All the King’s Men: Status and Power in Africa

January 23, 2024 – January 25, 2025

Fly whisk with gold covered handle

Ornate tools of war and visually striking regalia are some of the objects on display that demonstrate how masculinity is emphasized in traditional African politics. The exhibit also features many objects linked to the history of colonization, when European powers displaced the traditional systems of governance, and their own ideas about masculinity were incorporated. The objects’ backstories chart the rise and fall of status symbols that are still relevant today as cultural heritage.