Gorée Island, located two miles from the Senegalese capital, Dakar, was a critical trading port for Europeans and played a major role as an entrepot for slaves taken from West Africa.  Long before being conquered by the Europeans, the island was called Bezeriche Island or Ber and, according to some accounts, was settled by a population of Wolof (West African ethnic group) fishermen. In 1444, Portuguese explorers seeking new trade routes “discovered” and claimed Ber, which they … Continue reading GORÉE ISLAND, SENEGAL (CA. 1000- )