Ethnological Museum of Berlin — Attraction in Berlin

Excellent collection, but not unproblematic. The African section of this museum is outrageous, however, with extremely beautiful African objects and exquisite art. Certainly worth seeing and artistically highly valuable. The problem is: No single object in the main room is labelled, no single African ethnicity is mentioned, no single tribe of Africa is mentioned. You see fantastic artefacts but their pupose in not described, a visitor will have no idea what these objects were used for, so consequently will lose interest in Africa. The museum teaches the visitor that Arican produces "meanigless things" which just happen to be beautiful. What is mentioned are only the labels with German conquerers of Africa - African people do not count. There is no single map depicting African regions and kingdoms, the only map of Africa shows German colonies... The only names mentioned are those of German conquers. What a shame! In this way, this museum showcases and preserves German colonial racism, neocolonialiam and chauvinism. In music room, again no labels on instruments, not even a mention of their places of their origin (e.eg. India...

Visiting this museum is a bit like going on a date with someone who isn’t really sure that they should be dating. Which is to say - until they figure it out, they’re just wasting your time.

The curator is clearly conflicted between a) wanting to show you the artifacts, and b) feeling really, really, REALLY bad about their even possessing the artifacts in the first place. Nearly every plaque on the second floor features a browbeating sermon or self-critiquing apology, all of which just leaves the visitor feeling like maybe they shouldn’t actually be there.

To the curator - consider, perhaps, making up your mind? If you want to send the artifacts back to their respective countries, then do so, and close the ethnography exhibits. Or, if you want to keep the artifacts and use them to educate the public about other cultures, then do that. But either way, please stop this bizarre charade of public self-flagellation. It’s...

This place is part of the Humboldt Forum, here you will find four major sections, one for Africa, one for Asia, one for Oceania and the other for America, also in between they show other countries.

I was shocked at first when I saw the place for the first time. I came here thinking i was going to appreciate the Asian Arts Museum only and found out more things, more sections. This place is magical, and best of all, ITS FREE.

They have every last Sunday of the month a Tea Ceremony in the Japanese section, so if you would like to see one, go to their website and check the dates. I'm definitely...