tour 1 of 13
Africa '05
Africa '05
Africa
'05 was a series of major events
taking place across London to celebrate contemporary and past
cultures across the continent. Objects from or inspired by Africa
can be found throughout the British Museum's collections.
This tour, which was specially created for Africa '05,
presents a diverse selection of
these.
The oldest objects
in the tour are the stone chopping tools from Olduvai Gorge, made
1.8 million years ago, while the most recent are Khaled Ben
Slimane's vibrant ceramics. A statue commemorates Septimius
Severus, the first African emperor of Rome, and the sphinx depicts
Taharqo, a Sudanese ruler of ancient Egypt. The treasure from the
Salcombe Cannon site indicates flourishing trade between North
Africa and Europe in the sixteenth century. The blue glass tea bowl
and the Asante-style drum help to tell the important story of
slavery.
The objects
included highlight the influence and importance of Africa in world
history and culture. Each entry is accompanied by a personal
response from a Londoner of African or Caribbean
origin.