Nearly 400,000 visitors are expected until December 7 at the Dak’Art biennial to discover the best of African and diaspora art through hundreds of cultural events in the “in” and “off” areas combining painting , sculpture, sound and musical installations, performances and debates.
In a context where many historical and classic monuments of Dakar and Senegal are disappearing under the blows of excavators, Senegalese architects are uniting to say “Stop!”. “The Bakku concept is a cry from the heart of Senegalese architects against classical monuments destroyed by state authorities,” explains the Order of Architects of Senegal.
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Bakkuwhich means protection in Wolof, is an exhibition which reflects this desire to safeguard the cultural and architectural identity of Senegal. Several works from old buildings, which have now disappeared or are in danger of disappearing, are exhibited at the headquarters of the order of architects.
«We haven’t started the fight yet. We put together this exhibition to show that we are here, so that we know that there is a whole community of town planners, architects, artists, intellectuals who want to save this heritage which traces the evolution of the city explained an architect who pleads for a “inclusive African architecture.»
This exhibition, which takes place off the biennial, is a vibrant cry from the heart of Senegalese architects for the preservation of the country’s architectural heritage. While the Dak’Art Biennale celebrates African art, the Bakku exhibition reminds us of a fundamental truth: the culture of a country also passes through its architecture.
Par Moustapha Cissé (Dakar, correspondence)
11/13/2024 at 10:32 a.m.
