Are you touring Africa? As the cradle of humanity, Africa promises a rich and enlightening experience!
Among the various attractions awaiting exploration, visiting some of the continent’s finest museums will stand out as a captivating journey for you.
Happily indulge into the diverse history, culture, and heritage of this amazing continent.
This article will serve as your guide to help you find the most interesting museums in Africa.
1. Nike Art Gallery
(Pronounced as “Nee-Keh”), Nike Art Gallery is an art gallery in Nigeria, with branches in Lagos, Abuja, Oshogbo and Ogidi.
It is owned by Nike Davies-Okundaye, a Nigerian adire textile designer.
This amazing gallery stands as one of the largest in its category in the whole of West Africa.
With an impressive collection comprising approximately 8,000 diverse artworks, the gallery showcases the talents of numerous Nigerian artists, celebrating Nigeria’s talent, offering visitors an insight into all cultures of Nigeria through the medium of art.
2. National Museum Benin City
Located in the heart of Benin City, Nigeria, the Benin City National Museum stands as a proud guardian of the region’s rich history.
The National Museum, Benin City was opened to the public in 1973 and is located on the iconic King’s Square.
The iconic King’s Square was renamed to Oba Ovonramwen (the king of Benin kingdom who ruled 1888–1897) Square by Adams Oshiomhole during his tenure as the governor of Benin.
This national museum is a treasure trove of artifacts, particularly those linked with the illustrious early Benin Empire.
In the treasure trove you will find the intricate terracotta to the majestic bronze figures and the enduring cast iron pieces, the museum offers a sweet journey through time.
Get yourself involved in the beauty of ancient art, that provides glimpses into the early epochs that shaped the cultural landscape of the city of Benin, and also connect with the roots and heritage.
3. National Museum Of Ethiopia
The National Museum of Ethiopia (NME), affectionately known as the Ethiopian National Museum, stands as a cultural cornerstone in the heart of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Located in close proximity to Addis Ababa University’s graduate school, National Museum of Ethiopia is a proof to Ethiopia’s rich heritage.
From ancient artifacts to modern exhibits, the National Museum of Ethiopia houses the diverse events of Ethiopian history, culture and archaeological treasures.
This intriguing museum is also known for housing significant paleoanthropological exhibits.
Since its establishment, the museum has been a guardian of the nation’s cultural legacy, preserving and showcasing the stories that have shaped Ethiopia over centuries.
The inception of the National Museum of Ethiopia dates back to 1936 when it took root in the vision to preserve Ethiopia’s cultural tapestry.
Initially started with an exhibition featuring ceremonial costumes donated by the Solomonic dynasty.
(The Solomonic dynasty, also known as the House of Solomon, was the ruling bloodline of the Ethiopian Empire from the thirteenth to twentieth centuries.)
Afterwards, a little over the years, its roots deepened with the establishment of the Institute of Archaeology in 1958; an ambitious endeavor targeted at advancing archaeological research in northern Ethiopia, by French archaeologists.
The museum has expanded beyond its initial focus, becoming a multifaceted institution.
It expanded so much to include not only the exhibition of artifacts from archaeological expeditions but also dedicated departments for conservation, documentation, and research.
This journey highlights the museum’s commitment to preserving Ethiopia’s cultural wealth, reflecting a continuous dedication to exploration, understanding, and sharing the nation’s historical narratives.
Today, the National Museum of Ethiopia stands as a big proof to Ethiopia’s unstoppable legacy, preserving and showcasing the cultural narratives that have shaped the nation’s identity for centuries.
The National Museum is famous for its archaeological finds, especially early hominid fossils like “Lucy,” Lucy is a partial skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis.
And recently, few additions to the collection include “Selam,” another archaic fossil dating back to around 3.3 million years ago.
It’s a must visit!
4. The Grand Egyptian Museum Cairo GEM
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), situated in Giza, Egypt, stands as a monumental repository of Egypt’s rich archaeological heritage, encapsulating millennia of human civilization from the predynastic period to the Greco-Roman era (c. 3100 BCE to 400 CE).
Its extensive collection is a coordinated combination of artifacts sourced from diverse cultural institutions in Egypt, including the venerable Egyptian Museum founded in 1858 in downtown Cairo.
The Grand Egyptian Museum features the prized collection from King Tutankhamun’s tomb, highlighting its importance within the Cairo museum’s treasures.
Covering an expansive 120 acres (50 hectares), the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) proudly portrays itself as the world’s largest archaeological museum.
Beyond being a physical repository, the museum serves as a cultural epicenter, narrating the tales of Egypt’s past and offering visitors a profound journey through the annals of history.
You should visit this museum if you are touring Africa. There is so much to see there.
5. Zeitz Museum Of Contemporary Art Africa
The essence of Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa is to showcase the importance of 21st-century African art, honoring African tradition and embracing modern evolution.
Its grand opening took place on September 22, 2017, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) stands proudly as a public non-profit museum located in the Silo District at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa.
This museum is a proof to the energy and multiple artistic expressions of the African continent, it holds the distinction as the most extensive museum dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora.
As a non-profit organization, Zeitz MOCAA plays a crucial role as the custodian of modern African art, dedicated to preserving, exploring, and showcasing its richness.
The museum’s influence extends not only across Africa but also into the diaspora, creating a comprehensive and diverse portrayal of contemporary African art.
Additionally, beyond mere exhibition, Zeitz MOCAA is aimed at promoting intercultural understanding, providing inclusive access to all, and breaking down barriers often associated with the art world.
6. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum
The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum proudly houses a vital regional collection that carefully captures the importance and evolution of art, craft, and design in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
This collection moves with the rich history of the region and its profound connection to both national and global artistic trends.
And to improve visitor experiences, the museum’s three exhibition halls undergo periodic rehanging, adapting to the ebb and flow of the collections.
The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum first opened its doors on June 22, 1956, under the name King George VI Art Gallery.
The museum is located in St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the institution underwent a significant transformation in December 2002.
In later years, the museum was renamed; in a heartfelt tribute to the iconic Nelson Mandela, to embrace a new identity that reflects the spirit of a visionary leader and global symbol of freedom.
The collections in these museums range from oil paints, bead works, media arts, ceramics, Asian prints, and textiles.
The media arts is a collection of important trends, media and some few leading artists.
7. The Cradle of Mankind
Situated approximately 50 km northwest of Johannesburg in the Gauteng province of South Africa, the Cradle of Humankind stands as a remarkable paleoanthropological site.
This very large site, covering 47,000 hectares, holds the distinction of housing multiple archaeological sites and the most extensive collection of human ancestral remains on a global scale.
The Cradle of Humankind offers a captivating glimpse into the origins of humanity and the rich events that led to our existence.
The Cradle Of Mankind is the place where the earliest primates were discovered.
Subsequently, on December 7, 2005, the then President of South Africa inaugurated Maropeng at the Cradle of Humankind site.
Maropeng is the official visitors’ center for the cradle of mankind site.
Maropeng is a wonder to behold, visitors have the opportunity to observe fossils, examine stone tools dating back up to one million years.
This self-guided and exciting tour offers the flexibility to learn at your own pace the intriguing narrative of humanity’s origin.
The center also provides guided tours of the Sterkfontein Caves and the exhibition at Sterkfontein.
Sterkfontein is a set of limestone caves and underground lake that holds special interest in paleoanthropology.
Over the Malapa site, a mobile steel structure named the Beetle has been erected, allowing the public to witness excavations once they resume at the site.
Now we wrap it up here! If you are touring Africa make sure to visit these wonderful museums to make your tour a very memorable one.
