Monument Demba et Dupont

Monument Demba et Dupont is a memorial in front of Dakar's train station and features two bronze figures standing on a pedestal. The statues represent a Senegalese rifleman and a French soldier positioned side by side.

The memorial was created by French sculptor Paul Ducuing and inaugurated in 1923 to honor African troops who fought in World War I. It came into being during a period when returning combatants were reshaping colonial society.

The figures show two soldiers standing together and gazing in the same direction, expressing a sense of brotherhood between them. This portrayal communicates shared experience and camaraderie that visitors can immediately grasp when viewing the memorial.

The memorial stands directly in front of the train station and is easy to reach on foot, even though the plaza can be busy during daytime hours. There is plenty of space to view and photograph the sculpture from multiple angles.

The memorial has shifted locations multiple times, moving from a central plaza to a cemetery and then to its current spot in front of the train station. These relocations mirror how commemoration practices and urban development evolved over the decades.

Location: Dakar-Plateau

Inception: 1923

Creator: Paul Ducuing

Part of: Historic monuments of Dakar Region list

GPS coordinates: 14.67493,-17.43298

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:42