Today we went to Goree Island.
From the 15th to the 19th century, it was the largest slave-trading center on the African coast. Ruled in succession by the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French, its architecture is characterized by the contrast between the grim slave-quarters which were shaped as boats and lined the island shore and then with the elegant houses of the slave traders.
The slave-quarters started the break up of the African Family units. Men and women were typically sold off and sent on different ships to different locations. Children and adolescent women were separated from their parents and housed in different locations. Most of the time sold to locations away from their families. And slaves were chained to other tribe captives while waiting to be sold, to help prevent uprisings.
Slaves would wait sometimes up to 3 months to be sold and board a ship in tight quarters where all they could do is sit or stand. Once sold, a ship would pull up to the side of the building. Slaves would be shackled with a 10lb anvil so if they tried to get away they would be easy to catch. The slave, once released from their cell, would then walk down a plank through a door in the building known as “the door of no return” to the slave ship, as this would be the last time they would stand on African soil. Thirty percent of slaves would not make it to their final location, as many would die on the way to their buyer.
This was an incredibly emotional place. During the time of the slave trade from Africa, some 20 million slaves were sold from this island. Today it reminds you of the Caribbean, due to its quaint shops, nice sunny weather and beautiful buildings. It holds beach front restaurants, a boarding school for the top girls in the country and many artist shops hoping for visitors to buy their art. It is hard to imagine such a horrible past which took place her, yet there is a feeling here which is hard to explain except that it is very heavy. And something which should not be forgotten.