"It's a rare thing for a museum to talk about what it doesn't know. But unanswered questions and archival silences are at the heart of the new Africa Hub at Manchester Museum, north-west England, which is inviting people around the world to help fill the gaps. The museum holds more than 40,000 items from across Africa, many of which were traded, collected, looted or preserved during the era of the British empire."
"As a result, the names of makers, the cultural significance of objects and the people to which they once belonged are largely unknown to curators in Manchester; in many cases, only the name of the donor or the collection from which an item came is recorded. The new Africa Hub will display beautifully crafted items that have been in storage for years, the museum says."
The Africa Hub at Manchester Museum opens previously stored African collections to public and online input to address gaps in provenance and cultural knowledge. The museum holds over 40,000 African items, many acquired during the British imperial era, with makers and original owners frequently unknown. The Hub displays crafted objects that have been in storage and solicits stories to trace origins, which could enable restitution and new partnerships. Community collaboration has begun with Manchester's Igbo diaspora assisting research and heritage celebration. The initiative aims to increase inclusiveness, recognition, and stronger ties across the African diaspora.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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