The exhibition includes some striking photgraphs and television footage [Photo: IOC]]
Africa’s Olympic Women
A Journey through History
by Philip Barker
Dakar 2026 has launched “Africa’s Olympic Women” an exhibition which is the showpiece cultural event of these Youth Olympic Games.
The exhibition is held with the support of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne and has been curated by French Senegalese artist Naëtt Mbaye.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry, double swimming champion and the first African as well as the first women to lead the IOC is among the 26 personalities featured.
Morocco’s Nawal El Moutawakel, the first African woman to win gold at the Games is also prominently featured. El Moutawakel won the 400m hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Games and subsequently forged a pioneering career in politics and also became a leading member of the International Olympic Committee.
Faith Kipyegon of Kenya has won 1500m gold at every Olympics from 2016 to 2024 also takes her place.
The exhibition also features many prominent Senegalese women athletes.
“It is a real pleasure to support Dakar 2026 by sharing some of the iconic images from our collections. They bring to life the remarkable stories of women who made Olympic history and inspired generations of girls across Africa,” Yasmin Meichtry, Interim Director of the Olympic Museum insisted.
The exhibition includes some striking photographs and footage from the archives. It is to be found at the Place du Souvenir Africain on Dakar’s Corniche Ouest.
The installation is open daily from 11a.m to 7p.m. Admission is free.
In addition to our website, you can also find information on Olympic history, personalities and stories on our social media platforms facebook, twitter and instagram @ISOHOlympic and Via Linked at LinkedIn: isoh.org/linkedin
There are no comments published yet.