Heritage & Education
TheMuseumofMaisonGacha
The first Maison Gacha space devoted to the historical, aesthetic and symbolic perspective of African art. (Content in preparation.)
A living museum journey.
The museum will present a sensitive journey through the objects, textiles and calabashes of the Bamileke, Baoulé, Kuba and Bamana societies. A scenography conceived as a journey between material, gesture and memory, accompanied by sound installations and contextual texts — to understand the historical and current significance of the works on display.
Opening 2027
Alivingheritagecollection
The collection brings together more than a thousand objects — textiles, beaded adornments, calabashes, sculptures — from the great traditions of West and Central Africa. (Content in preparation.)
1 543
Objects catalogued
Craftsmanship&artisans
Techniques and hands that pass on a precious intangible heritage, at the heart of our identity.
Beadwork · ironwork · woodwork · weaving
Maison Gacha promotes African craftsmanship passed down from generation to generation. Beadwork, ironwork, woodwork, weaving: each technique is the fruit of a living tradition, carried by artisans whose expertise constitutes a precious intangible heritage. These trades of the hand, at once legacies and contemporary languages, are at the heart of our identity and our mission of transmission.
Cameroon · Senegal · Mali · Côte d'Ivoire
Maison Gacha surrounds itself with artisans from varied horizons, whose practices embody the richness of the trades of the hand from Africa and beyond. Partners of our programming and our Melapte shop, they take part in our workshops, residencies and exhibitions, allowing the public to encounter living craftsmanship and understand its roots in deep cultural traditions.
Worksonshow
Thematic selections of objects and textiles from our reserves — each show is accompanied by a booklet gathering the technical, historical and symbolic information of the selection on display.
So far, two works shows have been presented: one devoted to ndop, the emblematic textile of western Cameroon, the other to bogolan, characteristic of the Bamana societies of Mali. These textiles carry a complex technical and social history, embodied through the artisan gestures and the motifs that compose them. The next works show will be devoted to kente, the prestigious cloth from Ghana and Togo.
Past works shows.
01
01
Works show — ndop
Bamileke textile, Cameroon
Bamileke textile, Cameroon
02
02
Works show — bogolan
Bamana society, Mali
Bamana society, Mali
03
03
Works show — kasai
Ritual textile, D.R. Congo
Ritual textile, D.R. Congo
04
04
Works show — Bamileke beads
Collection JFG
Collection JFG
Areferencelibrary
Books, catalogues, monographs and specialised journals on the arts of Africa, transmission and contemporary craft practices. (Content in preparation.)
Read, research, transmit.
The library offers the public, researchers and artists a selection of works on African art, textiles, ethnology and contemporary practices. Consultation on site, by appointment. (Catalogue being compiled.)
420 books · 68 journals · 32 catalogues
420
Books
68
Journals
32
Catalogues
Artseducation
A programme of openness to the world, raising all audiences’ awareness of artistic practices and African cultural heritage, tangible and intangible.
Conceived as a space of discovery and openness to the world, the programme offers workshops (storytelling, weaving, writing, dance), guided tours, playful moments and times of exchange, accessible to all. It draws on the Foundation’s activities, the collections, the cultural programming, the library and school and institutional partnerships. In line with the charter of the Ministry of National Education, it combines encounters with works, artistic practice and the acquisition of knowledge in an educational, inclusive and collaborative approach.
À la une
08 Oct 2025
Storytelling workshop at the Colette Vivier library
Storytelling workshop for toddlers with Madame Blanche (Jean-Félicien Gacha Foundation), Emil Abossolo and Binda Ngazola — Colette Vivier library, Paris.
Hover to preview
- 01
08 Oct 2025
Storytelling workshop at the Colette Vivier library
- 02
16 Oct 2025
Storytelling workshop at the Jeunes Pousses school with storyteller Madame Blanche
- 03
10 Dec 2025
Bamileke dance workshop
- 04
17 Jan 2026
Weaving workshop — ndop works show
