The museum comprises two principal areas:
- the exhibiton area, housed in a U-shaped, one-storey building with a permanent exhibition in two wings and a temporary exhibition in the third wing; and
- the laboratories and storerooms, including research and administrative offices, which are situated in two additional U-shaped buildings. The respective courtyards face each other and are divided by a colonade.
In its massing, construction, and materials, the museum is inspired from Bambara traditions, with the exception of the workshops. All rooms and galleries are naturally ventilated. Construction technique is cement-stabilized banco bricks, and stone bearing walls, reinforced concrete roof slab.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture