It comes as France has announced its intention to return African works of art looted during the colonial era.

Senegal’s first President Leopold Senghor presented a post-colonial cultural vision of Africa 52 years ago.

Spending up to a quarter of the national budget on the arts,  he hosted world festivals of featuring the greatest international black artists and entertainers.

Economic realities pushed these into the background until a $34-million Chinese investment enabled President Macky Sall to build the museum in Dakar 

In a structure modeled on Great Zimbabwe, it’s said to compare with the National Museum of African American History in Washington.

First exhibits are from Mali, Burkina Faso, Cuba and Haiti.

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