Old cinemas have always had a special place in the hearts of movie fans. They were iconic places where people gathered to enjoy the big screen and the collective experience of cinema. Unfortunately, many classic cinemas have disappeared over time, closed or destroyed to make way for new developments.
In Senegal, the artist Cheikh Ndiaye decided to pay tribute to these old cinemas that have disappeared through a painting exhibition. Passionate about architecture, he uses his artistic talents to create a pictorial archive of these emblematic places. His faded-colored canvases represent details of changing cities, thus freezing these cinemas of yesteryear in history.
In his exhibition entitled “Evening Classes”, Cheikh Ndiaye also pays tribute to the famous Senegalese filmmaker Sembène Ousmane. The choice of the title is inspired by the vision of Sembène Ousmane who considered cinemas as places of popular education. According to Cheikh Ndiaye, cinemas played an important role in Africa’s entry into modernity, by being a bridge between tradition and progress.
However, despite the disappearance of many old cinemas, the cinematic landscape of Senegal is experiencing a revival. New venues, such as the Pathé in Dakar, are gradually opening their doors and attracting an emerging young audience. Although television has changed cinema consumption habits, many young people still enjoy the experience of seeing a film on the big screen. The initiatives of film clubs and youth associations, such as ciné-banlieue and ciné-Ucad, are helping to reorganize the possibilities of access to cinema.
Film critic Baba Diop remains optimistic about the development of new cinemas. He said watching a movie on a big screen offers a different experience than watching it on a computer or mobile phone. He also points out that cinemas are being restored in neighborhoods like the Medina, which demonstrates the desire to revitalize the Senegalese film scene.
Thus, despite the disappearance of old cinemas, the love of cinema remains alive in Senegal. Artists and movie buffs seek to preserve the memory of these iconic theaters while encouraging the emergence of new theaters to continue living the magical experience of cinema on the big screen.