Dakar ready to welcome his works of art (minister)

Saint-Louis, Nov. 29 (APS) – The Minister of Culture, Abdou Latif Coulibaly, said Thursday in Saint-Louis, that Senegal was willing to receive works of art preserved in French museums and that would be identified as originating from the country.

"[Notre pays] is ready to welcome and receive the works of its history which are in France, as part of the return of African works on African soil, proposed by the French authorities, "he said.

The Minister of Culture was speaking at the opening of the first edition of the National Book and Reading Exhibition, focusing on the theme: "Think Terroir, Act Territory for the Promotion of Books and Reading".

Emmanuel Macron received on November 23 the report of two researchers, the French art historian Bénédicte Savoy and the Senegalese economist Felwine Sarr.

These researchers propose a change in French heritage law to restore Africa's heritage.

"Whatever the way back, Senegal is ready, technically and materially, with all the right human resources," said Coulibaly.

He recalled that Senegal has the Museum of Black Civilizations, built at a cost of 20 billion CFA francs, and the corresponding equipment estimated at 4 billion CFA.

The opening of the National Book Fair noted the presence of the Mayor of Saint-Louis, Mansour Faye, the Deputy Governor in charge of Administrative Affairs, Amadou Diop, the godfather, the former Minister of Culture, Makhily Gassama .

Also present were Chritiane Taubira, former French Minister of Justice, Alioune Badara Bèye, president of the Writers Association of Senegal (AES), and several men of culture.

According to Mr. Coulibaly, the holding of this first edition is a first step to "impulse the policy of books and reading, which brings the book and the people, especially young people, closer to home".

The objective of the decentralization of book animation in Saint-Louis, through this show, is part of the "territorialization of public policies", he said.

It is a question, through culture, of contributing to the structural transformation of the foundations of the economy, the promotion of human capital, good governance and the rule of law, "said the Minister of Culture.

The book, said the Minister of Culture, "is an indispensable tool for the acquisition of knowledge and know-how, but also for the formation of personality."