The museum opened its doors in March 1957 as part of the independence celebrations. It was situated in a district of the capital, Accra, which was planned to host future civic buildings.
The project was important for the country's new president, Kwame Nkrumah, who led it to become West Africa's first independent nation. Nkrumah was also fond of Modernism, which he associated with progress and a break from the colonial past.
AW Lawrence became the director of this proposed museum in 1951. His vision looked more to the past and the theme of 'Man in Africa' was established, with artifacts brought from other parts of the continent and Europe.
Denys Lasdun rejoined his colleagues Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew to design the museum. Fry and Drew had published their research on Tropical Modernism, and elements of both can be seen on the completed building.
Collection
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