Théodore Monod Museum of African Art in Dakar: Visit and Collections

The Théodore Monod Museum of African Art is the museum of IFAN, the Fundamental Institute of Black Africa, on Place Soweto in the Plateau district of Dakar. It gathers objects of African art and culture, in a place that also hosts temporary exhibitions. From 16 to 31 October 2025, Ge'eza presented "Lien commun" there, a group exhibition bringing together Saadio, Ibou Diagne and Tampidaro.

A museum tied to a research institute

IFAN was founded in the 20th century as the French Institute of Black Africa, before becoming, after independence, the Fundamental Institute of Black Africa, attached to Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar. The naturalist and explorer Théodore Monod was its first director, and the museum bears his name. It is a landmark of Dakar's scientific and cultural life, at the crossroads of research and heritage.

We keep here to these widely known markers. For the detailed history of the institution, its publications and its collections, contact IFAN directly.

The collections

The museum is devoted to the arts and cultures of Africa, with objects from different regions: masks, statues, musical instruments, textiles, adornments, objects of daily life and worship. It is a useful place to understand what today's artists draw on: forms, materials, symbols. The contemporary works you see in galleries are in dialogue with that heritage, even when they seem to move away from it.

To find out which rooms are open, which works are shown and the visiting conditions, check with the museum before you go: hours, fees and routes can change, and we do not give them here.

Visiting the museum

A few general tips:

1. Allow time. A serious visit takes one to two hours.
2. Pick a thread. Masks, textiles, instruments: focusing on one theme makes the visit clearer.
3. Ask questions. People on site can help you place the objects.
4. Combine with the Plateau. The district, an administrative and historic centre, suits half a day of walking and visits.
5. Follow the visiting rules on photographs and objects.

For a wider programme of visits, see our guide 48 hours in Dakar.

"Lien commun" at IFAN

"Lien commun" is a group exhibition presented by Ge'eza from 16 to 31 October 2025 at the IFAN Théodore Monod Museum. It brought together three Senegalese artists: Saadio, Ibou Diagne and Tampidaro. The opening took place on 16 October, from 5pm to 10pm. The event page is on the house website, under the name Lien commun, and the article Lien commun, the IFAN exhibition tells the background.

Choosing a museum as the setting said something: placing contemporary works in a place devoted to heritage reminds us that today's creation belongs to a long history. Some canvases from the hang, notably "Sans titre I" and "Sans titre II" (acrylic on canvas, 2025), can now be seen at the Ge'eza gallery.

Extend the day in Point E

After a visit to the museum, you can extend the experience in Point E, at the Ge'eza gallery, 656 avenue Birago Diop. The house is open Tuesday to Sunday, 8am to 10pm. You will find an Ethiopian restaurant, a gallery lounge, a glass-roofed room and a terrace under the trees. It is a way to move from objects of the past to today's works, with a shared lunch in between.

Museums and galleries: two ways of looking

A museum preserves and explains, a gallery shows and proposes. The two complement each other: the museum gives depth, the gallery gives the present. To find the private venues showing art in Dakar, see the guide to art galleries in Dakar.

Why a place like IFAN matters to artists

African art museums give artists direct access to older forms, materials and gestures that feed creation. For a Dakar visitor, it is a chance to link what they see in galleries to a longer history. It is also a place of transmission for schools and families.

A possible route through the Plateau

The Plateau concentrates several institutions, historic buildings and places to eat. A museum visit can be combined with a walk, a lunch and a moment of rest before heading to Point E. Plan your travel with traffic in mind, which can be heavy at certain hours.

Keeping it in mind

A museum is better visited knowing what you came to find. Before leaving, note one or two questions: which forms recur from one region to another? Which materials are used? What do the objects say about social life? These questions give a thread, and the visit becomes an enquiry rather than a parade.

For families and groups

A museum is a good place for an outing with children or a group of friends, provided you choose a theme and do not try to see everything. A few objects looked at well are worth more than a room crossed at a run. For outing ideas, see also our guide to family outings in Dakar.