Publications
Contribution to the Systematic Study of the Ornamental Flora of Gorée Island (Dakar-Senegal)
A systematic study of Gorée Island's ornamental flora, conducted in September 2021, identified 55 plant species across three gardens and municipal flowerbeds. This includes 36 species already documented in Senegal and 13 potentially new to the country, with angiosperms dominating the flora. The research highlights a diverse taxonomic, biological, and chorological profile, with pantropical species accounting for over a third of the identified plants. The findings provide critical data for sustainable management and taxon identification tools, addressing gaps in scientific knowledge amidst urban expansion and climate change pressures.
From cultural heritage to sustainable energy: Africa as a laboratory for the future. The case of Gorée Island in Senegal
Gorée Island, Senegal, demonstrates how integrating UNESCO World Heritage Sites with sustainable energy transitions can yield measurable benefits for human, animal, and environmental health. By replacing diesel generators with grid-connected electricity in 2018, the island achieved reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality, and economic development. This case highlights a scalable model that aligns heritage preservation with renewable energy innovation, such as Senegal's Taiba N'Diaye Wind Farm, while reinforcing social resilience through cultural dimensions. The study positions Gorée as a replicable example for other African and Mediterranean coastal sites, linking local practices to continental strategies like the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and global frameworks from UNESCO and the IEA.
Gorée, island of memory
The Senegalese island of Gorée stands as a powerful symbol of the transatlantic slave trade's legacy. As a leading destination for memorial tourism, it attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually, including Afro-descendants seeking to connect with their heritage. The island's historical significance and its role in shaping global memory make it a unique case study in the intersection of history, tourism, and cultural identity. This publication explores Gorée's transformation into a site of remembrance, highlighting its impact on both local communities and visitors. By analyzing visitor experiences and the island's historical narrative, the study underscores its importance in fostering dialogue around slavery's enduring effects.
Gorée, l’île mémoire
Gorée, a small island off the coast of Senegal, stands as a powerful symbol of the transatlantic slave trade's tragedy. Today, it attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually, including many Afro-descendants from abroad, cementing its role as a key destination for memorial tourism. The island’s historical significance and its transformation into a site of remembrance reflect broader global efforts to confront and commemorate the legacy of slavery. This article explores Gorée's dual identity—both as a witness to historical atrocities and a beacon of cultural heritage—highlighting its importance in education, tourism, and the preservation of collective memory.
Gorée, la isla de la memoria
Gorée, a small island off the coast of Senegal, stands as a poignant symbol of the transatlantic slave trade's legacy. Each year, it attracts tens of thousands of visitors, including many Afro-descendants from abroad, who engage in commemorative tourism. The island's historical significance and its role in shaping collective memory are central to this phenomenon. This article explores how Gorée has become an emblematic site for reflection on the atrocities of slavery and its enduring impact on global heritage narratives.
The Gendered Consequences of Abolition and Citizenship on Nineteenth-Century Gorée Island
French abolition of slavery and granting citizenship to adult men in its overseas territories, including Gorée Island (Senegal), in 1848 had paradoxical effects on women. While formally integrated into the Second French Republic, Goréen women faced socioeconomic and political decline due to patriarchal republican laws that excluded them from civic politics and economic prosperity. The study reveals how gender became a more salient factor mediating access to liberty and public participation, creating female colonial subjects despite the republic's ideals of universal equality.
From islands to territorial empire: The French colonial administration at Gorée and the environmental causes of continental expansion after the Seven Years War
After the Seven Years War, French colonial administration at Gorée Island was intended to protect the lucrative Caribbean slave trade while curbing continental expansion. However, environmental challenges and resource shortages on the island inadvertently fueled territorial ambitions in Senegal and beyond. This study reveals how logistical dependencies on the African mainland—driven by unreliable metropole provisioning and labor scarcity—clashed with official French imperial policy, leading to unintended continental expansion.
Who Visited Gorée Island on 27 June 2013?
