In this article the author gives an overall view of the situation regarding conservation of traditional African architectural heritage south of the Sahara. He describes open air museums, emphasizing that in Africa, vernacular architecture is alive and that such a solution, inspired by European models, cannot easily be adapted to this continent. He concludes by hoping that a new conservation policy be developed which takes into account the three following criteria: a definition of the areas to be conserved, the application of control measures in urban planning, and finally, the integration of buildings and sites to be conserved into a program of economic and social development of the country.