Senegal: a statue of Cheikh Anta Diop unveiled in Dakar
The statue of Cheikh Anta Diop, in Dakar.
Photo: Charlotte Idrac / RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
In Senegal, a new statue was unveiled in the heart of Dakar on Tuesday, November 3, that of the historian Cheikh Anta Diop, who died in 1986. The intellectual upset the vision of African history, by emphasizing the contribution of black Africa to civilization, especially Egypt.
His statue is now erected in front of the university and on the avenue that bear his name.
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With our correspondent in Dakar,
Charlotte Idrac
It is a bronze statue, two meters high.
Cheikh Anta Diop, in a suit and tie, glasses, his right arm raised, in front of the main door of the university from which Hapsa Thiam has just emerged.
For this history student, it is quite a symbol: “
It is a pride to have a leader, Cheikh Anta Diop, who really allowed us to look further, especially on science.
I'm happy.
"
A carefully chosen location
The initiative was launched by the outgoing director of the Dakar University Center (Coud), who has just joined the government.
And the roundabout where the statue is erected was not chosen at random.
Mansour Ndoye, head of the campus technical services department: “
Between students and law enforcement, every time there was a stir, it was linked to the roundabout where the stone was thrown.
We thought to put the statue of Sheikh Anta there to dissuade everyone from throwing stones.
"
"
It's a good thing
"
While the question of statues bearing the effigy of colonial personalities is debated, Pope Abdoulaye Seye, a geography student, believes that it is time: “
It's a good thing, it allows Cheikh Anta to face it.
Especially since we, the current generation, have not seen Cheikh Anta
”.
According to him, the statue could also make students want to learn more about the life and work of the university sponsor.
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