On Gorée Island, a serene West African destination known for its grilled seafood and sunset views, lies a history of suffering. A 2013 account by one of the descendants of those who endured this dark past sheds light on the island's complex legacy. The narrative captures the stark contrast between Gorée's present-day allure as a summer resort for the affluent and its troubled history, offering a poignant perspective from someone directly connected to that history. This account, published in 2022, serves as a testament to the enduring impact of Gorée’s past on its descendants, blending personal reflection with broader historical context.
Sustainable emotions: the front and backstages of slavery in Gorée Island
Gorée Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and destination for roots tourism, serves as a powerful locus where emotions related to slavery are evoked and displayed. The study argues that through touristic performances, political testimonies, and artistic expressions, a shared emotional experience is fostered, reinforcing the idea of an international community grounded in universal human rights. This global heritage regime, promoted by UNESCO and similar platforms, transcends national borders, spreading cosmopolitan liberal ethics and forms of memory that challenge nationalist frameworks. The research reveals that the concept of an international community is constructed using similar devices as nations, but paradoxically operates on an inter-national scale, creating a 'metanation.' The study employs qualitative analysis of UNESCO statements, political testimonies, artistic performances, and tourist comments to explore these dynamics.
Aliou Gaye, Tourisme et patrimoine culturel : valorisations, enjeux et stratégies de développement local à l’île de Gorée et en pays Bassari (Sénégal)
Research on the Island of Gorée reveals that sustainable tourism and cultural heritage management can significantly contribute to local development, provided they are strategically aligned with community needs. The study identifies key challenges, including balancing preservation efforts with economic growth, while proposing innovative strategies for valorizing Gorée’s rich heritage—such as its Bassari cultural ties—and integrating them into tourism planning. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines ethnographic fieldwork, archival analysis, and stakeholder interviews to assess current practices and their impacts on local communities. Findings underscore the importance of inclusive governance models that empower both residents and heritage authorities in decision-making processes.
History and emotions. The staging of the House of Slaves in Gorée, Senegal
The House of Slaves on Gorée Island, Senegal, serves as a powerful emotional and historical site for remembering the transatlantic slave trade. This study reveals that its narrative effectiveness lies in emphasizing the suffering of enslaved Africans rather than the responsibility of slavers, shaping collective memory through architectural staging and symbolic representation. Ethnographic observations highlighted how the house's design and curation evoke visceral emotions, while broader political and UNESCO frameworks further reinforce this memory. The research demonstrates that such sites function as emotional anchors, blending local, national, and global discourses to sustain a specific historical narrative.
Senegal, the African Slave Trade, and the Door of No Return: Giving Witness to Gorée Island
Gorée Island, located off Senegal's coast, serves as a poignant symbol of the African slave trade and its enduring impact on Senegalese society. This study reveals that collective trauma from slavery was historically repressed, with Senegalese people avoiding open discourse about this painful history due to shame and lingering wounds. The research argues for the importance of visual rhetoric in addressing and affirming this history, suggesting that confronting these narratives visually can facilitate healing and societal reflection. By analyzing Gorée Island's role as a site of captivity and departure for millions, the study highlights its significance as both a historical marker and a catalyst for national dialogue. The findings emphasize the need for African-led storytelling—particularly in film—to preserve and interpret this history authentically.
The Slave House as Symbolic Artifact
The Slave House on Gorée Island serves as a powerful symbolic artifact, embodying the trauma of ancestral separation and the cultural memory transmitted through generations displaced by the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. This study argues that the structure is architecturally beatified by Black ancestral spirits, acting as a witness to the emotional connection between present-day descendants and their past. Utilizing an autoethnographic approach with first-person narrative, the research explores how spaces, places, and architectural structures central to the Slave House contribute to the creation of diasporic identity. The findings highlight the Slave House's role in preserving and transmitting cultural memory, bridging the gap between historical trauma and contemporary Black identity.
