November 4, 2024
DAKAR, SENEGAL, The most western tip of Africa
Dakar is the capital and largest city in Senegal with over 4 million living in the Metropolitan area. It is predominately a Muslim country with seven different practices and 5% Catholics. The national language is French. Senegal got their independence from France in 1960, the contract was signed in Annapolis, Maryland. The Portuguese controlled it before the French and used it as the base for the Atlantic Slave Trade. Goree Island, just off the coast, became the holding point where the captured African families were separated and held typically for 1-2 months, prior to being shipped to the Caribbean and the Americas. I prebooked an excursion to Goree Island with the app Get your guide to maximize our experience and have the travel coordinated. Many other residents did similar arrangements.
Goree is a relatively small island - no vehicles - everything comes in and out by the hourly ferry. Roughly 800 people live on the island today and several more come to the island daily to work. Tourism is the only industry on the island, and the vendors can be a tad aggressive in trying to get your attention, especially if you seem the slightest bit interested. The women appeal to you by calling you my sister and asking you repeatedly to please support them. I ended up with 6 bracelets, 2 magnets and a necklace! None of which I had intended to buy! The slave house is quite somber, the conditions as bad as you expect. The men, children ages 5 to 12 and women were all separated into tiny rooms on the ground level with the traders living above. The men were shackled, and the women were treated slightly better as they fetched a better price if they were pregnant and could therefore delivery future slaves. Many died before even being shipped out due to disease and the bodies were thrown into the sea, making the water surrounding the island shark invested, further preventing escape, even if you could swim. The Africans sent here were defeated tribes, by other Africans, who were fighting for land control. The door of no return below was last place they went as they boarded the ships.
