Asante: Kingdom of Gold (Exhibition)

Exist Dates

1984 October 16 - 1985 March 17

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract

Exhibition. Opened October 16, 1984 and closed March 17, 1985. Located in Section 3, Floor 3 in Gallery 3 at the American Museum of Natural History. Asante: Kingdom of Gold, curated by Enid Schildkrout and Malcolm McLeod, featured a collection of about 800 artifacts of the Asante people of Ghana from the British Museum's Museum of Mankind.

Summary

Asante: Kingdom of Gold featured a collection of about 800 artifacts of the Asante people of Ghana from the British Museum's Museum of Mankind. The exhibition came to the American Museum of Natural History from the British Museum's Museum of Mankind and was originally curated by Malcom McLeod, and then by Enid Schildkrout, curator of Anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History (1, p. 1). The exhibition, designed by Michael Blakeslee of the Museum's Exhibition Department, was constructed around a recreated royal courtyard meant to show the atmosphere of an Asante village on a festival day (2). Major funding for the exhibition and related programming was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research (3, p. 2).

A scientific symposium, public lectures, and a royal Asante procession up Central Park West from 72nd Street to the Museum entrance on 79th Street with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Opoku Ware II and New York mayor Ed Koch, (3, p. 2; 4; 5, p. 4) were among the special events associated with the exhibit.

Highlights (1; 2):

*Village tour

*Replica of the Asantehene's palace façade

*Carved furniture, including stools, which were meant to represent the spiritual state of their owners

*Gold weights cast in bronze

*Drum made in Virginia by enslaved person from the Gold Coast

*Multi-colored royal umbrellas used on state occasions

*Silk and cotton textiles

*Gold jewelry

*Gold sword ornament cast in image of a porcupine

*Historic photographs from pre-colonial period and British conquest

Related programs organized by the Museum's Department of Education included (5; 6):

*Symposium: "Asante and its Neighbors: Relations with the Exterior"

*Lecture: "Recreating the Kingdom of Asante" with Malcolm McLeod

*Lecture: "Rise of the Asante Empire" with Albert Adu Boahen from the University of Ghana

*Lecture: "Contemporary Position of the Asante in Ghana" by Kwame Arhin of the University of Ghana

*Lecture: "The Golden Jubilee of the Asante Confederacy" by A.S.Y. Andoh, honorary attache to the Asantehene (king) and former professor at the University of Ghana

*Lecture: "The Feminine Eye in Kumase: Asante Women and their Arts" by Sylvia Ardyn Boone of Yale University

*Music and dance program: "Asante Durbar" performed by Dinizulu and His Africa Dancers, Drummers and Singers

This is a condensed summary of the exhibition. For additional information, see Sources and/or Related Resources.

Sources

(1) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. "Asante People and Their Kingdom are Focus of Exhibition 'Asante: Kingdom of Gold.'" August 30, 1984. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library.

(2) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. "Fact Sheet: 'Asante: Kingdom of Gold'." August 31, 1984. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library. 

(3) American Museum of Natural History. Annual Report. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1984-1985. 

(4) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. "West African King Will Arrive in U.S. to Open Exhibition, 'Asante: Kingdom of Gold'; Thousands Expected at Royal Procession'.'" August 31, 1984. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library. 

(5) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. "Museum Programs & Exhibitions, October 1984.'" September 5, 1984. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library.

(6) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. "Processions, Lectures, Symposia, Music and Dance Highlight 'Asante: Kingdom of Gold'.'" August 31, 1984. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library.

For more information on this exhibition see:

"African King Comes to New York." Black American (New York, NY), October 18, 1984.

"'Asante: Kingdom of Gold' gives rich lesson in culture and history." Tribune (New York, NY), October 16, 1984.

"Gold Work by Asante Gleams in Tribal Show." New York Times, October 16, 1984.

Gordon, Donna. "N.Y.'s American Museum of Natural History Exhibit to Reveal Asante West African Gold Coast Culture." National Jeweler (August 16, 1984).

Finston, Mark. "King, shield by umbrella, views 'Asante: Kingdom of Gold' exhibit." Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), October 12, 1984.

