Conference: Cécile Mendy at Sovereignty and Restitution, Dakar

From 23–26 February 2026, our colleague Cécile Mendy took part in the international conference Sovereignty and Restitution in Dakar, dedicated to questions of restitution, the return of objects, and heritage sovereignty.

In her presentation, Cécile focused on a case study of a collection at the Weltmuseum Wien originating from Senegal and The Gambia. Her contribution examined alternatives to Western conservation models, highlighting endogenous African practices as possible responses to contemporary museum challenges.

Her reflections addressed not only institutional conservation frameworks, but also the future of objects subject to restitution: How can they be received, preserved, and recontextualized within their communities of origin? What forms of care emerge from local cultural dynamics?

The conference provided a stimulating platform for rethinking heritage paradigms from the perspective of local realities and African cultural dynamics — an exchange that continues to shape ongoing conversations within our project.