There's no better way to celebrate Black History Month than to go to the source. Massive in scope and rich in detail and artifacts, this exhibit explores African art and culture, wildlife and ecology, history and society. An impressive gathering of artifacts is complemented by a host of interactive exhibits and multimedia displays, with maps, models, videos, audio and written materials.
Exhibits show the importance of hospitality, how people dress for the occasion and what they eat.
A display case contains a kora, a stringed instrument, and an accompanying video shows a man playing one. Exhibits on the Rift illustrate how it was created by shifting continental plates, and offers a look at how the continent might look 30 million years from now. Critical conservation issues are explored, including the threats to land and wildlife like gorillas and rhinos. Surrounded by darkness, with only a shaft of light coming from above, the visitor hears recordings of first-hand accounts of people who crossed over the ocean and into slavery. Other exhibits in this area show posters for missing slaves and take the visitor to a slave auction.