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Brightly lit gallery with objects in vitrines at various elevations in the background. In the center are several seated statues on pedestals.
Special Installation

Arts of Africa

OverviewExhibition ObjectsAudio GuideRelated ContentInside the Exhibition
Wide gallery view of the Arts of Africa in the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

Now Open: The Arts of Africa in the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

Experience the creativity of artists and innovators in the Arts of Africa. Exhibition tour premieres online in July.

Watch trailer now

Articles, Audio, and Video

An overhead view of the Kasubi Tombs in Kampala, Uganda. The woven, wattle and daub structure is surrounded by a forest on one side, and homes on the other with an empty lot directly in front.
Video
A Film Screening and Conversation on Africa's Cultural Landmarks | Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
Enjoy a selection of short films from a newly produced series on sub-Saharan Africa’s distinct landmarks and behind-the-scenes stories of the filmmaking process.
June 24
Aerial view of stone walls and trees at Great Zimbabwe
Video
New Galleries/Fresh Perspectives—A Conversation About Presenting Africa’s Cultural Landmarks
Join a filmmaker, curators, and an international correspondent to learn about a series of short films that foreground twelve of sub-Saharan Africa’s distinct landmarks.
June 12
Front view of a sikien house
Video
Sikien of Koutammakou, Republic of Benin and Togo
Hear from local artisans who aim to preserve the vibrant architectural legacy of the remarkable Batammariba houses or sikien of Koutammakou.
May 31
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Essays

Aerial view of a stone wall structure
Great Zimbabwe
The site’s architectural layout and material culture have been key in understanding Great Zimbabwe’s settlement history and economic, social, and political organization.
May 27
On the left, a two-faced headdress, known as a dance crest, with horns. On the right, a crocodilian dance crest with curving horns.
Reconciling Repairs on Cross River Dance Crests
A team of conservators and scientists have been investigating a selection of West African dance crests that will soon be on display.
December 6, 2024
Five men posing for a photograph, surrounding a seated central figure
Early Histories of Photography in West Africa (1860–1910)
African patrons and entrepreneurs quickly picked up the new technology, which circulated and flourished through local and global networks of exchange. Photographers, clients, and images moved across the region often traversing both national and ethnic boundaries.
March 1, 2017
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