A Dakar Diary: The Art & Culture Hotspots To Know In Senegal’s Capital City
Dakar has been on my travel list for a while, thanks to its thriving art scene and traditional fashion, such as boubous crafted from beautiful bazin fabrics, not to mention its renowned Senegalese cuisine. The city has been a key player in championing African art and culture since it hosted the 1966 First World Festival of Black Arts (FESMAN), igniting a lasting tradition.
I was one of many who still travelled to Senegal this May, despite the 2024 Dakar Biennale – Africa’s biggest art gathering – being postponed to November. I was pleased that I did, as Dakar and its vibrant artistic community have so much to offer. “The Dakar art scene is special because it has a family spirit like nowhere else,” says designer and co-founder of Salù Iwadi Studio, Sandia Nassila. “It has a true community that welcomes you with open arms. Artists and galleries support each other, too. We want to thrive together, and it creates an environment where you feel truly supported and daring.”
Upon arriving in Dakar, the weather was perfect: a balmy 28 degrees and not a single cloud in the sky. With a six-day itinerary in hand, I set off on a solo adventure. My mission: to immerse myself in the city’s creative scene – connecting with artists, curators, artisans and any other unexpected encounters that awaited me along the way.
Whether you’re a local wanting to explore more cultural spaces in the city or are visiting for the first time, here’s a guide to how I explored Dakar…
The Art & Cultural Hotspots To Visit In Dakar
- Galerie Cécile Fakhoury – A gallery showcasing work by exciting contemporary African artists. Its current exhibition spotlights the work of Na Chainkua Reindorf.
- Selebe Yoon – This gallery in downtown Dakar exhibits the work of multi-generational artists. It also has a great programme of talks and events to accompany the exhibitions.
- RAW Material Company – An art space with temporary exhibitions and a well-stocked reference library featuring books on African art.
- Ban Workshop – A charming space founded in 2020 by a collective of ceramicists. It offers ceramic workshops and exhibitions by local and international artists, as well as a ceramic shop. Create terracotta pots at one of the workshops, then go for lunch at its outdoor cafe.
- African Renaissance Monument – This popular attraction is said to be the tallest statue in Africa. Walk up its long steps and observe the statue from the base, or go for a guided tour.
Where To Eat In Dakar
- Le Gallard – This restaurant, frequented mostly by locals, serves traditional Senegalese food. I had a delicious thiéboudiène (a tomato-based rice, vegetable and fish dish), and a lovely introduction to baobab juice.
- Chez Loutcha – Great for lunch and traditional food with a range of options to choose from. The restaurant has an evolving menu of the day; I recommend the yassa (a dish prepared with onions and either poultry, fish or lamb – I’d recommend either the chicken or fish here) and rice.
- Seku Bi Hotel Restaurant – Located in the scenic boutique hotel Seku Bi, this restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating in a beautiful garden. Go for any meal of the day, or just for cocktails. The pasta dishes are divine.
- Kotao Coffee – Doubling as a cafe and restaurant, this is a nice spot for coffee, bissap (a hibiscus drink), or a meal, as they serve delicious and healthy lunch bowls.
- Dibiterie Haoussa Chez Ali – Here you can try some dibi, a common street food to be eaten on the go, consisting of grilled meat seasoned with spices and cut into smaller chunks, accompanied with raw onions. Incredibly tasty and filling.
The Unmissable Shopping Spots In Dakar
- Marché Soumbédioune – At this artisan market, you can find wicker bags, paintings, African masks, sculpture, jewellery, coasters, trays, fabrics, rugs, souvenirs and more. Haggling is key here.
- Le Sandaga Shop – A high-end curated space to shop for clothing, fine jewellery, rare books, prints, and more. I love its selection of maximalist jewellery and limited-edition posters.
- Adama Paris – This boutique is owned by the founder of Dakar Fashion Week, Adama Ndiaye. Here you can find stylish dresses, boubous, and tops.
Tosin Adeosun is a London-based curator, researcher and fashion historian. She is the founder of African Style Archive, a platform dedicated to researching and documenting African fashion history
