An entire museum dedicated to women? It took some time for me to apprehend this. I was not just impressed, but also proud to discover that the Henriette Bathily Museum in Dakar, Senegal, was the first ever west african museum dedicated to the history of the Senegalese(and by extension, African) woman.

History of the Henriette Bathily’s Women Museum in Senegal

The Henriette Bathily Women’s Museum is an African Museum located in Dakar, Senegal, and dedicated to the Senegalese woman. The museum is named after a Senegalese public figure, Henriette Reyane Bathily, born in Kaolack (one of Senegal’s trade villages) in 1927.

According to the information available at the museum, Henriette Bathily was known as a radio and TV personalities and was one of the first Senegalese women to get a scholarship to study in France in 1947. She was also the first West African female to be at the head of an African ballet group. Due to her involvement in public life, activities and issues pertaining to women, she was celebrated and recognized with the naming of the museum after her. Today, the Museum of the African Woman, first of its kind in Senegal, hosts seasonal exhibitions all year round.

Exhibitions At the Henriette Bathily’s Women Museum

Just like many other museums in Senegal, the Henriette Bathily’s Museum has a permanent exhibition. However, this one specifically focuses on the role of the Senegalese woman both daily rural and urban life. The exhibition includes information on birthing, baptism and fertility rituals in Senegal, as well as culinary practices.

Seasonal exhibitions vary over time. When I visited, there was the exhibition called “Lan Nga Saloon” (meaning: “what were you wearing”). In this exhibition, female victims of sexual abused described the clothes they were wearing the first time (and every other time) they suffered sexual abuse. The poignancy and vivid testimonies shed light in how deep the plague of sexual abuse is in the society.

Photogallery of the Henriette Bathily’s Women Museum in Senegal

Below is a picture gallery depicting the “Lan Nga Soloon” Exhibition at the Henriette Bathily Museum in Senegal.