April 25th:
After docking at Dakar, Senegal, we boarded a harbor ferry and sailed to the Ile de Goree. This was an island shipping point for black slaves in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. While other ports in Western Africa on major rivers were more significant in the slave trade business, the Ile de Goree has been the best maintained and is now a World Heritage Site..
Surprisingly, the USA was not the major recipient of black slaves. Only 5% of the estimated 15 to 30 million slaves exported from Western Africa were destined for the USA. 40% of the slaves were sent to Brazil and the remaining 50% ended up in the various Caribbean Islands.
Like the rest of central Africa, unemployment is high. It runs near 50% right now. About 1/3 of the population live below $1.25per day poverty level and the average age is only 19.
The Ile de Goree was picturesque.
A local woman with her (we assume) child arranges produce for sale along one of the local streets.
On return to the ship, we were treated to a performance by the Senegal National Ballet Company, For season ticket holders to the Arizona Ballet, we can assure you this is no ballet we ever saw in Phoenix. The performance was entertaining and fast paced.
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