Smithsonian National Museum of African Art — Attraction in Washington

The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art offers an extraordinary window into the heart of Africa's diverse and rich artistic traditions. This five-star institution is not merely a museum; it's a journey that carries you across centuries and continents, immersing you in the vibrant cultural expressions of Africa.

From ancient artifacts and traditional crafts to contemporary pieces and installations, the museum captures the creative spirit and resilience of the African continent in an unprecedented manner. Each exhibit tells a unique story, allowing visitors to explore Africa's multifaceted history, culture, and artistic genius.

The museum's layout is both thoughtful and innovative, fostering an educational and engaging experience. The museum staff are knowledgeable and enthusiastic, bringing the exhibits to life through their insightful explanations and guided tours.

Additionally, the museum's regular events and programs, including art workshops, lectures, and film screenings, provide a dynamic and enriching platform to delve deeper into African culture.

In a nutshell, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is an exquisite blend of the traditional and the modern, the historical and the contemporary. It's a place that sparks curiosity, challenges perceptions, and ignites a newfound appreciation for African art. An absolute must-visit for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Africa's...

Wonderful African art museum in great building designed by the late Jean-Paul Carlhian (1919-2012) of the Boston firm Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson & Abbott. The domes of the building reminded me of Islamic architecture. I loved the exhibition "From the Deep, in the Wake of Drexciya with Ayana V. Jackson" that imagined the underwater world of children of enslaved African women drowned in the Transatlantic slave trade. The exhibition combines photographs, fashion, film, and even smell in a multisensory experience. The artist worked with various African designers and a designer from Trinidad and Tobago on this project. The exhibition on Benin bronzes on loan from the Oba of Benin is also worth seeing, although I was disappointed that the exhibition did not even mention the slave trade origin of many of the objects which were made from melted manillas cast into bronzes. The Kingdom of Benin obtained most of these manillas in return for slaves traded to colonial powers. The exhibition also did not mention that the British officers and porters killed prior to the punitive expedition of 1897 were unarmed. For a more accurate description of the origin of the Benin bronzes see the African art exhibit of the Penn Museum in Philadelphia. The exhibition also did not discuss the controversy around returning these bronzes to Nigeria respectively the...

It's smaller than the more popular Smithsonian museums at the National Mall, which is great for two reasons: no overcrowding and no need to hurry to see everything. The amount of exhibits is just right, so we didn't have art fatigue at the end of our visit.

I particularly enjoyed the women-centered exhibitions - one on the talented female artists that are taking the continent by storm, and the other on the subject of gold and fashion in Senegal. The exhibits are pretty diverse, from Benin to Mozambique to Zambia. Just not sure if all African countries are represented.

Admission is free, this being a Smithsonian. There is a small gift shop but no cafe or restaurant. The space might seem small from the ground-level entrance, but note that the exhibitions are at the underground floors. The lowest floor connects directly to the Asian Art Gallery (aka Arthur Sackler Gallery), another Smithsonian museum. Better signage is needed since we weren't aware that we had stepped foot in another museum after wandering around the lowest floor.

If you have at least three hours, you can visit both...