Nearly everyone is familiar with museums such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, or the Louvre in Paris. There are also many museums on the African continent, all of which are very interesting and cover different topics. While some show the tradition and culture of their country, others focus on contemporary art. On this list, we have included the museums that are well worth your time.
1. Iziko Museum, Cape Town
The Iziko Museum in Cape Town was the first museum in the country. It opened its doors for the first museum in South Africa was Iziko Museum in Cape Town. In 1825, the doors opened for the first time. Approximately 1.5 million exhibits are housed in the museum, and around 200 scientists work there. Exhibits from the fields of zoology and paleontology are exhibited at the Iziko Museum of Natural History. Several exhibits span 120,000 years.
More information about the Iziko Museum.
2. The Zinsou Foundation, Museum of Contemporary African Art, Ouidah
Zinsou Foundation in Ouidah, Benin, is the place to be if you are a fan of contemporary African art. The Zinsou Foundation was launched in 2005 to promote and support Benin artists and their works. Zinsou Foundation exhibitions were visited by around four million people between 2005 and 2013. Those who cannot travel to Benin can download the mobile phone application “Wakpon”, which allows them to visit the exhibition virtually.
More information about the Zinsou Foundation.
3. Museum of Modern Art, Algiers
The Museum of Modern Art in Algiers opened in 2007 and is dedicated to promoting young A museum dedicated to promoting young Algerian artists opened in 2007 in Algiers. Originally built as a shopping center, this architecturally impressive building has now been converted into a museum.
More information about the Museum of Modern Art in Algiers
4. House of the Slaves: Gorée Island, Senegal
Gorée Island in Senegal provided hundreds of thousands of slaves to Europe during the 18th century. It is this sad past that is memorialized by the House of Slaves, a building dating back to 1776. The enormous “Gate of No Return”, through which thousands of people entered the ships bound for Europe, is particularly impressive – and oppressive. In memory of this dark chapter in history, both Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul II walked through this gate.
More information about the house of the slaves
5. Village Museum, Tanzania
To display Tanzanian culture in all its diversity, the Village Museum has taken on the task. Visitors can experience the customs and way of life of different populations at the open-air museum. The museum refutes the widely held misconception that Africa is a unified whole and instead emphasizes the diverse nature of the continent.
More information about the museum