Les cultures populaires appréhendées comme outils de valorisation des mémoires collectives de l’esclavage à l’île de Gorée (Sénégal)
Gorée, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978, serves as a poignant symbol of the transatlantic slave trade's impact on Senegal over three centuries. The island's dual narrative—marked by the oppressive quarters of enslaved people and the opulent villas of slave traders—draws global attention while preserving collective memories of slavery. This study reveals that popular cultural expressions, including festivals, artistic productions, and traditional Senegalese struggles, play a pivotal role in spatially and temporally mobilizing these painful memories within a tourist development framework. By analyzing these cultural tools, the research highlights their capacity to bridge Africa and its diaspora while also uncovering complex economic dimensions and stakeholder dynamics that shape Gorée's heritage landscape.
Writing post-colonial spatial subjects: reading Gorée Island through Frantz Fanon
Gorée Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site off Senegal's coast, serves as a case study to explore the decolonization of spatial subjects through Frantz Fanon's lens. The research reveals how language and narrative shape the perception and colonization of architectural spaces, particularly in post-colonial contexts. By analyzing competing narratives—ranging from developmental concerns (led by Boubacar Joseph Ndiaye, UNESCO) to historical accounts (by Philip Curtin and Mark Hinchman) and symbolic significance (highlighted by Dionne Brand)—the study traces how these perspectives either perpetuate or resist the colonization of Gorée's architecture and history. Fanon's interdisciplinary approach, which combines poetic voice with resistance to historical instrumentalization, offers a framework for reimagining spaces free from colonial hegemony. This work contributes to broader discussions on post-colonial spatial subjectivity and the ethical dimensions of heritage interpretation.
Portrait of an Island: The Architecture and Material Culture of Gorée, Sénégal, 1758–1837
A nuanced portrait of Gorée Island, Senegal (1758–1837), reveals its role as a diverse, multicultural trading hub that predates modern globalism. Through architectural analysis, archival documents, and anecdotal evidence, the study challenges grand historical narratives by centering on ordinary lives—including those of signares, Europeans, free blacks, and slaves—exposing complex social dynamics and identities. It also debunks misconceptions about Gorée's role in the transatlantic slave trade while highlighting its architectural evolution post-disasters (e.g., fire, yellow fever). The research employs cartography, material culture studies, and postcolonial theory to critique dominant historical perspectives, offering a humanized alternative that questions official narratives.
Presenting Archaeology and Heritage at a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Gorée Island, Senegal
Gorée Island, Senegal's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, serves as a contentious yet significant forum for global tourism, particularly for the African diaspora. The site, renowned for its architecture and monuments linked to the Atlantic slave trade, faces ongoing debates about preservation and policy compliance. A study by Thiaw and Wait (2018) reveals ambiguous attitudes among stakeholders toward heritage presentation, suggesting these may stem from subjective biases or hypocrisy rather than effective communication strategies by professionals. The research analyzes stakeholder perspectives on archaeology and heritage to understand their consumption and potential destruction of the site. This highlights the need for coordinated efforts in heritage management to address conflicting narratives and ensure responsible preservation.
‘What is Africa to me’ now?: African-American heritage tourism in Senegambia
African-American heritage tourism in Senegambia reveals complex shifts in identity, with tourists emerging from visits to sites like the Maison des Esclaves on Gorée Island and Juffureh Village with varied conceptions of self. Some felt a stronger connection to their 'African' roots, while others reaffirmed or redefined their 'American' or 'African American' identities. The study, based on extensive interviews conducted in 2010, highlights how these experiences align with W.E.B. Du Bois's theory of double-consciousness, illustrating the dynamic interplay between racial construction, historical memory, and liminality during heritage tourism encounters.
“All the baubles that they needed”: “Industriousness” and Slavery in Saint-Louis and Gorée
African and Eur-African women, known as signares, played pivotal roles in the slave trade and gum trade along the Senegambian coast during the 18th century. Through their entrepreneurial efforts, they provisioned slave traders, managed enslaved labor, and accumulated significant wealth and property, including real estate and slaves. This study highlights their contribution to the development of Atlantic consumer culture and capitalism, challenging traditional narratives by emphasizing their industriousness and economic agency. The research draws on historical records, such as wills and probates, to illustrate the complexities of their roles in the transatlantic slave trade.
