“A Glimpse of Africa: Five Cultures from the Continent”

Museum of Anthropology Showcases Cultural Diversity in Africa

"Wake Forest University’s Museum of Anthropology (MOA) has opened a new long-term exhibit entitled “A Glimpse of Africa: Five Cultures from the Continent,” which explores the remarkable cultural diversity found in Africa. The selected artifacts, ranging from ceramics to textiles, offer an in-depth examination of five African cultures: Bamileke of Cameroon; Baule of Cote d’Ivoire; Kuba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Tuareg of the western Sahara and Zulu of South Africa. Although the artifacts, which vary in age, focus on traditional ways of life, several pieces provide insight as to how tradition can be transformed through internal and external influences.

Who: Museum of Anthropology student employees curated the exhibition: Austin Brown, a junior philosophy major; Chris Rinker, a second-year Divinity School student; and Olivia Whitener, a junior anthropology major. Each student wrote an overview of their chosen cultural groups, and selected and researched artifacts from MOA’s extensive African collections.

What: The five cultures featured in the exhibit showcase the diversity of Africa, a continent that is home to more than 3,000 distinct ethnic groups and 2,000 recognized languages, which represents more than 25 percent of all spoken languages in the world. The artifacts on display include ceramics, textiles, baskets, masks, weapons, personal adornment and other objects from daily life. 

Where: Wake Forest's Museum of Anthropology

Cost: Free and open to the public.

About Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University combines the best traditions of a small liberal arts college with the resources of a large research university. Founded in 1834, the school is located in Winston-Salem, N.C. The University’s graduate school of arts and sciences, divinity school, and nationally ranked schools of law, medicine and business enrich our intellectual environment. Learn more about Wake Forest University at www.wfu.edu."

A Press Release