Senegal, that I hope will will pique your interest to come.
Approaching the island on the ferry
Just like MV….with palm trees
Statue representing the liberation of slaves
A holding cell where 20-25 slaves were kept inside, only allowed to go outside once a day.
A couple more of the Maison Des Esclaves. Directly behind us it the “Point of No Return”- where slaves reportedly went through to board slave transport ships (although this fact is debated)
Catholic Church built in 1800s. Pope John Paul II came here in 1992 and apologized for the complicity of Catholic missionaries during the slave trade
We were told that we were going to see a school- I thought it was going to be an old-timey derelict school. Nope. As soon as I walked in the door we were overrun by hyper-enthusiastic four year-olds. I experienced the trademark Ron Burgundy “I immediately regret this decision.” feeling.
Gun from the French colonial era. They made sure to disable it when they handed over Senegal to its people.
View to Dakar City.The island’s mosque in the lower left.
I started to not listen to what our guide told us about this part. Something about yellow fever and death. All I could think about was the Yassa Thiouf that we were going to eat next.
Our beachside eatery. Good food, but I especially liked the juxtaposition of the Christmas placemats and the African tablecloth. In February.
Yassa Thiouf. Wolof for really tasty grouper with a lemon onion sauce. And rice. The two juices are also uniquely Senegalese: Bissap (the purple-y one) and bouye (from the baobab tree fruit).
Okay there you have it. A short-attention span synopsis of my relaxing day out. I look forward to venturing off the peninsula, and seeing what else is out there.