Griot 47in West African societies), and Le Musée Maritime (Th e
Maritime Museum).
See also: Atlantic Slave Trade; SignaresJen Westmoreland BouchardBibliography
Barboza, Steven. Door of No Return: Th e Legend of Gorée Island.
New York: Cobblehill Books, 1994.
Harrison, Richard. Gorée Island: Th e Island of No Return: Saga of
the Signares. Mt. Clemens, MI: Gold Leaf Press, 1996.Griot
A griot is a member of a hereditary caste of praise singers,
poets, genealogists, storytellers, musicians, and oral histo-
rians in West African society. Th e griot are present among
the many peoples of West Africa such as the Mandinka, Ma-
linke, Fulani, Hausa, Tukulor, Wolof, and live in many partsfor them. Th e mothers were kept across the courtyard from
their families, as to inhibit conversation between them.
Slaves were fed once a day. Th ey were naked, save a small
piece of fabric around their waists, and forced to defecate
in their cells. Above these holding areas there were more
luxurious accommodations for the dealers and European
offi cials who hosted parties and dinners on a regular basis.
In 1848, the French abolished slavery and freed the slaves
who were left on Gorée. At this time, there were 6,000 in-
habitants on Gorée, 5,000 of them former slaves.
Th e island was named a United Nations Education, Sci-
entifi c, Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage
Site and is now one of Senegal’s major tourist attractions.
Th e island has been visited by myriad foreign dignitaries
and international fi gures, including the pope, Nelson Man-
dela, President Bill Clinton, and President George Bush.
Th e principal sites on the island include the Maison des
Esclaves (Th e House of Slaves), Th e IFAN Museum (ded-
icated to the history of Senegal), Le Musée de la Femme
(Th e Women’s Museum, which discusses the role of women
Room in the House of Slaves on Gorée Island off the coast of Senegal. (Shutterstock)