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Africa

Africa at MEG

The exhibition crosses Africa from east to west, looking at some of the many cultural areas that have survived the arbitrary political partitioning of the continent in modern times. The exhibits illustrate a short period in African history, starting with the exploration and then the colonisation of the continent by the European powers in the eighteenth century. Ancient African civilisations and the centuries of Islamic expansion are not touched on here.

Reflecting the high points in the MEG's history in Africa, this display explores the major theme of "sacredness". It focuses on ancestor worship and various magico-religious practices, especially the fight against witchcraft, a field in which the initiation societies are knowledgeable. "Power" through the arts that symbolise it is another major thread in this African section. Lastly, some of the precursors of the great movement of African painting are saluted through the exhibition of their work.

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