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.

Thiaw, I., & Wait, G. (2018). Presenting Archaeology and Heritage at a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Gorée Island, Senegal. Advances in Archaeological Practice, 6(3), 238–247. https://doi.org/10.1017/aap.2018.19