Must - Visit: Black Culture and Heritage Centers and Museums of the Diaspora
Alabama
Birmingham
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Located in the heart of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, the Civil Rights Institute charts the origins, tragedies, successes, and progress of the Movement and the evolution of the dynamic city of Birmingham. www.bcri.org |
France
Lyon
African Museum of Lyon (Musée Africain de Lyon)
This is the oldest museum in France that is dedicated to Africa, and one of the oldest museums in Lyon. Here is where you can find special collections of West African objects and artifacts. The museum was created in 1861 by the Society of African Missions. Contact Musée Africain 150, cours Gambetta 69361 LYON cedex 07 Tel : 04 78 61 60 98 info@musee-africain-lyon.org |
Jamaica
Kingston Jamaica WI
Bob Marley Museum
The life and achievements of this legendary Rastaman, reggae musician and socio-political hero are portrayed at this museum through artifacts, memorabilia, documents, books, photographs and more. www.bobmarley-foundation.com/museum.html |
Panama
Panama City
Afro-Antillean (Spanish) Museum
Located in a building that was once a church that was probably built in the 1850’s by Afro-Antilleans who worked on the railroad, here is where you can learn about the construction of the Panama Canal. The museum contains photographs, artistic and domestic objects from the Afro-Antilleans who helped construct the Panama Canal. Artifacts from Martinique, Haiti and Jamaica are also displayed. www.panama-museums.com |
Philadelphia
African American Museum
One of the oldest and best African American museums on both history and art, the museum, founded in1976, has four large galleries on three floors. Visit www.aampmuseum.org. |
South Africa
Johannesburg
Apartheid Museum
This museum complex occupies approximately 6 000 square meters and is dedicated to illustrating apartheid and the 20th century history of South Africa. Its exhibits animate the apartheid story using blown-up photographs, artifacts, newspaper clippings, film footage and more that was set up by team of curators, filmmakers, historians and designers. www.apartheidmuseum.org. |