Art Conservation

The Conservation of African Art
A Major Cultural Stake 

The conservation of African art is intrinsically linked to the preservation of our culture and our identity. These works, whether they be masks, statues, or ritual objects, are not merely aesthetic pieces; they are material archives of our traditions, beliefs, and history.

Unfortunately, a large part of this heritage is located outside of its original cultural context, often in Western museums following the colonial period. This absence makes its conservation and restoration delicate, potentially leading to historical or aesthetic misinterpretations if they are not informed by knowledge of the traditional practices and rituals that gave them life.

Today, the main challenge is two-fold:

1. Restitution: The return of looted works to their countries of origin is crucial for reintegrating these objects into the collective memory and the communities that gave them their meaning and social function.

2. Local Preservation: There is an urgent need to establish policies and structures (museums, training centers, digitization technologies) in Africa to ensure the safeguarding and enhancement of this heritage locally, thus ensuring the transmission of our history and values to future generations.

The conservation of African art is therefore an act of recognition and cultural reappropriation essential for affirming our memorial sovereignty.