The Museum of Black Civilisations, which opened at Dakar in December 2018, was conceived with the goal of highlighting Africa’s contribution to ancient civilisations, and equally representing the histories and contemporary cultures of black people all around the world. The museum has been vocal in requesting the repatriation of African artworks, given that many works which depict Africa’s cultural heritage were carted away in centuries past and are currently kept in museums in the West.
The Dakar Museum of Black Civilisations is currently playing host to an ongoing art exhibition called Prete-moi ton reve (lend me your dream). Billed as Africa’s first travelling exhibition, Prete-moi ton reve curates the work of about 30 artists across 20 African countries, and will move through 7 cities, including Dakar, Lagos, Abidjan, Cassablanca, Marrakech, Addis Ababa and Cape Town.
The exhibition would involve displays of art in various forms, including sculpture, paintings, fabric and photography. An example of one of the works to be exhibited is one involving giant matchsticks, which represent the 1884-85 Berlin Conference, which culminated in the scramble for Africa and ultimately, colonization of the region by Europe’s powers. This is fitting, as Prete-moi ton reve focuses on migration, the complexity of colonial relationships, and the African identity.
Prete-moi ton reve is one of the first shows that has been completely orchestrated by Africans and focuses on Africa rather than the African diaspora. By honing in on African artists in Africa, the exhibition highlights the accomplishments of African artists and the breadth of their work. In many ways, the exhibition is expected to provide hope to young African artists, making them see that they can still gain recognition by showcasing their craft within Africa, rather than toeing the regular path of moving to Europe or the Americas to seek fame and fortune.