The NMAFA Education Department also brings to life the art and cultures of Africa through workshops. These programs feature local and African artists, writers and educators.
COVID-19 News
The National Museum of African Art remains temporarily closed but will reopen July 16th. To view the status of the Smithsonian’s other museums and Zoo, visit si.edu/museums.
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Previous Events postponed dues to COVID-19
Reflections: Re-Defining Self
March 14, 2020
1–4 p.m.
Contemporary African artists often create works that reveal their thoughts and beliefs about the economic, political, and environmental climate from which they come. In a world that dictates social norms of beauty and acceptance which influence perceptions and challenge reality, participants will
- imagine hair as an accessory, not a necessity, where hair is seen as a material and used like an object, and then create an accessory or object using the provided material.
- explore their personal thoughts and define who they are through words and imagery in a creative poetic composition.
Inspired by the exhibitions I Am . . . Contemporary Women Artists of Africa and Heroes: Principles of African Greatness; tours of both exhibitions will be offered.
Presented in celebration of Women’s History Month
Register through Eventbrite
African Women Artists Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Registration required
Laptop required. 2 laptops available for loan; please send request in advance to info@wikimediadc.org.
Since ascertaining in 2015 that only 11% of the named artists in its collection self-identified as women, the National Museum of African Art has doubled this number to 22%. But, did you know that only 18% of the articles on English-language Wikipedia are about women? Help change that by participating in the African Women Artists Wikipedia Edit-a-thon!
Together we’ll work to increase the presence of African women artists on Wikipedia by improving existing articles and creating new ones. No Wikipedia editing experience necessary. Editing training will be provided by Wikimedia DC. Museum curators and librarians will on-hand to provide expertise and source material.
10:30–11:30 a.m.
Curator-led tour of I Am . . . Contemporary Women Artists of Africa
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Wikipedia training
12:30 p.m.
Lunch (provided)
12:30–4 p.m.
Wikipedia editing
Presented in conjunction with Art+Feminism DC2020 campaign in celebration of Women’s History Month
POSTPONED
– New date to be determined27th Annual Children’s Africana Book Awards
Saturday, March 28
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Museum Workshop for Teachers
April 25, 2020
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
Caravans of Gold, Fragments in Time: Art, Culture and Exchange across Medieval Saharan Africa
Gold from West Africa was the engine that drove the movement of things, people, and ideas across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East in an interconnected medieval world. As the works in this exhibition show, it is not possible to understand the emergence of the early modern world without this West African story.
Caravans of Gold calls on what archaeologists have termed “the archaeological imagination”—the act of recapturing the past through surviving traces—to present a critical rethinking of the medieval period. Here, rare and precious archaeological fragments are seen side by side, bringing new understanding to complete works of art from the medieval period.
The workshop provides educators the opportunity to visit the exhibition, hear from scholars, and receive lesson plans and other materials. The workshop is a collaboration among the education department of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies and Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, and Howard University’s Center for African Studies. Lunch will be served. Register here.
This program is made possible by a Title VI grant from the United States Department of Education, which is funding National Resource Centers on Africa at Howard University and on the Middle East at Georgetown University, and by support from the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies at Georgetown.
Africa in Reel Time
Scenes of African Heroism
1:30–4 p.m.
This series examines the role of youth in fostering change, the complexities of leadership in the advent of independence, and how these histories continue to shape understanding about heroism in Africa and the global community today. Screenings followed by a docent-led tour of the exhibition Heroes: Principles of African Greatness.
2 Weeks in Lagos
February 14
6–8 p.m.
2 Weeks in Lagos (115 min., 2019) by Kathryn Fasegha is a thrilling journey into the turbulent lives of Ejikeme and Lola. Their lives collide when banker Ejikeme invests in Nigerian businesses with Lola’s brother Charlie. Ejikeme falls in love with Lola and must defy his parents’ wishes to marry the daughter of a wealthy politician.
A discussion on family values, faith, culture, and love follows the screening.
Register through Eventbrite
Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba!
February 22
1:30–4 p.m.
World-renowned South African singer Miriam Makeba (1932–2008) spent half a century traveling the world spreading her political message to fight racism, poverty, and promote justice and peace. Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba! (90 min., English, Xhosa, subtitled) by Mira Kaurimäski is a tribute to a woman who embodied the hopes and voices of Africa as no other.
Register through Eventbrite
Supa Modo
March 7
1:30–4 p.m.
Supa Modo (74 min., 2018) by Likarion Wainaina follows a young, terminally ill girl and the village that rallies together to make her dream of becoming a superhero come true.