Review: Portrait of an Island: The Architecture and Material Culture of Gorée, Sénégal, 1758–1837, by Mark Hinchman
Scholarly research on the Island of Gorée, Senegal, challenges popular narratives by revealing that the number of slaves transiting through this early modern port was in the low thousands, not millions as often claimed. Despite its small size and limited slave trade volume, Gorée emerged as a significant commercial hub under French control (1677), with extensive mercantile ties to Europe, the Americas, and Indian Ocean islands like Mauritius and Réunion. Mark Hinchman's work, Portrait of an Island, meticulously examines the island's architecture and material culture from 1758 to 1837, providing a nuanced understanding of its role in transatlantic trade networks and African architectural exchanges.
“The Benefits of Their Liberty”:Race and the Eurafricans of Gorée in Eighteenth-Century French Guiana
A pivotal moment in the evolution of racial ideology within French colonialism is revealed through the case of Eurafricans from Gorée, who arrived in French Guiana in 1768. These individuals, seeking to challenge their classification as free people of color and instead claim elite status, sparked a debate between two opposing viewpoints: an insular racialist perspective that upheld essentialist beliefs about African character and abilities, and a continental pragmatism that allowed for the possibility of change based on skin tone. The final decision by Louis XVI in favor of the Goréens represented a limited victory for the more nuanced 'continental' view, demonstrating how strategic and geopolitical considerations could temper rigid racial ideologies in peripheral colonial spaces.
The Mulatta Concubine: Terror, Intimacy, Freedom, and Desire in the Black Transatlantic
Lisa Ze Winters's analysis challenges the binary narratives of the 'free(d) mulatta concubine'—as either seductress or victim—revealing a complex figure whose identity was shaped by terror, desire, and the tenuous nature of freedom in the Black Atlantic. By synthesizing written, oral, and visual sources spanning Senegal, Saint Domingue/Haiti, New Orleans, and beyond, Winters uncovers how free women of color navigated and resisted racialized and gendered power structures. The study highlights the archival gaps and cultural refractions that complicate official histories, particularly through the lens of signares in Gorée and Marie Laveau's contested legacy in New Orleans. It also critiques 19th-century ethnographies and travel memoirs for their stereotypes while centering the agency of free women of color.
African islands and the formation of the Dutch Atlantic economy: Arguin, Gorée, Cape Verde and São Tomé, 1590–1670
Atlantic islands played a pivotal role in the expansion of European overseas empires, yet their significance within the Dutch maritime empire remains understudied. This study highlights the strategic importance of African islands—Arguin, Gorée, Cape Verde, and São Tomé—as linchpins in the 17th-century Dutch Atlantic economy. By analyzing notarial archives from Amsterdam, Dutch West India Company (WIC) records, and voyage journals, researchers demonstrate how these islands facilitated commercial circuits, strengthened colonial ambitions, and supported military strategies of the Dutch Republic and WIC. The findings underscore the geo-strategic value of these islands in shaping transcontinental trade networks and European maritime dominance during this period.
At the Convergence of Transitional Justice and Art
This study highlights the untapped potential for convergence between transitional justice and art, particularly in addressing legacies of state-perpetrated violence. While both fields grapple with the challenges posed by the magnitude of atrocities and their traumatizing impact, they have rarely been directly linked outside Holocaust studies. The research focuses on cultural interventions like museums and memorials—such as Robben Island or the castles of Gorée Island—as key tools for postconflict reconciliation, yet notes that their role in facilitating understanding and official narratives is often under-theorized. By examining these sites through the lens of transitional justice, the study underscores the need for more rigorous analysis of how cultural interventions can support institutional transformation and social healing.
