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Mariam Issoufou: Designing a museum

Architect Mariam Issoufou has always been very ambivalent about museums, but is now trying to design one that breaks the mould in the city of Tambacounda, Senegal.

Architect Mariam Issoufou has always been very ambivalent about museums: "Who decided that the only way to look at art is inside this intimidating, grand building, full of looted objects? For me, they are where history goes to die". So she was sceptical about accepting the job of designing a new museum in the city of Tambacounda, Senegal. Will she succeed in creating a museum that breaks the mould?

With thanks to Mariam Issoufou and her team, Bassem and Wassim Shaaban, Professor Harriet Harriss PhD, Professor Lesley Lokko OBE, the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, and Nicholas Fox Weber

Producer: Olivia Humphreys
Executive producer: Leonie Thomas
Additional recording by Sally Herships
An Overcoat Media production

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27 minutes

Last on

Tue 17 Mar 2026 23:32GMT

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  • Tue 17 Mar 2026 23:32GMT