Levin, Kim. "New York's Tribal Revival: Rethinking the ideals of modern art." Village Voice (New York, NY), October 30, 1984.

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Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

American Museum of Natural History. Department of Anthropology.
Related department (1)

American Museum of Natural History. Department of Education.
Organized related lectures (5; 6)

American Museum of Natural History. Department of Exhibition.
Designed exhibition

American Museum of Natural History. Gallery 3.
Location of exhibition 1984 October 16 – 1985 March 17 (1)

Blakeslee, Michael
Designed exhibition; Department of Exhibition

McLeod, M. D. (Malcolm D.)
Original curator of exhibition at British Museum's Museum of Mankind (3, p. 6-9)

Museum of Mankind
Institutional partner, exhibition originated at Museum of Mankind (3, p. 6-9)

National Endowment for the Humanities
Funded exhibition and related programs (3, p. 2)

Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, King of the Ashanti, 1919-1999
Presided over opening of exhibition; Asantehene (1)

Schildkrout, Enid
Curator of exhibition at American Museum of Natural History; Curator in African Ethnology in the Department of Anthropology (3, p. 10)

Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research
Funded exhibition and related programs (3, p. 2)

Related Resources

American Museum of Natural History. Annual Report. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1984-1985

American Museum of Natural History annual reports, 1902-2001.
"Annual Report Department of Anthropology July 1, 1981 – June 30, 1981." [1981]; "Annual Report Department of Anthropology July 1, 1982 – June 30, 1983." [1983]; "Annual Report Department of Anthropology July 1, 1983 – June 30, 1984." [1984]. "Annual Report Department of Anthropology July 1, 1984 – June 30, 1985." [1985].

American Museum of Natural History photographic drawers
Repository: AMNH Special Collections [Black and white and color contact sheets and photo prints of exhibition on view and related events]

American Museum of Natural History press releases, 1933-1990s.
"Asante People and Their Kingdom are Focus of Exhibition 'Asante: Kingdom of Gold.'" August 30, 1984.; "Fact Sheet: 'Asante: Kingdom of Gold'.'" August 31, 1984.; "West African King Will Arrive in U.S. to Open Exhibition, 'Asante: Kingdom of Gold'; Thousands Expected at Royal Procession'.'" August 31, 1984.; "West African King Will Arrive in U.S. to Open Exhibition, 'Asante: Kingdom of Gold'; Thousands Expected at Royal Procession." September 20, 1984.; "Processions, Lectures, Symposia, Music and Dance Highlight 'Asante: Kingdom of Gold'.'" August 31, 1984. "Museum Programs & Exhibitions, October 1984.'" September 5, 1984.; "Asante Procession: Traffic Advisory." October 9, 1984.; "African Crafts, Music and Continuing Traditions at American Museum on Four November Weekends.'" October 25, 1984.; "Media Advisory: 'Asante: Kingdom of Gold' Events and Photo Opportunities." September 24, 1984.; "Museum Programs & Exhibitions, November 1984." October 12, 1984.; "Museum Programs & Exhibitions, January 1985." December 3, 1984.; "Museum Programs & Exhibitions, February 1985." January 2, 1985.; "Museum Programs & Exhibitions, Six Month Calendar, January-June 1985." January 10, 1985.; "Museum Programs & Exhibitions, Six Month Calendar, March 1985." February 1, 1985.

American Museum of Natural History Special Collections vertical files
Repository: AMNH Special Collections [News articles, press releases, exhibition planning materials, photo prints with captions]

subjectOf

Asante: Kingdom of Gold photographic slides, 1984. American Museum of Natural History Library Special Collections.

subjectOf

Asante: Kingdom of Gold opening ceremony photographic slides, 1984. American Museum of Natural History Library Special Collections.

Natural history
McLeod, Malcolm, D. "The Golden Ax of Asante." (October 1984)

Rotunda
"Asante: Kingdom of Gold." (October 1984); Sawicz, Barbara. "Figures of Speech and Gold—or--'I am Not a Mudfish.'" (March 1985)

subjectOf

The Golden stool : studies of the Asante center and periphery / edited by Enid Schildkrout, assisted by Carol Gelber.
Date of resource: 1987

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