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Episode details

World Service,17 Mar 2026,26 mins

Mariam Issoufou: Designing a museum

In the Studio

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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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