A spirit of community and intrigue reigns in the streets of gorée. Ppposing dakar, the island lies off the coast of senegal and stands as a painful historical reminder of the atlantic slave trade. A site of remembrance, but also of reconciliation, dialogue, and brotherhood. A place where you can experience one of the core values of senegal, hospitality or “ teranga”, as we say it here. The citizens of what is now a creole island live there in harmony. The Muslim invites the Christian to his mosque, the Christian asks the animist to accompany him to his Church, the Animist shows the stars to the Atheist, and the latter invites the three to his home for supper.
Gorée: The Spirits of the Island
Photographer — Bilal Moussa
Art Direction & Styling — Cheikh Kébé
Assistant — Madjiguene Samb
Models — Amandine Nana, Fatima-Charlotte Diagne, Marcel Ganao, Aminata Fall, Neba Fofana, Madjiguene samb, Cheikh Kébé
The Héritage & Essence Collection was a tribute to the Signares [from Portuguese “senhoras”], “Gorean” women who took advantage of their Afro-European origins to empower themselves by owning land, speaking many languages, and acting independently. This made them not only critical players in trade and politics but also influential businesswomen. One of their primary focuses was the gold trade, one of the few markets exclusively owned by women. Quickly, gold became a heritage transmission tool for women through the generations. Senegalese tradition provides that women inherit their gold at the time of their marriage—making the precious metal a mark of womanhood and femininity.
The presence of the character of Coumba Castel is significant, representing here the heritage and the culture that is hidden deep within us, the youth of globalization. Like a mother who keeps a protective eye on her children:
You have to look after her to find her.
Also known for its protective genius Coumba Castel, the island of Gorée hides many intriguing and disturbing secrets. From its rich cultural history, we wanted to represent the very intense energy that the island of Gorée gives off with its inhabitants who live the lifestyle of movie characters. For Maison Kébé, Gorée represents an imaginary landscape full of mysteries. Between tranquillity, harmony, and mysticism, this island symbolizes multiculturality that we articulate through the Maison Kébé pieces. Culture and respect for others are critical in Gorée, embodied through its colorful colonial architecture. Houses are built with specific colors representing the colonial builder - all newcomers have to keep the original house colors. Yellow from the Portuguese in the 15th century, red from the dutch in the 16th, and white from the French and English colonizers from the 17th to 20th centuries.
