While more than a hundred objects belonging to the father of independence Léopold Sédar Senghor were to be auctioned this Saturday in France, Senegal managed to have this sale suspended. The collection will be acquired by Senegal to “preserve the memory and heritage” of Léopold Sedar Senghor, president from 1960 to 1980.
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With our correspondent in Dakar, Léa-Lisa Westerhoff
In all, more than a hundred objects are part of the collection which was to be auctioned this Saturday in Caen. Rings, watches, pendants but also military decorations that belonged to Léopolod Sédar Senghor… But as of Friday, in a press release, President Macky Sall had asked that these objects could be purchased by the State of Senegal.
For the Minister of Culture Aliou Sow who led the discussions with the auctioneer, bringing back these objects was obvious. “ These objects are precious, on a symbolic level, on a historical level, in terms of the enhancement and preservation of the attributes of our historical heritage. For President Macky Sall, everything linked to the history of Senegal, to its emblematic figures, must be preserved and made available to these same people. So that everyone can enjoy it and explore it as an important element of a slice of our history. President Senghor does not belong to a family, to heirs. It belongs to the entire nation. »
All of these objects were held by an individual. On Friday, discussions continued to define the amount of the acquisition of the entire collection by Senegal, but the auction was well and truly interrupted.