DAY 1: ARRIVAL DAKAR
International flight arrival in DAKAR at Blaise Diagne International Airport and transfer to the hotel. There Rosalie van Deursen will give an overview of the historic, social and economic significance of Senegal including a summary of the current cultural state of affairs. She will also talk about the vibrant art scene of Dakar and the biennial of contemporary African art, DAK’ART.
DAY 2: Dak’Art biennial
Today we’ll explore Dak’Art biennial at various locations in the city. We visit the main locations of Dak’Art INN: Ancien Palais de Justice and Musée Théodore-Monod. It is one of the oldest museums of this type in Africa and was founded in 1931.
DAY 3: DAKAR: Gallery visits, Museum Boribana and Museum Ousmane Sow
Today we’ll visit the most famous galleries of the city and the Musée Boribana that was set up by a Senegalese collector. In the afternoon we will visit the home of the famous Senegalese sculptor Ousmane Sow who died in 2016. He is known for his life-size images of people. In 2008 Sow received an award from the Prince Claus Fund in the Netherlands. He was honored for his impressive sculptures and new perspectives of the human body and for his positive influence on the younger generation of African artists.
DAY 4: DAKAR: City Walk to Historic Sites. Visit to island of Gorée & exhibitions
Together with a Senegalese artist we will visit the historic sites of the city as well as get an insight into current urban development. Of course, we also visit the ‘Monument de la Renaissance Africaine’ that was unveiled in 2001 by President Wade and was built to symbolize the opening of the African continent in this new millennium.
Then we’ll go by ferry to the car-free island of Gorée. The small island is aesthetically appealing because of its beautiful old houses that create a picturesque environment with a southern charm. The island is only 900m by 300m in size and is inhabited by 1200 people, 800 of whom are Muslims and 400 are Christians. There is both a mosque and a church on the island.
Since 1978, Gorée has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List because of its importance as a testament to the transatlantic slave trade. We will therefore be sure to make a visit to the historic slave museum. We will also take a nice stroll through the quaint and colorful streets while visiting the exhibitions of the Dak’Art biennial.
DAY 5: DAKAR: Village des Arts and Artists’ Studios
The artists’ collective ‘Village des Arts’ has been located in a former Chinese residential complex for many years. 52 studios and an exhibition space ensure a vibrant artistic atmosphere. We’ll visit emerging and established artists as well as the current exhibition.
DAY 6: DAKAR: Exhibition and Market
Today we will go to an exhibition and visit an artist’s studio. There is also the option to browse through the Dakar markets or sit on a terrace in the old town or at the beach.
Markets are to be found in both large and small towns in Senegal and it is highly recommended to visit them. There are several markets in the capital where beautiful fabrics, jewelry, bags and other local souvenirs can be found. The Sandaga market is held in a colonial building that consists of several floors of a variety of different products that are available on each floor.
DAY 7: DAKAR – SAINT LOUIS & Le Musée des Civilizations Noires
In the morning we will visit the new museum of Black Civilizations. Opened in December 2018. It is a museum that represents the history and contemporary cultures of black civilizations everywhere.
After this visit we will drive to the city of Saint-Louis, located in the north of the country. This port city was an important point for trade routes across the Atlantic through the Sahara. The city was of great importance to the French colonizers due to their exploitation of gold, ivory and slaves. Saint-Louis is known for its cozy bars with often live (jazz) music, as a colonial center and for the making of smoked fish. In Saint Louis we’ll visit exhibitions that are also part of the Dak’Art 2020 biennial.
DAY 8: SAINT LOUIS
Saint Louis has charming old architecture and is situated on the coast. The city has long been the satellite city of Dakar when it concerns the biennial and it is also the city where the annual jazz festival takes place. We’ll explore the city.
DAY 9: SAINT LOUIS
Today we will drive south where we will stay on the coast in a beautifully situated lodge. In the afternoon we’ll take a canoe to the nature reserve “Langue de Barbarie”. The area is known for its great diversity of birds. The Langue de Barbarie is a thin, sandy peninsula, bordering on the Atlantic Ocean. The peninsula separates the ocean from the last part of the Senegal River.
We shall conclude our last evening in Senegal by reflecting on all the Urban African Art experiences!
DAY 10: SAINT LOUIS – AIRPORT DAKAR
All good things come to an end. We will start the day off slowly and drive back to the airport in Dakar.
To book or for any questions about this tour, please contact rosalie@urbanafricans.com