Attraction
Gorée Island
Small car-free island off Dakar, inscribed by UNESCO in 1978 as a place of memory of the Atlantic slave trade, with museums, forts and colonial-era houses.
Musée des Civilisations Noires
Round museum opened in 2018 near Dakar's port and railway station, devoted to the cultures and history of Africa and its diaspora.
At a glance
- Type
- Museum of African and diaspora civilisations
- Area
- Dakar Plateau, Dakar, Senegal
Good to know
- Four exhibition levels
- Auditorium
- Temporary exhibitions
Why we recommend it
The Musée des Civilisations Noires (Museum of Black Civilisations) opened in December 2018 and is the most ambitious museum project in Senegal in decades. The idea goes back to Léopold Sédar Senghor, Senegal's first president, who imagined such an institution after the first World Festival of Negro Arts held in Dakar in 1966. The plan stalled for years before being revived, and the building was finally completed with Chinese financing and construction. Its director is the archaeologist Hamady Bocoum of Cheikh Anta Diop University.
The building itself is worth seeing. Its circular form is inspired by the impluvium houses of Casamance in southern Senegal, which collect rainwater in a central courtyard. Inside, exhibitions are spread over four levels, with a total floor area of around 14,000 square metres and a collection numbering many thousands of pieces. A giant baobab sculpture by the Haitian artist Édouard Duval-Carrié greets visitors in the central hall.
The galleries take a broad view of Africa's contribution to world culture, science and history, linking the continent with the Caribbean and the Americas. Items that have drawn attention include a Dogon hunter's outfit, a sculpture of the exiled Oba Ovonramwen of Benin and the slippers of the religious leader Serigne Babacar Sy. The museum has also been part of the debate on the return of African heritage from European collections, and the sabre attributed to El Hadj Omar Tall, lent by the Musée de l'Armée in Paris, was displayed here. Temporary exhibitions change through the year, so check what is on.
Allow two hours to see the main floors at a comfortable pace. Le Petit Journal's Dakar edition lists opening from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 19:00, with adult tickets from a modest price in CFA francs, but confirm hours before going as they may vary on public holidays. The interior is air-conditioned, which makes it a good choice for the hottest part of the day. It suits anyone with an interest in history and art, including older children.
The museum sits near Dakar's railway station and port, a short taxi ride from the Plateau and close to the terminus of the TER commuter train. Combine it with the ferry to Gorée from the nearby port, or with the Musée Théodore Monod d'Art Africain in the Plateau for a full museum day.
Musée des Civilisations Noires FAQs
When did the museum open?
It opened on 6 December 2018.
Whose idea was it?
Léopold Sédar Senghor conceived it after the first World Festival of Negro Arts in Dakar in 1966.
What inspired the building's shape?
Its round form is inspired by the impluvium houses of Casamance.
What are the opening hours?
Le Petit Journal lists Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 19:00, closed Monday; check before visiting.
How long should you allow?
About two hours for the main exhibition floors.
Where is it?
Near the railway station and port of Dakar, a short taxi ride from the Plateau.
What is it known for?
Its collections on African and diaspora cultures and its role in the debate on returning African heritage.
Is it a good option in hot weather?
Yes, the galleries are indoors and air-conditioned.