100 Atlantic African, American, and European Backgrounds to Contact, Commerce, and Enslavementcome to the islands. Th ey would have the gold that they re-
ceived melted and formed into lavish necklaces and brace-
lets that they would wear on a regular basis. Th e signares
were also known for their dress, more signifi cantly, the
scarves that they wore on their heads that were decorated
with bright colors. When going out, they would wear gold
earrings, skirts and bodices made of taff eta, red Moroccan
slippers, gold or silver anklets, and additional jewelry, de-
pending on the occasion.
Th e signares also became well known for their dances,
known as “folgares” that would last from night into the
morning. Th e dances were meant for the signares to in-
teract with the French men so that those who were single
could mingle, and the younger women would attend to
study how the signares interacted with the men so that they
would be prepared when they became of age. Th ere would
be palm wine to drink and also imported wine from France.
Th ere was also a beer available for drink called pitot. Griots,
or professional storytellers, were at the dances and would
entertain by singing and dancing. Th e men at the parties
would bring handkerchiefs that they would throw at the
signares while they were dancing. Whoever had a handker-
chief land on her would hand deliver it back to the owner
and thank him with an exaggerated bow.
Signares, upon their arrival to the islands, would
learn intricate sewing techniques and would quickly be-
come fl uent in French. Being trilingual, typically fl uent in
French, Wolof, and Crioula, these women were an asset to
the French men as they were able to translate and negoti-
ate trade deals with the people who only spoke Wolof. Th e
French men who became the husbands of these women
would provide the women with many servants and slaves.
It was typical for a signare to have a European servant who
worked as her chambermaid. Th e signare would also have a
large number of slaves of African descent who assisted with
domestic duties, trade, and artisanal work.
Signares had signifi cant societal roles in the societies of
Gorée Island and Saint-Louis, and they became the women
that European men and local people wanted to be associ-
ated with. Th ey were able to acquire great wealth, through
marriages and through their participation in trade of goods
to the French sailors who would frequent the islands. Th e
children who were the products of these marriages were
also able to gain recognition, and many were granted offi -
cial government positions when they came of age. Signares
were responsible for the social atmosphere of the islandssignares would occupy the uppermost fl oor in the house,
which had large rooms with windows that allowed for tem-
perature control. Th e houses were typically surrounded
by beautifully constructed walls. Th ere were also smaller
buildings surrounding the house for the signares’ artisans
to work, as they may employ carpenters, tailors, and black-
smiths, among others.
It was typical for the signares to marry more than once,
such as in cases where her husband had to leave the island
and would not be able to return, or if she became a widow,
she was permitted to marry again while keeping all of her
acquired goods and wealth. If it was the signare’s fi rst mar-
riage, she was expected to be a virgin, and to ensure this
when her marriage was consummated, it was done so on a
white sheet that would be collected the next day and raised
on a fl agpole as evidence of her purity. Th is was not done
for the following marriages.
Th e signares were able to acquire gold and gems by
trading hogsheads fi lled with salt to the sailors who would
Signare from St. Louis Island accompanied by her servant, from
Encyclopedie des Voyages, by Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur,
179 6. (Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France/Archives
Charmet/Th e Bridgeman Art Library)