An exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac titled Mission Dakar-Djibouti (1931-1933): Counter-Inquiries explores the ethnographic mission conducted between 1931 and 1933 by Marcel Griaule. This mission, supported by the Institute of Ethnology and the Ethnographic Museum of the Trocadéro, aimed to document cultures and collect artifacts from regions in present-day Senegal and Djibouti. The exhibition runs until September 14, 2025, and includes contributions from eleven members of the team, such as Michel Leiris, who later wrote about the journey in the book L’Afrique fantôme, published in 1934. While the mission significantly contributed to the museum’s collection, modern ethical standards have raised questions about the methods used during the time. The exhibition also delves into the broader historical context of European colonialism in Africa. The Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 formalized the division of African territories among European powers, paving the way for such ethnographic missions. Unlike the colonial exhibitions that were often criticized by artists like the surrealists, Griaule's work was more focused on academic study. The exhibition seeks to critically assess the past, examining the legacy of these collections and their relevance to contemporary ethnology. In addition to the main exhibition, the book Feather Dust: Another Story of the Dakar-Djibouti Mission by Julien Bondaz explores a lesser-known aspect of the mission: the collection of birds. Bondaz questions the role of bird collection in French ethnology, suggesting that an interest in bird song and its cultural meanings may have influenced the mission’s methods. He draws comparisons between the collection of sounds and the act of hunting, highlighting the interconnectedness of these practices. This perspective adds another layer to the understanding of the mission’s objectives and methods. The exhibition and Bondaz’s book both emphasize the complex relationship between ethnography, colonialism, and the collection of cultural artifacts. They aim to provide a more nuanced view of the mission, incorporating recent research conducted since 2021 by African and French specialists. This ongoing scholarly work helps to update knowledge about the collected items and their historical significance, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the mission’s impact on both the artifacts and the people whose cultures were documented.