Gorée, a small island located about a mile off the shore of Dakar, is
one of the more infamous locations in Senegal. Gorée Island’s notoriety
comes from its role in the Atlantic slave trade and its being home to
the
House of Slaves or
Maison des esclaves (pictured)
built in the 1780s to house slaves to be sold across the Atlantic. Today
the island houses numerous museums focusing on its storied history
alongside local merchants and artists selling their wares. We visited
the island on our second day in Dakar after a 20 minute boat ride from
the port of Dakar. On the island we visited the House of Slaves, toured
other historical sites, and witnessed local artists demonstrate their
sand painting, done with multi-colored sand gathered from across the
continent. The experience was extremely moving for both students and
adults, allowing them to reflect on the island’s painful history and
contemplate how that history relates to them.