AFRICAN RENAISSANCE MONUMENT
The African Renaissance Monument impresses with its gigantic size. Already, from the Plateau, you can see this 52 m high colossus, built on one of the two volcanic hills of Les Mamelles, embracing his wife and carrying his child with one arm. Symbolizing Africa turned towards Africa, this monument is a source of controversy, both for its figurative side which displeases conservative Muslims, but also because it is a rather megalomaniacal project of former president Abdoulaye Wade. who under the symbol of a continent has created a monument with an ultra luxurious presidential lounge, costing nearly 15 billion FCFA according to estimates. Moreover, it was made by a North Korean company specializing in concrete rather than art, and it was inaugurated in the presence of several African leaders in 2010 in the midst of the economic crisis, for the 50th anniversary of Senegal's independence. For the rest, you have to climb 198 steps to reach the esplanade before taking an elevator to the 15th floor to admire a breathtaking view of the city and the ocean. One should not expect any artistic prowess from the monument itself, for a very high cost, one finally only pays for the view. We leave without having seen much of interest, except for an explanatory frieze retracing African history, a video of the construction of the monument, and the few rooms dedicated to contemporary African art.
De plus, le prix est très important pour ne pas voir grand chose. Bien qu'une jolie vue se dégage lorsque nous sommes au sommet de la statue.... une vue plus ou moins identique est accessible via le phare des Mamelles et ce gratuitement si on s'y rend à pied.