Aly Gilbert Ifono is a versatile and respected Guinean intellectual. Former Member of Parliament, former Minister, he is currently a lecturer in history at the University of Sonfonia. Ifono is also president of the Association of Guinean Historians and a member of the Guinean Writers' Association.
A fervent defender of Guinea's cultural heritage, he strongly advocated the repatriation of African works of art held in French museums, including the famous baga mask. A committed historian, Ifono calls on his countrymen to appropriate their history and to convey a faithful version of it, in order to prevent others from telling it for them. His journey made him an emblematic figure in the intellectual and cultural life of Guinea.
Aly Gilbert Ifono is an emblematic figure in the intellectual and cultural life of Guinea. Former Member of Parliament, former Minister, President of the Association of Guinean Historians and member of the Guinea Writers' Association (AEG), he is currently a lecturer in history at the University of Sonfonia. His rich and diverse career is a sign of his unwavering commitment to the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of Guinea.
A fervent defender of the cultural heritage of Guinea
One of the main contributions of Aly Gilbert Ifono was his advocacy for the repatriation of African artworks held in French museums. According to the Felwine Sarr-Bénédicte Savoy report, 1,997 Guinean works are in French museums, including the famous baga mask, a true emblem of Guinean art.
Ifono welcomed President Macron's decision to return these treasures to Africa, while stressing the need to properly prepare for their reception in Guinea. "I fully agree that they should be brought back to our homes, but first we need to take precautions for their good preservation on the ground," he said, stressing the urgency of creating conditions conducive to their conservation.
The mask of D'mba: an indispensable cultural symbol
The historian Aly Gilbert Ifono also played a key role in defending and promoting the D'mba (or Nimba) mask, considered one of the jewels of Baga art. In an opinion article, he traced back the fascinating history of this mask, which enchanted renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Alberto Giacometti.
Ifono highlighted the importance of this mask in Guinean culture, citing many examples of its use as a national symbol, ranging from bank notes to tax stamps to institutional logos. He thus reaffirmed the central place of the D'mba in the country's cultural identity, rejecting criticism of it as "idolatry".
A historian committed to understanding the Guinean past
Beyond his role in the preservation of cultural heritage, Aly Gilbert Ifono has also illustrated himself as a leading historian. In a lecture around the book "Collective Memory, a plural history of political violence in Guinea", he stressed the importance of understanding the historical context of tensions between Sékou Touré and General De Gaulle, which had lasting repercussions on the country.
Ifono encouraged his countrymen to write their own story, in order to prevent others from telling it for them. "If we do not, others will write for us and we will consume," he warned, urging Guineans to take their past and pass on a faithful version to future generations.
In short, Aly Gilbert Ifono is a versatile intellectual whose contributions have marked the cultural and historical sphere of Guinea in an indelible way. His unwavering commitment to the preservation of cultural heritage, his role as a defender of the D'mba mask and his desire to make the country's history known have made him a respected and influential figure in his country and beyond its borders.