Register through Eventbrite
Everything Must Fall
March 21
1:30–4 p.m.
Everything Must Fall (85 min., 2019) by Rehad Desai traces how student protests at South African universities became both a digital movement in the form #FeesMustFall and a national debate about the exclusion of poorer black South Africans from higher education.
Register through Eventbrite
Dying for Gold
April 18
1:30–4 p.m.
For over 120 years, hundreds of thousands of black men from countries throughout southern Africa have left their families to mine for gold in South Africa. Today, these mining communities face severe poverty and the world’s greatest epidemic of silicosis and tuberculosis caused by exposure to the silica dust in the mines. The juxtaposition of present-day goldmining stories with an archival voice in Dying for Gold (99 min., 2018) by Catherine Meyburgh and Richard Pakleppa reveals the true cost of South Africa’s wealth.
Register through Eventbrite
The German King
April 25
1:30–4 p.m.
Set in 1914 at the beginning of World War I, The German King (20 min., 2019) by Adetokumboh M’Cormack documents the heroic life story of Rudolf Manga Bell, an African king in the German colony of Cameroon, who rebelled against Kaiser Wilhelm II’s oppressive colonial rule.
Register through Eventbrite
Workshop Wednesdays
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Spark your creativity and intellectual curiosity during Workshop Wednesdays at the National Museum of African Art! Workshops on the first and third Wednesdays of every month highlight a different artistic process (no workshop will be held July 4). Stay for as little or as long as you like to complete your masterpiece. All skill levels and ages welcome; participants under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Most of these events require no registration, and drop-ins are welcome (though please remember that all workshops are first-come, first-served events). However, due to limited space, several workshops do require prior registration. Please refer to the list above for those requiring registration.
Throughout the year, special masterclass editions of Workshop Wednesdays will be held. These masterclasses will offer the unique chance to explore select artistic topics more deeply and learn from the same artists whose work you see on our walls and in our incredible collections. Masterclasses are intended for participants 16 and up. Registration is required, and space is limited! Check back for the release of the full calendar of masterclasses.
Looking for Contours
February 5
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Using viewfinders, participants examine and record the contour lines of artworks on exhibit to use as inspiration for a painting
It’s Just Hair
February 19
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Reflecting on image identity and beauty challenging our reality and social norms of beauty and acceptance, participants are asked to imagine hair as an accessory and not a necessity, to see hair as a material and used like an object. Participants then create an accessory of their choice using the provided material.
Pendants that Please
March 4
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Throughout Africa, pendants of varying intricacy, material, symbolism, and meaning reflect individual cultures and regions. Pendants and charms are not only a way of “dressing up” and feeling elegant, but also indicate one’s status, bring good fortune, and protect their owners. Examine the complex designs of the various jewelry and metal objects on exhibit before creating a piece of your own.
The Art of African Fabric
March 18
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Textiles—an intrinsic part of the daily life of Africa’s peoples—have been used as communication tools, celebratory adornments and gifts, political statements, and so much more. Explore textiles in Heroes: Principles of African Greatness and create an artwork adhering to the regional interpretation of the fabric.
Register through Eventbrite
The Eyes Have It
April 1
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Learn about the art of the kingdom of Benin and how its artists used a stylized African eye motif throughout their sculpture. Then, breakdown the shapes of this traditional design element to create your own contemporary abstract work of art. Emphasis will be placed on the elements of art—line, shape, color, and texture—and the principles of balance, rhythm, emphasis, and harmony.
Egyptian Culinary Arts
April 15
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Egypt is not only famous for pyramids and ancient history but also for the amazing food influenced by the convergence of several civilizations in the region. Join gourmet chef Aida Mady as she shares her love and indigenous knowledge of Egypt’s culinary arts. Learn about the use and health benefits of traditional spices before making a special dessert.
Elegant Amulets
May 6
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Throughout Africa, amulets, decorated pouches, and charms are worn to bring good fortune or protect their owners. Learn more about this ancient tradition and create your own to ensure well-being.
Card Design with Adinkra Symbols
May 20
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Adinkra symbols, visual representations of concepts and proverbs developed by the Akan peoples of Ghana, were originally used on funerary cloths by royalty and wealthy individuals to pay tribute to the legacy of the deceased. Today, they are used extensively as decorative elements in textiles and design. Join graphic artist and designer Sharmila Karamchandani to learn about adinkra symbols before incorporating them into a one-of-a-kind card.
