After designing the interconnected and gamified digital library of Gaston Berger University, presented in April 2025 in Saint-Louis, Maby Mansour Ndoye continues his reflection on the alliance between culture, innovation and digital sovereignty.

 

A data analyst engineer, transmedia architect and founder of F&M Corporate, he has established himself as one of the major players in the digital transformation of the cultural sector in Senegal.

 

With MCN Numérique 2050, an initiative led by the Museum of Black Civilizations and the Ministry of Culture, he is exploring a new frontier: that of immersive heritage and shared memory between the continent and the diaspora. In this interview with Seneweb , he details the ambitions, innovations, and symbolic significance of this visionary project.

 

 

 

 

MCN Numérique 2050 extends the work of the Museum of Black Civilizations into the digital realm. What vision guided its conception, and how does this project renew the way African heritage is valued?

 

MCN Numérique 2050 reflects the Museum of Black Civilizations' commitment to fully embracing the digital age. The idea was to rethink how African heritage is transmitted, no longer as a simple collection to be observed, but as an experience to be lived. The project seeks to establish a new form of cultural mediation, where technology becomes an instrument of sovereignty and empowerment.

 

The goal is for younger generations, both on the continent and in the diaspora, to reclaim their history through modern and immersive tools. This approach is the result of a dialogue between culture and innovation, a way of demonstrating that African memory can be embodied in digital technology without being distorted.

 

 

 

The project combines virtual reality, web documentary, and an interactive map of the diaspora. What concrete experiences will the public be able to have through these different components, and what role do these immersive tools play in cultural mediation?

 

The public will be able to enjoy a multifaceted experience that is physical, digital, and participatory. The immersive journey offered at the museum will feature 360-degree projections, augmented reality environments, and virtual reality stations that will place visitors at the heart of great African civilizations. In parallel, the interactive web documentary, accessible from anywhere, will allow visitors to relive African history through videos, digitized objects, interactive maps, and personal accounts.

 

Finally, the Global Digital Atlas of the African Diaspora will complete the project by bringing together, on a single collaborative platform, the stories and data of Afro-descendant communities. By linking the continent to its diaspora, it will create a dynamic and collective memory. These tools redefine cultural mediation, making it more sensory, participatory, and inclusive, while bringing works to life through storytelling and interactivity.

 

 

 

MCN Numérique 2050 aligns with major national guidelines for digital transformation and cultural sovereignty. How does this project contribute to this dynamic?

 

The project is fully in line with the major orientations of the New Technological Deal and the Senegal 2050 Vision. It illustrates the national will to build cultural digital sovereignty by producing and promoting African content through technologies developed locally or in partnership with actors from the continent.

 

Beyond its heritage dimension, MCN Numérique 2050 also contributes to the formation of a new cultural and technological ecosystem. It promotes youth involvement, encourages the creation of cultural and technological jobs, and positions Senegal as one of the pioneers of museum innovation in Africa.