Visiting the Musée Théodore-Monod d'art africain
You will find this building, which dates back to 1931, located on Place Soweto. Built in a neo-Sudanese style popular at the time of its construction, the structure originally served as the headquarters for the AOF Administration générale (General Administration of French West Africa). It only became a museum later. In 1936, the creation of the Institut français d'Afrique noire (IFAN, or French Institute of Black Africa) by Théodore Monod required a headquarters that matched the cultural ambitions of the organization. From that point on, collections were shown to the public in what people commonly referred to as the Musée d'art africain (Museum of African Art). In 2007, the museum changed its name to honor its founder, who had passed away seven years earlier.
Africa in many forms
The second floor of the museum houses a space dedicated to temporary exhibitions. In 2007, for instance, the theme Témoins de fécondité et fertilité (Witnesses to Fecundity and Fertility) highlighted rites that emphasize these two concepts within certain West African populations. However, there is more to see than just one building. A second structure stands next to the Musée Théodore-Monod d'art africain. Constructed between 1991 and 1992 in a style consistent with the original, this building includes an exhibition hall, a conference room, offices, and large halls designed for hosting banquets. With 620 square meters of space, the gallery in this building is specifically set up for temporary exhibitions, often highlighting African art and craftsmanship. Next to these more formal spaces, you will find a garden filled with tropical plants. In total, the Musée Théodore-Monod d'art africain holds about 10,000 pieces of art from roughly twenty African countries. It serves as a true conservatory for a continent with many riches that are still being discovered.
An ethnology museum that displays art objects and crafts produced by various African ethnic groups. Some pieces are very old, or even fossils.
Interesting, as it highlights the history of a continent that is still largely unknown. Yet, this is where humanity was born. It is a shame that the exhibits are not better documented.