I Am
June 3
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Just as contemporary artists create artworks that reveal not only themselves, but their thoughts about economic, political, and environmental climates, participants will explore personal thoughts about themselves to compose a poem that defines who they are.
It’s Just Hair
June 17
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Reflecting on image identity and beauty challenging our reality and social norms of beauty and acceptance, participants are asked to imagine hair as an accessory and not a necessity, to see hair as a material and used like an object. Participants then create an accessory of their choice using the provided material.
Abstract Script Compositions with Uli Designs
July 1
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Uli patterns are used by Igbo women to decorate their bodies and the exterior of their houses. Mimicking the fabric paintings of the Nsukka artists who often explored uli’s fluid lines and symbols for inspiration, participants incorporate uli patterns into their fabric creations.
Reverse Glass Painting Senegalese style
July 15
1:30–3:30 p.m.
The term fixe painting (suwer or sous-verre, “under the glass”) describes the reverse glass painting that flourished in Senegal. Create your own unique art using this technique.
Coil Baskets and Containers
August 5
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Learn the basics of coiling—a method widely used throughout Africa to make incredible pottery and basket vessels. Stop by the museum to discover this essential technique and craft a basket from paper coils. Shape, color, texture, and decoration are limited only by your imagination.
Heroes and Sheroes Design with African Fabric
August 19
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Create a red-carpet masterpiece on painters canvas with fashion designer Almira Leónché. Discover your creative side as you design, choose fabric, and embellish an evening gown or cocktail dress to make a 3-D wall art piece to remember.
I Am
September 2
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Just as contemporary artists create artworks that reveal not only themselves, but their thoughts about economic, political, and environmental climates, participants will explore personal thoughts about themselves to compose a poem that defines who they are.
Card Design with Adinkra Symbols
September 16
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Adinkra symbols, visual representations of concepts and proverbs developed by the Akan peoples of Ghana, were originally used on funerary cloths by royalty and wealthy individuals to pay tribute to the legacy of the deceased. Today, they are used extensively as decorative elements in textiles and design. Join graphic artist and designer Sharmila Karamchandani to learn about adinkra symbols before incorporating them into a one-of-a-kind card.
Free and open to the public
A Special Program Examining the Pervasiveness of Stereotypes in American Culture
As early Americans sought to define their identity in a new country, race became a major fixation. Tarzan and Jane, Tonto and the Lone Ranger, Uncle Ben and Aunt Jemima—these and other stereotypes about Native American, African, and African American people have long been part of the American scene. Watch as noted scholars, writers, and critics discuss the ongoing presence of such stereotypes and the barriers these stereotypes pose to the advancement of American culture.
Gaurav Desai, professor of English Language and Literature, University of Michigan; Adrienne Keene (Cherokee Nation), assistant professor, American Studies and Ethnic Studies, Brown University; Imani Perry, Hughes-Rogers Professor of African American Studies, Princeton University; and Jesse Wente (Ojibwe), leading film critic and programmer for indigenous cinema, presented various perspectives on the topic. Tiya Miles, Mary Henrietta Graham Distinguished University Professor of African American Women’s History, professor of Afroamerican and African Studies, professor of American Culture, professor of History, and professor of Women’s Studies, University of Michigan, served as the evening’s moderator.
A reception in the museum’s Potomac Atrium followed the symposium.
Webcast
The symposium was webcast live and can be enjoyed here. Webcast viewers are encouraged to participate via Facebook and Twitter by using the hashtag #Stereotypes.
From Tarzan to Tonto, cosponsored by the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, National Museum of the American Indian, and National Museum of African American History and Culture, was generously supported by Accenture.
Highlights From Years Past
Anna Mwalahgo and Afro-FloetryThe National Museum of African Art has incorporated visual arts programming into its museum education to create an invigorating and stimulating learning environment in which children, adults and families can discover and appreciate the profound cultural traditions of Africa.
Friday, April 18, 2008 was a night of art and fashion coming together through the designs created by students from St. Timothy’s School. Using their own unique styles, students used inexpensive and recyclable materials to fabricate an innovative line of wearable art.
Presented by the Art Club of St. Timothy’s School in conjunction with El Anatsui’s GAWU exhibit.
The National Museum of African Art has incorporated visual arts programming into its museum education to create an invigorating and stimulating learning environment in which children, adults and families can discover and appreciate the profound cultural traditions of Africa.
