After 52 years of waiting, the Museum of Black Civilizations will be opening in Senegal on the December 6th.
Launched as an idea 52 years ago by Senegal’s first president, Léopold Sédar Senghor, the musuem will highlight “Africa’s contribution to the cultural and scientific heritage” of humanity featuring the remains of the first hominids with in particular their “lithic tools” made of stone, whose dating goes back several million years. Added to this are the current artistic creations and collections of paintings and sculptures.
According to the representative of the Senegalese government, the project will cost 1,5 billion CFA francs to the State of Senegal and will constitute with the Grand Théâtre (2billions of CFA francs), the two main cultural infrastructures of the country.
Spread over an area of 14,000 m2 with a capacity of 18,000 pieces of art, the museum, which has imposed its mark in the city center of Dakar, was built thanks to a donation from China. amounting to 20 billion CFA francs (nearly 30.5 million euros). China also participated in its equipment up to three billion CFA francs (EUR 4.5 million).
As a reminder, the first to have launched the idea of a Museum of Black Civilizations in Senegal is President Léopold Sédar Senghor (1960-1980), during the first world festival of Negro arts organized in 1966 in Senegal. However, the realization work began under the presidency of Abdoulaye Wade (2000-2012).