Earlier this month, Ivorian writer and literary translator Edwige-Renée Dro opened a library focused on women’s writing from the continent and black diaspora. The library is located in Yopougon, Abidjan and is open to members of the public.

The Library is called 1949 to commemorate the contributions of Ivorian women — 2000 of them—who, in 1949, matched against colonial power.

As Dro puts in the promotional video, the goal of the project is “to shine the light upon all the contributions, the stories of black and African women that have been buried. To unearth them.”

Libraries are great additions to communities because of how enriching they are. But a library centered on women’s work and their history is even more so. It’s a necessity. There is so much to celebrate about this project, how timely it is, how needed it is, and just how inspiring it is. Dro has created a space where the community can gather around questions about women’s lives and their histories.

Enjoy these photos of the lovely space!