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Celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama and the birth of Martin Luther King Jr. as African Art explores leadership and the arts

Exhibitions of traditional art and factory-printed cloth, Kenyan artworks showcasing the homeland of Obama's father, contemporary African artwork, lectures and a self-guided treasure hunt focus on the theme of leadership.
  • Traditional art fuses imagery with spiritual beliefs and social purpose to identify leaders and visually convey power and splendor.
  • Factory-printed cloth incorporates symbolic designs, texts and proverbs to comment on everyday matters, recognize leadership and make political statements.
  • A contemporary African artist inspired by Obama's message integrates Obama's trademark "Yes, we can" into a mixed-media painting.


Treasure hunt

Print this guide out, come to the museum and try to find the objects
Guide (.pdf)

Lectures

Mark Auslander, Brandeis University
"Leadership Is People: African Celebrations of a New Leader" examines African kingship ceremonies.
Sun., Jan. 18, 4-5 p.m.

Films

Hip-hop Colony
Sun., Jan. 18, 12 noon

Africa Underground: Democracy in Dakar
Mon., Jan. 19, 12 noon

Sounds of Africa

DJ Adrian Loving mixes African percussion and hip-hop.
Sun., Jan. 18, 2-4 p.m.

Anna Mwalahgo and Afro-Floetry
Known as the "Queen of spoken Afro beat," Kenyan performing artist Mwalahgo debuts her new song honoring Barack Obama.
Mon., Jan. 19, 2-3:30 p.m.


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