The creation of the House of African Worlds in Paris, envisioned by French President Emmanuel Macron to highlight the talents of the African continent and its diaspora, has been a long and arduous process. At times, it seemed doomed by a persistent inability to secure a physical location. However, in early March, an unexpected announcement revealed its temporary installation in an 800-square-meter workshop near the Goncourt metro, close to the Canal Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement of Paris.
Renovated by architect Meriem Chabani and her New South agency, the space will open in September with a three-day program highlighting female creators, under the code name "Nardal," in tribute to the Martiniquan sisters of the same name, forgotten figures of Black consciousness. For the project's incubator arm, aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs, a call for projects is expected to be launched in June to welcome 10 residents in September. A scientific council, delayed by disagreements over its composition, is also expected to be established soon.
In 2021, Cameroonian political scientist and historian Achille Mbembe included the creation of a House of African Worlds as one of the 13 recommendations in his report to the French president for re-establishing relations between France and the African continent. A preliminary mission was then assigned to diplomat Luc Briard and journalist Liz Gomis, a member of the Presidential Council for Africa, who outlined the concept of this house, later renamed "MansA."
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