“The nation wants this museum.” The Nationwide Museum of Tripoli is housed in an historical fortress, additionally often known as the “Crimson Citadel” or As Saraya al-Hamra, and hosts some of the distinctive collections in North Africa and the unbelievable richness of Libyan archeological heritage. questions on the present assessment and rehabilitation of the Nationwide Museum in Libya.
Mohamed Fakroun, longtime director normal of this largest museum within the nation’s historical past, is now a member of the Division of Antiquities in Libya and head of the Archaeological Division in Tripoli with duty for regional and nationwide museums within the area. Ten years after the revolution and the autumn of Gaddafi, the reconstruction venture seeks to place the Nationwide Museum on the service of the folks and rework it right into a middle of information the place the story of the Libyan folks is informed.
RFI: What’s for you the distinctive aspect of the Nationwide Museum in Tripoli?
Mohamed Fakroun: The distinctive aspect of the Tripoli Nationwide Museum is at the beginning the place the place the museum is situated, in the center of Tripoli’s medina, by the Crimson Citadel [déjà à l’époque byzantine, il y avait une grande forteresse pour défendre la ville. Au XVIe siècle, pendant l’occupation espagnole, la forteresse a été peinte en rouge, d’où son nom. Dès 1919, les colonisateurs italiens ont aménagé une partie du bâtiment en musée. En 1948, le Château rouge a été transformé en Libyan Museum Complex avant que Mouammar Khadafi inaugure en 1988 les 8 250 mètres carrés du nouveau Musée national de Tripoli]. It is usually distinctive as a result of the museum’s assortment covers all historic durations from the Stone Age and prehistoric civilizations. In our rehabilitation venture, there’s the concept of reviving this museum in order that we are able to take a look at the historical past of the complete nation, from the starting to right now.
Are you able to give us one or two symbolic works from the museum’s assortment??
For instance, there’s a burial mound representing the goddess Persephone, daughter of the goddess Demeter, Hade’s spouse. It’s a very Libyan fashion that we have no idea anyplace else. It is exclusive on this planet and comes from an archaeological discovery made within the northern necropolis of Cyrene, some of the “Greek” cities in Libya.
There may be additionally a statue depicting the goddess Venus Aphrodite. This statue from the top of the 2nd, starting of the third century, was restored by the Italians within the late twentieth century. Found within the thermal baths of Leptis Magna, it has a really fascinating historical past. Taken by the Italians as a present to the Germans round 1939, it was returned by the Italians within the late twentieth century.
For ten years, Libya has had a popularity for being a rustic of martyrdom. For the reason that Libyan revolution in 2011, are there nonetheless guests to the Nationwide Museum in Tripoli??
From 2011, the instability within the nation pressured us to shut the museum till the top of 2011. In 2012, we resumed our work with the collections. Afterwards, the scenario calmed down a bit. We closed the museum from 2015 till right now. So as to not waste time, we had the venture to rehabilitate the Tripoli Museum. On this context, we acquired experience from French consultants on this subject and now we have an settlement with the French Archaeological Mission in Libya (MAFL) to do research that concern all the museum. In a primary section, we studied all the museum’s assortment to start work quickly.
Inside the framework of this reconstruction and rehabilitation of the museum, how are you?redefine how we view Libya’s historical past“?
First, we’ll convey the museum as much as the requirements of the twenty first century. The museum was inbuilt the Eighties by the requirements of the time. We don’t contact the museum’s assortment. The gathering shall be the identical, however guests should have the ability to grasp, recognize and get near our assortment in order that they’ll establish with it. It is not nearly altering the look. When the museum was created, it was a glance from that point, influenced by politics. Immediately we would like a museum that solely talks about heritage. We would like to indicate folks the significance of our nation’s cultural heritage.
Till the top of Gaddafi’s reign, a ground of the museum was devoted to up to date and partly devoted to Muammar Gaddafi’s honor. Ten years after Gaddafi’s demise, how are you going to convey the present interval to life??
Corruption throughout this era [pendant le règne de Kadhafi, NDLR] won’t ever be a supply of pleasure. Possibly there shall be one other venture for a museum devoted to up to date historical past. The Nationwide Museum of Tripoli is very supposed to take care of the classical and medieval durations, the lifestyle and craftsmanship of those durations. However there’s the potential of making a new museum that talks about twentieth and twenty first century Libya, with every thing that has occurred because the Italians arrived right now.
Coronavirus pandemic, has it modified the way you current works and your relationship with the general public??
For security causes and safety of the works, there is barely one museum open within the Tripoli area. The others are closed as a precaution, to keep away from looting or be a goal, as a result of even just lately there have been preventing not very removed from the middle of Tripoli.
What place will digital instruments occupy after the resumption of the Nationwide Museum??
This can be a very troublesome concern that we’re learning. This shall be one in every of our priorities to serve guests, to enable the general public to review, perceive and recognize the main points of the works, but additionally to shield the museum’s works.
On the worldwide degree, what are the museum’s most significant collaborations with different museums, on the African continent and outdoors Africa??
On the regional degree, we work so much with our Tunisian and Egyptian neighbors in a number of areas, when it comes to internships, training or work with the general public … On the worldwide degree, now we have an ongoing venture with the Louvre in France. And a delegation from the Nationwide Museum in Tripoli is doing research in collaboration with the Museum of Historical Arles. We work so much with France and Italy and we rely so much on their expertise on this space.
In 2018, the French president started a serious debate on restoration of African heritage. Between Libya and Italy was the story of the restoration of Venus of Cyrene, 2008. At the moment, Muammar Khadafi and Silvio Berlusconi had entered into this primary settlement signed by a former colonial energy. What’s your view on this debate right now on restoration?The Nationwide Museum in Tripoli, it’s affected by the concern?
I don’t suppose that the Nationwide Museum in Tripoli is worried in regards to the French President’s initiative. This is very true of the previous international locations colonized by France, international locations the place many objects remained throughout the colonial period. We’re significantly involved in regards to the latest interval when there was quite a lot of secret taking and unlawful commerce in archeological objects.
After rehabilitation, how do you see the Nationwide Museum in Tripoli in ten years?? What’s your imaginative and prescient for 2030??
In three or 4 years we could have accomplished the rehabilitation work. We discover our guests and the museum will regain its standing as a must-see vacation spot in Tripoli and a serious cultural heritage in Libya. However to seek out our native and worldwide guests, we first want a secure safety scenario.
Will the museum be a sort of landmark for the nation, an element of change??
The Tripoli Nationwide Museum has by no means been forgotten and won’t ever be forgotten. The nation wants this museum. You’ll be able to not think about the variety of messages asking me when the museum will lastly be open once more. Individuals want it. However it is a matter of time and means. It is not only a matter of cash. We additionally want stability within the nation. The venture takes a while earlier than it will probably obtain audiences from everywhere in the world. We had French, Italian, English, Japanese … At one time Libya was a vacationer vacation spot. The Tripoli Museum was a should for all guests to Libya.
When will the rehabilitation be accomplished?
The analysis section will finish in 2021. We’re negotiating the funds with our authorities and worldwide companions and sponsors to construct the longer term museum. If all goes properly, the museum shall be open in 2025.
[DIAPO] Nationwide Museum of Tripoli in Libya
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►On 17, 18 and 19 Might 2021, a global on-line colloquium on historical Libya will happen, underneath the route of the French Archaeological Mission in Libya, the Heart for Analysis on Historical Libya and the Nationwide Institute of Artwork Historical past. On the event of the forty fifth anniversary of the French Archaeological Mission in Libya.
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