Key Takeaways
- Museums play a crucial role in showcasing a country’s legacy and have embraced technology to enhance accessibility.
- The writer, with expertise in archaeozoology and museum guidance, underscores the educational significance of museums.
- Virtual resources and tours have widened museum access, even during the pandemic.
- The list of African museums offers insights into the continent’s diverse history and culture.
- Featured museums include Tiskiwin in Morocco, the Nairobi National Museum in Kenya, the Museum of Black Civilisations in Senegal, the National Museum of Anthropology in Angola, and the Maropeng Visitor Centre in South Africa.
Museums don’t often feature on vacation itineraries. That’s probably because people think of these spaces as dull houses of antiquities. But there are few better ways to learn about a country’s history, its people, and its culture than by visiting a museum.
Maybe I’m biased: as an archaeozoologist – an archaeologist who studies animal fossils (mostly rodents) – I like digging in the past. And I’ve worked as a museum tour guide, at the University of the Witwatersrand’s Origins Centre Museum in Johannesburg, South Africa.
So I love museums, because they archive, preserve and display objects of significant importance. They allow you to delve deep into the past with eye-catching displays of artifacts, ancient textiles, high-quality images, and short films that narrate how our ancestors lived.
In recent years, virtual reality has added an exciting dimension to the world of museums. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many museums have introduced fully virtual tours so that distance is no object.
If virtual tours are unavailable for your museum of choice, search for their formal or social media platforms (websites, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter). Many museums use these platforms to share detailed information, high-resolution photographs, videos, and audio files. Another alternative is the Google Arts and Culture App: it provides phenomenal images of the exhibitions, limited virtual tours (similar to the Google Maps Street View) of the museum, and general interactive activities to rouse your interest.
For those who are planning a holiday on the African continent, I’ve put together a list of museums that would be a delight to visit. Some offer digital and virtual reality alternatives; others require a physical visit. And if you can’t get there now, why not add these to your bucket list for future museum adventures?
Maison Tiskiwin/Musée Tiskiwin (Tiskiwin Museum) – Marrakech, Morocco
This museum is one of the oldest in Marrakech. It focuses on the history and culture of the Amazigh and Tuareg people, indigenous nomadic groups in North Africa. It holds a collection of objects acquired by the founder of the museum, Dutch anthropologist Bert Flint. He collected these cultural items during decades of North African expeditions. The exhibits represent different regions, recreating the former caravan route from Marrakech to Timbuktu. Each exhibit is generously filled with crafts, artworks, traditional attire, and intricately designed carpets.
Nairobi National Museum – Nairobi, Kenya
This museum’s beautiful architecture and modern interior design set the ambiance for bountiful exploration. It focuses on four aspects: culture, history, contemporary art, and nature. All are well-represented and celebrated. Statues and artworks are peppered among the collections. Visitors can explore at their own pace, using self-guided tour options.
Musée des Civilisations Noires (Museum of Black Civilisations) – Dakar, Senegal
Long before European settlers arrived on the continent, African civilizations boasted advanced heritage, technology, and knowledge systems. This museum evokes that history. It educates visitors about the diversity and versatility of African civilizations. Elaborate masks, statues, art pieces, and objects of significance are displayed throughout – each with its own story to tell. It doesn’t shy away from darker matters, examining how communities were demoralized, divided, and diminished during colonialism.
Museu Nacional de Antropologia (National Museum of Anthropology) – Luanda, Angola
The National Museum of Anthropology is especially significant because it was opened in 1976, soon after Angola gained its independence from Portugal. The museum cleverly captures Angola’s heritage; you’ll find a variety of masks, musical instruments, sculptures, art pieces, traditional accessories, and attire on display. Some of these date as far back as the early days of the Kingdom of Kongo (1390-1914), which was centered on what is today northern Angola.
Maropeng: Official Visitor Centre for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site – Krugersdorp, South Africa
The Maropeng visitor center is a world-class exhibition at the Cradle of Humankind, a world heritage site. The museum is centered on our human ancestors and their development over millions of years.
The exhibitions are organized chronologically from the formation of our planet to recent modern developments; they cover a wide range of topics that you can navigate at your own pace. Aspects of adventure and intrigue are introduced with a family-friendly boat ride, interactive games, and fun activities that add to this pleasurable experience. Lastly, you can explore a few archaeological sites on a pleasant walk on the paths outside the Tumulus (main museum).
— Nompumelelo Maringa, Faunal research assistant, Genus, University of the Witwatersrand
What We Think
Museums bridge us to the past with interactive and educational exhibits that reveal the depth of cultural heritage. Advances like virtual tours have kept them accessible, even when travel is not possible, ensuring that history is just a click away.
The African museums highlighted here stand as vibrant storytellers, offering unique insights into the continent’s history. They promise enriching journeys through time, whether one is walking their halls or browsing their collections online.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
