Travel to Senegal: A Journey to the Island of Goree

Introduction to Goree Island

Nelson Mandela

TRAVEL: by Eric Mackenzie Lamb

I recently made a trip to the west African country of Senegal. My objective was to visit the small island of Goree, situated about four kilometers from the capital city, Dakar, and, specifically, the Museum of Slavery. A UNESCO World Heritage site, It was here that African slaves were sold and sent to various countries, including the islands of the Caribbean.

The Door of No Return and the Museum of Slavery

History of Goree Island

Goree was first created by the Dutch as a slave market in 1621, mainly due to the fact that it was a safe anchorage for slave ships. Along with Senegal, it was later conquered by the French. Independence for Senegal finally came in 1960.

Visits from Prominent People

Since then, Goree was been visited by many prominent people, including Nelson Mandela, former US presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and the late Pope John Paul. The Pope asked for forgiveness for such cruelty to humanity, and added that they must never forget. The island itself has a permanent population of only 1,500 people, and almost all earn their living as tour guides, not surprising as there are over a million visitors each year.

Former US President Bill Clinton