The State called upon to save the Maison Senghor
Despite its national heritage classification, the “Mbind Diogoye” museum, the family home of Léopold Sédar Senghor in Joal, continues to deteriorate. Its curator, Etienne Guirane Dieng, urges the State to ensure its rehabilitation, in order to preserve a high place of memory and promote a major tourist asset.
The curator of the “Mbind Diogoye” museum, Etienne Guirane Dieng, invites the authorities, in particular the Ministry of Tourism, to take charge of the structure in question. He argues: “Joal, there are practically only two cultural sites to visit in the town. This is the island of Fadiouth and the “Mbind Diogoye” museum. Unfortunately, everyone goes to the island and almost no one goes to “Mbind Diogoye”. He believes that if the house is well made, it can become self-sustaining. “This house is classified as a national heritage site. The State has the obligation to renovate and manage it,” maintains Mr. Dieng.
From his point of view, the State must do this to pay tribute to the very first President of the Republic, Léopold Sédar Senghor, for everything he did for this country. “Senghor is a national heritage,” he maintains, not without specifying that since he has been in Mbind Diogoye, he has contacted “at least seven Ministers of Culture” in vain to renovate the site. “Senghor is a tourist and cultural product. When people leave from all over the world to go to South Africa, it is, in large part, to go to the Museum dedicated to Nelson Mandela. When they come here, they are so discouraged. They tell me: “But that’s not possible. We didn’t expect to see the house where Léopold Sédar Senghor grew up in this state. According to Etienne Guirane Dieng, all the foreign visitors who come have the same resentment about the state of the “Mbind Diogoye” museum. “They expected to see a very well-maintained house, an extraordinary exhibition, images, sound, video and even a shop on the life and work of Senghor. We have to maintain the building, put visual content and follow up,” he says. He specifies: “unfortunately, there is nothing left. There were paintings that were there, but I took them down.”
Several personalities visited the “Mbind Diogoye” museum. Curator Etienne Guirane Dieng has some memories of it. This is the case concerning the former president of Mali Alpha Oumar Konaré. “He was so disappointed that he shed tears. He told me that I came to Joal for two reasons: my grandfather and my older brother both went to school in Joal. I came first for the pilgrimage to my ancestors, but also I came for Senghor. When we talk about Joal, it is first and foremost Senghor. He told me he didn’t expect to see this house like this at all. He told me that if I had the means, I would renovate this house myself for the honor of Senghor.”
Among the visits of personalities to “Mbind Diogoye”, Etienne Guirane Dieng remembers that of the former Prime Minister Amadou Ba. It was during an economic visit, recalls Mr. Dieng, who told him: “Mr Prime Minister, you should know that this is the shame of the country. I also told him that I am not proud to open the house in the morning for foreign visitors. When I do it, I feel a pang in my heart,” underlines Mr. Dieng, who specifies that Mr. Ba was extremely disappointed to see this house where Senghor grew up in this state.”
The other personality visit which also marked Mr. Dieng was undoubtedly that of the former President of the French Republic Valéry Giscard-d’Estaing. “He found me here. I told him about the house. He too was not happy with the state the house was in. »
By Aly DIOUF
