Goreé Island

Zach went to Goreé Island last week on a field trip with the 8th grade class. I was a chaperone. The island is rich in history. The island is the most famous tourist attraction in Senegal. One of the most frequently visited sites is the Maison des Esclaves (Slave House), a poignant reminder of Goreé's role as the center of West African slave trade. Built by the Dutch in 1776, the slave house has been preserved in its original state. The island was colonized in 1817. As with Manhattan Island, the Dutch bought the island from a local chief for a pittance. Goreé became a way station for Dutch ships plying the route between their forts on the Gold Coast (now Ghana) and the Indies. The Dutch gave the island its name, most probably for "Goeree" Island in Holland, or more fancifully - according to some - for its sheltered harbor, "Goode Reede" (good harbor). Goreé changed hands many times. The British took it from the Dutch; The Dutch then 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.

Goreé was the principal entry point off the coast of Africa for slavers and merchantmen flying the French flag. Thousands of Africans passed through this island fortress on the continent's bulge. After the abolition of the slave trade in France in 1848, Goreé was an outpost for policing the seas. As its role in trade declined, it became a stepping off point for French colonization of the interior of West Africa.

Below are some pictures of the day.


The island is steeped in idol worship. Above is one of the many idols that they sacrifice things to.

Here is the ferry that we took to the island.

Upon leaving these boys encouraged us to throw money to them and they dive for it.

The sign above Zach's head says "cellule de recalcitrants" - it was the isolation cell.

This was a lookout, now it is a home. How would you like living there?

Zach sitting atop one of the cannons. This cannon was only fired once and it sank a ship that still lies at the bottom of the ocean. When we went scuba diving we explored the ship wreck.

Here is our guide by one of many cannons still on the island.

It was a fun day. The island has about 1,200 people that live there. There are no cars or bikes. It is heavily Muslim with a slight Catholic population. Pray that their eyes will be open as new ministries are trying to be started with a storying group.