The African Renaissance Monument in Dakar

The African Renaissance Monument stands on one of the Mamelles hills, in the Ouakam district of Dakar. It was inaugurated in April 2010 and remains one of the city's most visible landmarks, seen from several neighbourhoods. Opening hours and entry fees change, so check them on site before you go. After the visit, Point E, home to Ge'eza, lets you follow up with an Ethiopian lunch or a stop at the art gallery.

A monument on the Mamelles hills

The African Renaissance Monument sits in a raised position on the Mamelles hills, in Ouakam, which explains why it can be seen from a wide stretch of Dakar. It was inaugurated in April 2010 and depicts a family, a man, a woman and a child, facing the ocean. It has become a landmark of the city, often pointed out to visitors passing through as a symbol of the Senegalese capital. The Monument is regularly described as an evocation of the continent's history and future, a theme that comes up often in descriptions of the piece. For many first-time visitors to Dakar, it is one of the first large-scale sights they are shown, alongside the ocean views that surround it.

Planning your visit

Visiting conditions, opening hours and entry fees change over time: the safest approach is to ask on site, once you arrive, rather than rely on older information. Bring comfortable shoes, since part of the site is seen on foot, and water if you are visiting around midday, when the heat is strongest. A hat and sun protection are worth packing year round, whatever time of day you choose for your visit, since there is little shade around the open viewpoints.

Why this monument works as a landmark

Beyond its artistic and symbolic weight, the African Renaissance Monument often serves as a point of reference across the city, visible from the Corniche and several surrounding neighbourhoods. For a visitor new to Dakar, seeing it at least once helps place the city's geography, from Ouakam to Point E and the rest of the peninsula. Many taxi drivers and tour guides use it as a shared reference point when giving directions, which makes it a useful name to know even if you only pass near it on your way elsewhere.

A site made for photographs

Many visitors use the site for photographs, both of the Monument itself and of the surrounding view. Morning light and late afternoon light are often considered the most flattering, with clearer skies than in the middle of the day. As with any outdoor visit, bring sun protection suited to whichever time of day you choose.

Visiting as a family or a group

The site suits a family visit as much as a group one, with enough space for everyone to move at their own pace. For larger groups, it helps to allow a bit of extra time, since people may want to pause at different points during the visit or take time over photographs of the view before moving on.

After the visit, head to Point E

Once the visit is done, Point E sits in the same part of the city, making it easy to follow with lunch or an art visit without a long detour. At Ge'eza, 656 Avenue Birago Diop, the restaurant and the gallery share the same villa: an Ethiopian meal, then a walk through the works on show in the gallery lounge, with no need to choose between the two. To plan a fuller day around art in Dakar, our guide to art galleries in Dakar covers other places to visit.

Building a day around the Monument

The Monument suits a morning visit or a late afternoon one, before the heat builds up or once it starts to ease. For a full day that pairs this kind of visit with other stops in the city, our 48 hours in Dakar itinerary sets out a wider route, from the Plateau to Point E.

Lunch after the Monument

For a simple lunch after the visit, our lunch in Point E article sets out Ge'eza's menu options, from the Senegalese dish of the day to Ethiopian dishes. The house is open Tuesday to Sunday, 8am to 10pm, closed on Mondays, which leaves room to plan your day around the Monument.

Getting around the area

Between Ouakam and Point E, leave a time margin rather than a tight schedule, since traffic in Dakar varies a great deal depending on the time of day. If you are travelling as a group, that margin also means no one feels rushed in front of the Monument.

Booking ahead

For lunch after visiting the Monument, booking ahead is worthwhile, especially at weekends, through the reservation page or on WhatsApp at +221 78 660 07 07.