Culture and tourism? Limits and potential of sustainable tourist development in Gorée, Senegal and Ilha de Moçambique, Mozambique
Despite their significant historical and cultural value, UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Island of Gorée in Senegal and Ilha de Moçambique in Mozambique have struggled to leverage tourism as a tool for sustainable development. A study analyzing these sites reveals that while they attract visitors due to their ties to the slave trade and colonial architecture, local poverty threatens the preservation of their heritage. Fieldwork missions conducted by the author identified key weaknesses and strengths in current tourist management strategies, highlighting the need for better integration of cultural resources to alleviate poverty without compromising historical integrity.
Culture et tourisme ? Limites et potentialités d’un développement touristique durable à Gorée, Sénégal et à Ilha de Moçambique, Mozambique
Despite their significance as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Gorée Island (Senegal) and Ilha de Moçambique (Mozambique) face challenges in leveraging tourism to drive sustainable development. While both islands are rich in historical and cultural heritage, including architecture tied to colonial history and the transatlantic slave trade, their potential for tourism remains underutilized due to poverty and inadequate management. A study analyzing two field missions on these sites reveals that the current conditions threaten the preservation of their heritage while failing to improve local livelihoods. The research highlights the need for better strategies to balance cultural tourism with economic benefits, ensuring the survival of these sites as both historical symbols and economic assets.
Gorée, casse-tête de la défense française des colonies en Sénégambie, 1677-1817
The strategic significance of Gorée Island, located off the Cape Verde Peninsula, made it a highly contested site for Western powers aiming to control trade and slavery along the Sénégambian coast from the 16th to 18th centuries. Despite France's ambition to establish Gorée as a defensive platform to secure its thriving tropical product and slave trade, repeated setbacks—primarily due to administrative failures of charter companies and conflicts between state authorities and commercial entities—hindered its long-term control. The study reveals that these challenges weakened the military and administrative infrastructure critical for protecting Gorée, highlighting systemic inefficiencies in colonial governance that persisted over decades.
Landscapes of the Slave Trade in Senegal and The Gambia
James and Gorée Islands, recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, serve as poignant cultural landscapes that interpret the transatlantic slave trade's impact on West Africa. These islands, though not among Africa's most significant slave ports, symbolize the cruelty and suffering inflicted during the 17th to 19th centuries. The study examines their role in the slave trade, highlighting the human imprint left by European colonial powers, including British and French fortifications, slave quarters, and administrative structures. It also explores the islands' significance as reminders of historical atrocities, drawing parallels between their past and present interpretations for tourists and local communities. The research approach involves a detailed analysis of architectural remnants, historical documents, and oral narratives to reconstruct the lived experiences of enslaved Africans and their captors.
Drinking Senegalese Tea with Mint after a Visit to the Slave House of Gorée Island
A poetic exploration of cultural identity and historical memory, 'Drinking Senegalese Tea with Mint after a Visit to the Slave House of Gorée Island' delves into the emotional and linguistic complexities experienced by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers during her visit to Gorée Island. The work reflects on themes of displacement, ancestral anger, and the interplay between African and American identities, using vivid imagery such as the ocean's role in both historical trauma and personal connection. Jeffers' narrative approach—blending autobiography, cultural critique, and poetic language—challenges conventional narratives about Gorée Island, particularly its representation as a site of both slavery and resistance. The poem captures the tension between Senegalese customs and her own unruly identity, while also acknowledging moments of connection and healing through shared rituals like tea-making. This work contributes to broader discussions on memory, heritage, and the emotional weight of visiting sites with complex historical legacies.
Introduction. Zephaniah Kingsley Jr. And the Atlantic World
Zephaniah Kingsley Jr. (1765–1843), a transatlantic figure with ties to the Island of Gorée, stands out for his complex legacy as a slave trader, plantation owner, and advocate for manumission. His life bridges England, South Carolina, and Canada, culminating in a controversial yet transformative role in Haiti. A key discovery is the documentation of his unorthodox marital arrangements, including his relationship with Anta Majigeen Ndiaye, a Wolof woman from Senegal who was enslaved at age 13 after her village was raided. Purchased by Kingsley in Havana in 1806 and emancipated in Florida in 1811, Anta became a planter and slave owner herself, challenging traditional narratives of the era. The study reconstructs this transatlantic journey, from Gorée to Cuba and Florida, using historical records to illuminate the intersections of slavery, power, and agency in Kingsley's life.
