Dakar's Architectural Heritage Under Threat from Land Speculation

In an interview published by Afterall, architect Nzinga Mboup and architect-urbanist Carole Diop discuss the rapid disappearance of Dakar's architectural heritage due to rampant urbanization, land speculation, and inadequate preservation policies. Diop notes that several iconic buildings, including the Sandaga Market (classified as national heritage), the former Department of Urban Planning (housing BEHC), and the maternity ward of Le Dantec Hospital, have been demolished in recent months. The Hôtel Indépendance's emblematic facade was destroyed in 2018. Mboup emphasizes that the Lebu community's cultural heritage is also endangered, with traditional practices and sites threatened. Both argue that heritage constitutes urban memory and collective identity, yet economic pressures often override preservation. Mboup advocates for bioclimatic architecture rooted in local traditions, citing examples like the impluvium hut in Casamance and colonial buildings in Saint-Louis. Diop calls for documentation and awareness, referencing her 'architectural walks' and the Dakarmorphose project. The interview highlights the need to balance development with heritage conservation, noting that Senegal's National School of Architecture was shut down in 1991, leaving architects trained abroad with limited local references.