Mansa breaks down barriers in African culture in Paris

As soon as you step into the spaces of Mansa, you understand that this place is far from a classic cultural center. Under the leadership of Liz Gomis, the space aims to push boundaries: to create, in Paris, an agora where African and diasporic creativity takes its full place, unfiltered, unapologetic, far from folklore and fixed narratives. Experiencing this opening alongside creators from our academic programs from Lagos and Gaborone strengthened my conviction: This house embodies the will to open, connect, and break down barriers.

A political gamble turned reality, not without challenges
Establishing such a house was no smooth ride. Born from a political impulse announced by current President Emmanuel Macron during the Africa-France Summit in Montpellier in 2021, La Mansa is today a GIP (Groupement d’Intérêt Public) endowed with a budget of 9 million euros (Le Monde, October 2, 2025), allocated by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to welcome creators, thinkers, and audiences of all ages for two years within the walls of an 800 m² former workshop in the heart of Paris’ 10th arrondissement—far from the prestigious quai de Conti, which was initially planned. The official goal is to inaugurate, in 2027, a permanent and even more ambitious place—proof that Mansa's journey is only beginning.

Roxane Mbanga, inaugural manifesto
Instead of favoring established headliners, the management chose to open the doors with the gentle yet radical gesture of Roxane Mbanga. A Franco-Cameroonian artist, Roxane transformed the main hall with an immersive installation, “Noires,” reimagined as a living salon: colorful fabrics, tapestries, photographs, testimonies—all dialoguing to compose a space of hospitality dedicated to Afro-descendant voices, their dreams, silences, and memories. The aim is not merely to exhibit—but to welcome, to evoke a feeling of home in the heart of Paris. Around her, visitors, young and old, experience how deeply Mansa has absorbed a singular energy: that of joyful vulnerability and restored dignity.

A laboratory for tomorrow
While Mansa embraces the dimension of a cultural and civic agora, it goes much further. Here, there is no disciplinary compartmentalization, no priority given to one generation or one form of expression. In this first season, the diversity of voices and stories comes alive in a rich program: visual arts, music, cinema, debates, workshops, learning African languages, and passing down traditional knowledge. The elitism so often attached to institutional culture is nowhere to be felt: access is free, mediation is designed to unite, and the programming is crafted with a respectful curiosity toward diverse African influences.

Within MansA Lab, the integrated incubator, a jury has already selected the first 12 support projects among artists, cultural entrepreneurs, designers and thinkers. The cohort will benefit from eight months of mentorship and on-site and online workshops. Congratulations to the winners who pave the way for a new generation capable of embodying the multiple territories of Africa and its diasporas.

Overcoming institutional fragility
It would be naïve to ignore the emerging challenges. The autonomy and grounding of Mansa raise questions. French cultural history is scattered with places created then swept away by political and budgetary winds. Marginalized from the start by the teams of the “Monnaie de Paris”, survival will depend on resisting institutional dependence—that is the current and future challenge for the direction. Can we really expect that France, despite political alternation and the temptation of memorial instrumentalization, will sustainably champion this house? For me, the only way to guarantee the freedom, durability, and relevance of La Mansa is true rooting in African partnerships: foundations, businesses, cultural institutions on the continent that will protect independence, strengthen programming diversity, and prevent political partisanship.

During the opening, I felt—with creators from Lagos and Gaborone—a rare feeling of being at the right place at the right time. Here, everyone can unfold all the complexity of their journey and heritage, without justification or apology. Mansa does not offer a monologue about Africa; it invites dialogue, co-authoring of stories, and creative boldness. From Roxane Mbanga to the MansA Lab candidates, everything breathes dignity, imagination, and a will not to betray one’s era.

Beyond walls and moment
Mansa is also the firm belief that no ambitious project can be reduced to an address or a season. Its influence will depend on its ability to nourish stories sustainably, connect diasporas, inspire French society as a whole, and make Paris a real home—not just a showcase—for contemporary Africa. The debates and feelings surrounding the opening of La Mansa thus take on their full meaning: by surrounding itself now with African partners and affirming shared governance, this place will survive the French political climate, budget uncertainties, and the spirit of the times.