Ibrahima Wane holds a postgraduate doctorate in modern literature and a state doctorate in humanities. He is Professor of African Literature and Civilizations at the University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar. Wane also directs the doctoral program in African and Francophone Studies at the doctoral school of Arts, Cultures and Civilizations (ARCIV) at UCAD. He is the vice-president of the Euro-African Epic Research Network (REARE).

His work focuses on popular poetry and music in West Africa, literature written in African languages, urban cultures and political imagination. Recent publications include: Wane, Ibrahima (2019), “Les chemins de la voix”, in Mbembe, Achille et Sarr, Felwine (ed.), Politique des temps. Imaginer les devenirs africains, Paris/Dakar, Editions Philippe Rey/Jimsaan, pp. 385-393; Wane, Ibrahima (2019), “The School of Arts and the Music Scene of Senegal,” in Achieng’ Akuno, Emily (ed.), Music Education in Africa. Concept, Process, and Practice, London and New York, Routledge, pp. 126-134; Wane, Ibrahima and Mbaye, Saliou (eds.), (2020), Le 1er Festival mondial des arts nègres: mémoire et actualité, Dakar, Harmattan Senegal, 364 pages.

Also interested in cinema and audiovisual, he co-wrote the scripts for several documentary films including Yéla, les mélodies de la mémoire, devoted to the art of the Fulani griots of Senegal and Mauritania (2008), and Samba Diabaré Samb, le Gardien du Temple, a portrait of a leading figure in the traditional music of Senegal and West Africa (2006).

Ibrahima Wane is Senegal’s Lead Expert for the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.