Weniger Dialog? Fantastische Literatur in zynischen Zeiten
Lesung und Gespräch mit Tendai Huchu und musikalischer Umrahmung ... more
Startseite > Wo ist Afrika?
Wo ist Afrika? provides an insight into the Linden Museum’s Africa collections.
The exhibition was curated in 2019 by Dr. Sandra Ferracuti with the intention of exploring the complex concept of “African culture” historically, aesthetically and critically. The exhibition uses selected examples to show how collections have been created, how they have evolved, and how they have been presented differently throughout history.
Stories of collecting
Drawing on a variety of thematic and historical perspectives, the exhibition addresses provenance research of colonial-era objects as well as contemporary culture and art production in Africa. How were ethnographic collections appropriated during the colonial period? Where did the objects come from, who were their “collectors,” and how were African cultural products presented in former exhibitions? Which themes and questions have become more important in recent years? How do we talk about artifacts that are not supposed to be seen in public? Or those that have been violently looted and plundered?
Cultural practice: connections and relationships
A strong focus of the exhibition is to show Africa in all its interconnections, connections and relationships – far beyond the continent – and how these relationships are expressed in cultural practices. Beauty care, table manners, memory techniques, court ceremonies, important objects for diplomatic relations, mask dances – these and many other themes are addressed through selected objects. Many of the objects on display come from Cameroon, the Congo Basin, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Tanzania, and were collected during the “race for Africa” at the end of the 19. and at the beginning of the 20th century.
At the same time, the exhibition celebrates contemporary African culture-the global interconnectedness of everyday urban life, the transcontinental expertise and mobility of sculptors and glassmakers, the cultural diversity of modern African art. Wo ist Afrika? explores the history and stories inscribed in the objects and what they (can) stand for today.
Collaboration and constant change
Wo ist Afrika? takes a process-oriented approach that challenges the sole interpretive authority of the museum, presents a multitude of parallel narratives, and raises important questions about our social coexistence today. The exhibition was developed in collaboration with the Advisory Board for the Representation of Africa Collections (ABRAC) as well as cultural practitioners and artists in Africa and the diaspora and offers space for diverse perspectives, including specially commissioned artworks.
The exhibition is constantly being modified by the Africa Department and its cooperation partners. It also conveys more recent developments such as current research findings, restitution processes and collaborative projects.
Ayeeyo: Grandma / Ogbuoja: The Story of a Flute Player
Interventions by Kausar Qasim and Sett Ofili
The depot of the Linden-Museum Stuttgart is not only a place of storage, but also a potential space for stories, memories and creative experiences. Two members of the Black Community in Stuttgart visited the depot, explored the Africa collection and were inspired to intervene in the permanent exhibition Wo ist Afrika? Kausar Qasim explores her family history in Somalia and links it to objects such as mortars and pestles, which become symbols of care. Sett Ofili tells the story of a flute player in a sound installation that takes the listener on a multi-layered journey. These personal and artistic contributions show the variety of perspectives that can arise from a sensitive approach to museum collections.
Lesung und Gespräch mit Tendai Huchu und musikalischer Umrahmung ... more
Vortrag von Temidayo Oyeniran, Linden-Museum Stuttgart ... more
Vortrag von Dr* Joh Sarre, Freiburg ... more
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YouTube Video von externer Quelle laden.
Dr. Sandra Ferracuti, curator of the exhibition, presents a sculpture by the Mozambican artist Samson Makamo. For her, the personal connections she shares with Makamo are particularly important and make this object so meaningful to her.
Externer Link: YoutubeYouTube Video von externer Quelle laden.
Royal regalia of the Nso' were on display between 2019 and 2023. They had been looted in Cameroon in 1902 and shortly thereafter became part of the Linden-Museum's collection. The reigning Fon of the Nso', Sehm Mbinglo I, requested that the royal insignia be removed from the exhibition and returned. In the video, his spokesperson, Sylvie Njobati, explains the significance of this cultural heritage and why it should not be exhibited from the Nso' point of view. In January 2024, Petra Olschowski, Minister for Science, Research and the Arts of the State of Baden-Württemberg, announced the restitution of the reclaimed 28 regalia.
Externer Link: YoutubeThe Collection online offers you open virtual access to the holdings of the Linden-Museum Stuttgart. Here you will find detailed information, interesting stories and background information on objects.
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