On July 11, 2007, in front of a lively audience, Kankouran West African Dance Company delivered an exciting and engaging performance. Despite the day being one of the hottest of the summer, the performers had more than enough energy for high-powered kicks, stomping, shimmies and drumming. Between dances, Artistic Director Assane Konte spoke proudly of the 34 members in his troupe. He explained how the drum-based music and the dances tell the history of Africa. He also spoke of the importance of children and community, and he even invited young audience members to come up front and join in the dances. This local dance company, based in Washington, D.C., has been an integral part of the dance community for over 20 years.
The National Museum of African Art has incorporated visual arts programming into its museum education to create an invigorating and stimulating learning environment in which children, adults and families can discover and appreciate the profound cultural traditions of Africa.
This video is from a multimedia performance by Ayo Ngozi at National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, on May 31, 2008. The performance was in conjunction with El Anatsui’s “Gawu” exhibition, featuring Ashley Brockington, Tosha Grantham, Takeyah Young (live human sculpture); Yoko K. (original music and sound design); Basel Action Network (video).
The National Museum of African Art has incorporated visual arts programming into its museum education to create an invigorating and stimulating learning environment in which children, adults and families can discover and appreciate the profound cultural traditions of Africa.
This video is called 70 and is from a multimedia performance by Ayo Ngozi at National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, on November 8, 2008. The performance is a celebration of the life of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, featuring Ayodamola Okunseinde, Hesihima James, Hambone Swamp Guinee, Torkwase Dyson, Ernesto Mercer, Tazima Davis, Holly Bass, Tierra Buggs, Samaa Claiborne, Melani N Douglass, Candace Mickens, Nakima Smith. This video is courtesy of Juju Films Productions.
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Backstage:
The National Museum of African Art has incorporated visual arts programming into its museum education to create an invigorating and stimulating learning environment in which children, adults and families can discover and appreciate the profound cultural traditions of Africa.
This video is from Award winning composer, playwright and pianist Tony M. Small. He performed original works from his Tales and Traditions series including It Takes a Village, and other original music that shows the rich connection and influence of African culture on America’s indigenous Tales and Traditions.
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For Black Music Month Howard University Dance Ensemble performed traditional and contemporary dance with a versatile exploration through the dance forms of African, modern contemporary and ballet.
As part of Women’s History Month and programming related to the Earth Matters exhibit Holly Bass presented Monument, a celebration honoring the strength and diversity of women in African and diaspora.
NMAFA’s dynamic international programming presented Ethiopian Music and Dance Group Fendika as part of its summer line up.
On August 8, 2013 NMAFA held its annual Community Day in conjunction with the Earth Matters exhibit, featuring a day filled with dance, music, art, film and food. Artists included Rennie Harris RHAW, The Chelsey Green Project and Cirquetacular.
On February 16, 2013 NMAFA presented in conjunction with Black History Month African Roots Global Reach: In Living Color. Featured performers included Maimouna Youssef, Farafina Kan, and Sound of the City.
NMAfA’s continued endeavor to explore and present dynamic works from African and its disapora is pleased to host Haitian-American violinist and composer Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) and the world premiere of a new solo violin & electronics work inspired by Nigerian artist Ousmane Sow’s powerful sculpture “Toussaint Louverture and the old slave.” Proving that he’s “about as omnivorous as a contemporary artist gets” (New York Times), DBR is perhaps the only composer who has collaborated and performed with Philip Glass, Cassandra Wilson, Bill T. Jones, and Lady Gaga. DBR will be joined by legendary emcee, producer, actor and director and member of the hip-hop group Brand Nubian Lord Jamar in creating a powerful, genre-bending, contemporary performance. In conjunction with Black History Month.
The National Museum of African Art presented musician and visual Artist Vernon Reid (of Living Colour and Black Rock Coalition) performing Artificial Afrika in celebration of Black Music Month on Saturday, June 25. A Q&A session led by DJ Adrian Loving took place afterward. Please enjoy the entire show.
Holly Bass Performance Projects interprets Yinka Shonibare’s work through their new performance piece African Futures: DC. Dancers Andile Ndlovu from South Africa and Ayano Kimura from Japan, under the artistic guidance of Septime Weber of the Washington Ballet. Also perfrom a short interprestive piece in response to Shonibare’s Odile and Odette.
A collaboration with the Sultanate of Oman and the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center. The troupe hails from Ja’alan Bani Bu Ali an oasis market town in Oman. Traditional Omani music has a long legacy, where the indigenous Arab Islamic culture has combined with external influences from Oman’s trading partners in East Africa and Asia. They are recognized not only for the skill of their musicians and the quality of their singing, but also for the energy and exuberance that they bring to each performance.
