Asante: Kingdom of Gold (Exhibition)
Dates
- Existence: October 16, 1984 - March 17, 1985
Summary
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.
Description
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, Ph.D.
* Lecture: "Rise of the Asante Empire" with Albert Adu Boahen, Ph.D. from the University of Ghana
* Lecture: "Contemporary Position of the Asante in Ghana" by Kwame Arhin, Ph.D. 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, Ph.D. 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.
REFERENCES
(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 and 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.
Places
-
New York (N.Y.)
- Note: AMNH: Section 3, Floor 3
Topics
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Asante: Kingdom of Gold opening ceremony photographic slides
Slides from the opening ceremony for the temporary exhibition Asante: Kingdom of Gold, held at the American Museum of Natural History, October 14, 1984. Shows procession on Central Park West from West 72 Street to West 79 Street. King Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, courtiers, Asante musicians, Mayor Ed Koch and Thomas Nicholson shown participating in the ceremony. Also includes press slides of the artifacts displayed.
Asante: Kingdom of Gold photographic slides
Studio photographs of the artifacts displayed for the temporary exhibition, Asante: Kingdom of Gold, held at the American Museum of Natural History, 1984. Also includes photographs from the opening ceremony.