Gorée Island: Portraying many sides of Senegal’s history
One of such relic for the Senegalese is the Gorée Island or Ber as the locals once called it before the Portuguese christened it Ila de Palma and the Dutch baptised it Good Reed and the French renamed it Goree – meaning ‘good harbour’. It was indeed a habour that brought them many good fortunes […]
One of such relic for the Senegalese is the Gorée Island or Ber as the locals once called it before the Portuguese christened it Ila de Palma and the Dutch baptised it Good Reed and the French renamed it Goree – meaning ‘good harbour’. It was indeed a habour that brought them many good fortunes readily shipped away as it changed hands many times.
Only three kilometers from Dakar at its nearest point, the island is made up of a flat plain that ends in a steep basaltic hill (the Castle), and is only 900 meters by 300 metres. Possibly sighted by Phoenicians and others in antiquity, it was probably first discovered by the Portuguese explorer Dias in 1444.
The island was colonised in 1817 as was Manhattan Island. Bought by the Dutch from a local chief for a more mare pittance, Gorée in no time became a stopover station for Dutch ships plying the route between their forts on the Gold Coast (now Ghana) and the West Indies. It was then they gave the island its name, which is perceived to be in relations with the “Goeree” Island in Holland, or more fancifully – according to some – for its sheltered harbour, “Goode Reede” (good harbor).
The British took it from the Dutch, but the Dutch recaptured it, but had to give it up again to the French during French maritime expansion under Colbert. In 1802, by the terms of the Amiens peace agreement, the island became French and remained so until Senegalese independence in 1960.
Gorée was the principal entry point off the coast of Africa for slavers and the small Fort Estrees turned museum served as entry point for merchantmen flying the French flag. Also, thousands of Africans’ view of Gorée port from Fort Estrees was through this island.
After the abolition of slave trade in France in 1848, Gorée was an outpost for policing the seas. As its role in trade declined, it became a take off point for French colonisation of the West Africa interior.
It is recorded that the Island houses the first school and the first printing plant in French Africa. It was also one of the “four communes” which in the 19th century, were electing deputies into the French National Assembly.
Like Zanzibar off the East Coast of Africa, Gorée is important in the early history of American relations with Africa. The United States established a consulate in Senegal in 1885. Many buildings on Gorée are currently undergoing renovations, sponsored by Senegal and many other governments and international organisations.
The Slave House: Built in 1776 by the Dutch, the slave House is one of several sites on the island where To the “Door of No Return”: Goree Africans were brought to be loaded onto ships bound for the New World. The owner’s residential quarters were on the upper floor. The lower floor was reserved for the slaves who were weighed, fed and held before departing on the transatlantic journey. The Slave House with its famous “Door of No Return,” has been preserved in its original state. Thousands of tourists visit the house each year.
The Botanical Gardens: Located on the Rue du Port, the gardens were founded by the French in 1667 and remain open to the public.
The Church of St. Charles: Located on the Place de l’Eglise, the church was built with public contributions in 1830 in the style of provincial churches in Western France.
The Castle: Originally built by the Dutch in the 17th century, the fortress has been razed and View of Gorée from the island’s high point, where the castle once stood reconstructed several times. In the 18th century, it housed the residence of the Governor of Senegal and in 1940 it was bombarded by a combined British and Free French naval force.
William Ponty School: From 1913-1937, this building housed the Ecole Normale William Ponty where many African leaders were educated.
Strickland House: The site of the first American Consulate established in West Africa. It was the home of American businessman, Peter Strickland, who came to Africa in 1878 as a representative of the Boston trading firm and was named the US Consul in 1883.
Université des Mutants: This university, founded by former Senegal President, Senghor, was established to bring together the best minds in Africa. It is the site of frequent conferences on current cultural and economic issues for developing nations.
Hostellerie du Chevalier de Boufflers: This well-known restaurant was named after the first French Hostellerie du Chevalier de Boufflers, overlooking the beach Governor of Senegal, a colorful figure who moved to Goreé from the Capital of St. Louis (northwest coast) and is reported to have broken many hearts upon his return to France in 1788.
Historic Museum: Opened in 1989, the museum has exhibits on anthropology, West African pre-history Entrance to the small Fort Estrees, now museum and the political and religious history of Senegal. With additional reports from Wikipedia.