OUR HISTORY
One vision, three men, one museum
A long-term project, conceived successively by an anti-colonialist activist (Lamine Senghor), a thinker of Negritude (Léopold Sédar Senghor), and a champion of African renaissance (Abdoulaye Wade), the Museum of Black Civilizations (MCN) was inaugurated on December 6, 2018, by President Macky Sall.
Since then, the MCN has worked to highlight the contribution of Black Civilizations to the universal heritage of humanity.
Thus, visitors who pass through the door of the impluvium house that inspired its architecture encounter, around the great Baobab by Haitian artist Edouard Duval-Carrié, the exhibition: Africa, Cradle of Humanity.
Legacy and struggles
Through the fascinating works that make up the exhibitions, the visitor discovers the dispersion of black peoples around the world. He imagines the social formations, the modes of production, the symbolic representations and the initiatory rites produced by black civilizations since the dawn of time.
He also discovers the determining role of black people in world wars and the advent of a free world. The debates, struggles and creations of black intellectuals, artists and writers recall the fights for emancipation, Pan-Africanism and civil rights. The visitor leaves the hut with faith in the community of destiny that unites black peoples—African, Afro-descendant, Caribbean, American, European or Asian.
Critical eye and openness
Without falling into a falsely universalizing or victimizing approach, the exhibitions avoid the trap of past-times, romanticism, or self-glorification. Like a mirror held out to the visitor, they question our trajectories, our contradictions and the traces of history: slave trade, colonization, apartheid, systemic racism.
Rooted in the land of teranga, the Museum of Black Civilizations values hospitality, interculturality and respect for cultural diversity. It celebrates an already moving African future — a post-racial world in the making.
One vision, three men, one museum.
Long-term project, thought in turn by an anti-colonialist activist (Lamine Senghor), a thinker of negritude (Léopold Sedar Senghor) and a singer of the African renaissance (Abdoulaye Wade), the Museum of Black Civilizations (MCN) was inaugurated on December 6, 2018 by President Macky Sall. The MCN has been working since then to promote the contribution of Black civilizations to the universal heritage of humanity. Thus, the visitor who crosses the door of the impluvium box that inspired its architecture meets all around the great Baobab by the Haitian artist Edouard Duval-Carrié, the exhibition: Africa, cradle of humanity.
Legacy and struggles
Through the fascinating works that make up the exhibitions, the visitor discovers the dispersion of black peoples around the world. He imagines the social formations, the modes of production, the symbolic representations and the initiatory rites produced by black civilizations since the dawn of time.
He also discovers the determining role of black people in world wars and the advent of a free world. The debates, struggles and creations of black intellectuals, artists and writers recall the fights for emancipation, Pan-Africanism and civil rights. The visitor leaves the hut with faith in the community of destiny that unites black peoples—African, Afro-descendant, Caribbean, American, European or Asian.
Critical eye and openness
Without falling into a falsely universalizing or victimizing approach, the exhibitions avoid the trap of past-times, romanticism, or self-glorification. Like a mirror held out to the visitor, they question our trajectories, our contradictions and the traces of history: slave trade, colonization, apartheid, systemic racism.
Rooted in the land of teranga, the Museum of Black Civilizations values hospitality, interculturality and respect for cultural diversity. It celebrates an already moving African future — a post-racial world in the making.
Practical information
- Schedule
The Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.
- Guidelines
It is forbidden to drink or eat in the exhibition halls. Liquid containers should be stored in your purse or backpack. As light is a source of deterioration for several collectibles, photos with flash are not allowed. It is forbidden to touch objects in the exhibition halls. Move around calmly. It is forbidden to run into the Museum.
- Group visits
The students must go to the Museum in sub-groups, accompanied by a responsible person.
- Our rates free visit
Full rate: 3000 FCFA
School and student rate: 500 FCFA
Group of 10 to 30 people: 2500 FCFA/person
- Our guided tour prices
Full rate: 5000 FCFA
School rate: 1000 FCFA
Student rate: 1500 FCFA
Group of 10 to 30 people: 4000 FCFA/person
- The museum has universal accessibility
What are you waiting for to dive into the heart of the history of African civilizations?
THE TEAM
Mohamed Abdallah SY
MUSEUM DIRECTOR
Christian DIATTA
GENERAL SECRETARY
Sabibou KONATE
ADVISOR GCSSES
Anta BEYE
CULTURAL REPRESENTATIVE
Nourou SY
CULTURAL MEDIATOR
Sira NDIAYE
CULTURAL MEDIATOR
