Museums and Galleries featuring African Creators and Themes
Places to Visit this Black History Month
Every year, we dedicate February to recognizing the many achievements and hardships experienced by Africans throughout our history. As part of our celebrations, this Black History Month, we look at our favorite museums and galleries around the world that highlight African themes.
National Museum of Ethiopia (NME)
Lonely Planet praises the collections housed at NME(National Museum of Ethiopia) as among the best in sub-Saharan Africa. Located in Addis Ababa, the National Museum of Ethiopia boasts an unparalleled paleontological exhibition in the basement. This includes fossilized remains of the very first hominids. Most notably, the world-famous Lucy. A partial female skeletal specimen was discovered in 1974, in Hadar.
National Museum of African Art, Washington DC
The Smithsonian Institution's African art museum includes almost 10,000 pieces of both traditional and contemporary artworks from all across Africa. It was the first museum dedicated to African art in the US, and remains the largest collection.
Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Lagos
The first purpose-built and privately owned art museum in Nigeria, Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Lagos. Featuring over 1000 works from Prince Yemisi Shyllon’s vast art collection, Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art boasts one of the most impressive collections in the country.
Founded in 2015, Rele Gallery consists of two venues. One in Lagos, Nigeria and the other in Los Angeles, USA. This contemporary art gallery serves to bridge the gap between African and International artworks. Rele regularly showcases artists from all over Africa ensuring that contemporary African art is accessible for an international audience.
Located at the site of a fifteenth-century slave-trading warehouse in Marina Beach, Calabar, the Slave History Museum was established to honor the history of the nation’s slave trade. With five prime exhibits, the museum explores the lives of the enslaved and the impact of the slave trade on the city. The journey ends in the abolition era and recognises the people behind the movement.
Gidan Dan Hausa Museum and Kano State Cultural Centre, Kano
With an impressive collection of arts, crafts and historical artifacts related to Nigeria, the Gidan Dan Hausa Museum takes a thorough analysis into the city’s history and unique culture. Divided into 11 separate galleries that explore distinctly different topics representing Kano’s heritage. Gidan Dan Hausa Museum offers a unique and interactive user experience.
Wherever in the world you are based, why not honor Black History Month by visiting your local museums and galleries in your area that are highlighting our rich and diverse history and culture?