La fabrication du Patrimoine : l’exemple de Gorée (Sénégal)
Gorée Island serves as a powerful symbol of the Atlantic slave trade's legacy. The study reveals how its patrimonial construction evolved from colonial-era efforts to modern-day initiatives, including the 1978 inscription on the World Heritage List and an ambitious but flawed memorial project. Despite international conservation campaigns, only a problematic replica was built, raising questions about the authenticity and impact of such constructions. The research highlights the tension between preserving historical memory and meeting contemporary demands for diaspora narratives, suggesting a need to rethink Gorée's museums to better serve this evolving transmission of history.
Naval power and the Province of Senegambia, 1758–1779
British efforts to establish and maintain the Province of Senegambia (1765–1779) as West Africa's first formal colony were undermined by a flawed coastal patrol scheme, compounded by dysfunctional local governance and insufficient resources. Despite its profitability in gum arabic and slave trading, the province faced persistent Franco-British rivalry, particularly due to France's stronghold on the nearby island of Gorée. Naval power was central to British operations, yet systemic failures—including neglect from London—hindered its effectiveness.
The Dutch in Seventeenth-Century Senegambia and the Emergence of Papiamentu
Linguistic evidence suggests that the Dutch West India Company's (WIC) presence on Gorée Island and along the Petite Côte in 17th-century Senegambia played a pivotal role in the emergence of Papiamentu, the creole language spoken in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. The study highlights compelling similarities between Papiamentu and Upper Guinea Portuguese Creole, indicating that Dutch traders likely facilitated language transfer during their commercial dominance from 1621 to 1677. This period of Dutch influence in the region is often overlooked but was critical in shaping the linguistic landscape of the Caribbean. The research challenges traditional narratives by emphasizing the significance of this understudied episode and its abrupt end following the loss of Gorée to the French.
The Paradox of Regret: Remembering and Forgetting the History of Slavery in George W. Bush's Gorée Island Address
State actors' ceremonial statements of regret, while seemingly lacking tangible outcomes compared to traditional reconciliation efforts, significantly influence public perceptions of historical justice and democratic virtue. President George W. Bush's 2007 address on Gorée Island serves as a case study revealing the paradoxical nature of such rhetoric—balancing moral remembrance with political pragmatism. The analysis demonstrates how ceremonial lamentations are strategically employed to bolster geopolitical legitimacy, despite their inherent limitations in addressing past wrongs effectively.
Slaves without Shackles: An Archaeology of Everyday Life on Gorée Island, Senegal
Archaeological evidence from Gorée Island, Senegal, reveals the complex social dynamics of a transnational community shaped by slavery and cultural interactions. While slavery is often a central theme in historical narratives about the island, its material traces remain subtle. The study identifies patterns in settlement growth, material culture, and cultural exchanges that illuminate everyday life among free Africans, enslaved people, and Europeans during the 18th century. By analyzing documentary and archaeological records, researchers uncover how diverse identities negotiated coexistence, contributing to a nuanced understanding of Gorée's historical significance as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
New Forms Of Island Territorialisation In Africa In The Postcolonial Era. The Creation Of The Tourist Space In The Islands Of Mozambique And Gorée
Postcolonial tourism on Africa's Gorée Island and Mozambique Island has reshaped their territorial identities, often at the expense of local culture. This study reveals how mass tourism transforms these former colonial outposts into commodified 'imaginary spaces,' prioritizing tourist expectations over resident needs. Using a comparative approach, it analyzes the evolution of these islands' purposes—from historical significance to modern tourism—and critiques the erasure of local heritage in favor of globalized narratives. The research highlights the tension between edonistic tourism demands and authentic cultural preservation, offering insights into the broader impact of tourism on insular territories.
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