Museo Casa de África

   

     This museum is dedicated to displaying African routes, history, and, culture. This museum exhibits and shows various elements from different African nations. It shares the stories of African slaves brought to Cuba by the Spanish. The slave trade affected Africans significantly while bringing many of them to the Americas and the Caribbean. Making connections to Cubans and Cuban history. This museum is located in Old Havana and is in the center of the city. The address is at Calle Obrapía # 157 e/ Mercaderes y San Ignacio. First opening on January 6, 1986. The original purpose of the building was as a snuff shop, formerly the ground floor. Snuff was a popular tobacco product of the time. The Caribbean, Central America, and South America were heavily associated with tobacco industry. The museum has different sections for visitors to see various African artifacts. The displayed items are specific to the African country they represent. There are some themes of witchcraft, superstition, and theology. Mystical beliefs have been an influence in African culture and history. Some of the represented deities are Ireme, Bantu, and Yoruba; deriving from Afro-Cuban religions. The museum displays different African countries along with associated eras, with exhibits of slave history. It is open from Tuesdays through Saturdays 9am to 5pm and and on Sundays 9am to 1pm.  Visitors can attend guided tours or go to the Africa region library for a more informative experience. Those looking for fun can see a show with African gods. It has received donations from some notable Cubans such as historian Fernando Ortiz and former national leader Fidel Castro. Ortiz made significant contributions to the witchcraft section of the museum, being a major feature there. He also gave the museum items connected to slave history and African cultural masks. Castro delivered items he found along his journeys in Africa. Education was very important to Castro. Investing and donating to the museum, furthers his education agenda and campaign. Education of the Cuban people was one of Castro’s major campaigning points. Donations likes these are what made the museum such an amazing place to visit. There are over two thousand items held at Museo de Casa de África, including some valuables such as ivory objects and wooden carvings. This is definitely a worthwhile place to visit. There is so much valuable information here to be learned about Africa, a place less taught about or represented. This museum gives the Cuban people a very thorough and diverse exposure to the continent of Africa. Considering Castro’s and Cuba’s aims for improved education, I would assume the exhibits at the Mueso de Casa de África to be very informative. As someone who doesn’t know much about Africa it was interesting to read about the museum, learning more about African culture. There is wide diversity in African history and culture, this museum does a great job of displaying this through objects, activities, and exhibits.

Questions:

Should there be more continent or region dedicated museums?

Would you visit this museum if it were in your local area?

References:

https://www.lahabana.com/guide/casa-museo-de-africa/

https://www.tripcuba.org/casa-de-africa-house-museum-havana

https://www.cubantravelagency.org/museo-casa-de-africa-havana

http://www.portalcuba.cu/cultura/2020-11-05/casa-de-africa-viaje-por-el-legado-de-los-ancestros/53674