About 2686 BC – AD 395 Death and the afterlife held particular significance and meaning for the ancient Egyptians. Complex funeral preparations and rites ...

The diverse cultural life of Africa has been expressed through everyday objects and unique works of art since ancient times. The Museum’s collection of over ...

Ancient Nubia, the Nile Valley upstream of the First Cataract, now straddles the border between Egypt and Sudan. Rich and vibrant cultures developed in this ...

Large-scale sculpture was an important feature of the great temples and tombs of ancient Egypt and was believed to be imbued with powerful spiritual qualitie...

The British Museum acquired 11 wall-paintings from the tomb-chapel of a wealthy Egyptian official called Nebamun in the 1820s. Dating from about 1350 BC, the...

In collaboration with the Centre of African Studies, the Institute of English Studies and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London an...

The British Museum’s major Autumn exhibition, supported by BP, will present and explore ancient Egyptian beliefs about life after death. Journey through the ...

Find out about African history and identity through money, medals and stamps. This small display looks at the images of Africa presented on the coins, ba...

South Africa Landscape will highlight the rich diversity of plant life from South Africa’s Cape region – an internationally renowned biodiversity hotspot. ...

A debate at the British Museum BP Lecture Theatre Tickets: £5 Includes a ticket to Kew Gardens A high-profile panel debates the costs and advantag...

A lecture by Barrie Cook, British Museum During the 13th and 14th centuries, Western Europe revived gold coinage for the first time in half a millennium. ...

Claude Ardouin, British Museum, explores the unanswered questions the object elicits and explains how this magnificent brass head of a ruler is now recognise...

A gallery talk by Chris Spring, British Museum. Gallery talks last 45 minutes. They are given by Museum staff or guest speakers and are suitable for all leve...

Become an archaeologist for the day and use interactive scrapbook software to create your own diary. Use the green screen to transport yourself to Egypt and ...

Come and see how the ancient Egyptians made sure they arrived safely in the afterlife. Nodjmet, an ancient Egyptian noblewoman, will explain the spells and c...

Writer and broadcaster Jon Snow will chair a high profile panel discussion using the exhibition Kingdom of Ife: sculptures from West Africa as the starting p...

A gallery talk by Nancy Hynes, independent researcher. Gallery talks last 45 minutes. They are given by Museum staff or guest speakers and are suitable fo...

This major exhibition presents exquisite examples of brass, copper, stone and terracotta sculpture from West Africa. The Kingdom of Ife (pronounced ee-fay...

Half-term activities for families. Explore West African culture through music, storytelling, craftwork and games. Activities will vary throughout the week.

Listen to leading artists discuss how their work has been influenced by African culture and how it engages with the traditions of African art history.

Adetutu, a beautiful young priestess, is selected to carry the sacred calabash at the Osun Osogbo festival. The calabash can only be carried by a virgin, and...

A gallery talk by Nicholas Badcott, British Museum. Gallery talks last 45 minutes. They are given by Museum staff or guest speakers and are suitable for a...

A gallery talk by Chris Spring, British Museum. Gallery talks last 45 minutes. They are given by Museum staff or guest speakers and are suitable for all l...

Enjoy an afternoon highlighting the movement of Yoruba culture, religion and mythology to the African Diaspora. The day includes film, storytelling and perfo...

This documentary retraces the life of photographer Pierre Verger, a French ethnographer who devoted his life to the study of the reciprocal cultural influenc...

A panel discussion with speakers Luke Syson, National Gallery, and John Picton, formerly SOAS, discuss the projection of power and artistic patronage as seen...

A rare chance to discover the wonders of Adire blue-and-white textiles, characteristic of the Yoruba people of Nigeria. Each session, led by Helen Wolfe, Bri...

Wole Soyinka, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, discusses his work and his influences, and reflects on the state of Africa today.

As Senegal celebrates 50 years of independence, watch one of the most ambitious films by Sembène, the father of African film. Ceddo uses the story of a princ...

Artist, musician and storyteller Tony Ojo Ogogo shares the stories behind several traditional West African crafts. Each session involves storytelling, demons...

A free family digital workshop. Create an animation of yourself being mummified. Sessions last 135 minutes. Recommended for ages 7+ Session 1: 11:00-13:15...

Documentary film about the explosive popularity of Nigeria’s movie industry. Unfazed by low budgets, enterprising filmmakers create a brash, inventive and wi...

In 1982 Nigerian composer and Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti discussed his life and work, and performed some of his songs for this film (53 minutes). Followed...

Ife art, culture, wealth and trade in West Africa 1100–1600. Henry John Drewal, University of Wisconsin-Madison, explores aspects of the magnificent artis...

A documentary with guest speaker director Jane Thorburn. For the Kalabari people of the Niger Delta, Alagba is the most important of a cycle of masquerade...