The hollowed-out and dried skins of calabashes or gourds (pumpkin-like plants) were widely used as containers or to make bowls and bottles in parts of Africa, they were also often richly decorated. This example from Nigeria is 287 mm high.
© Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives
Accession reference: Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives, E4459
Themes
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Africa before Transatlantic Enslavement
The history of Africa and African people does not begin nor end with transatlantic slavery. Understand what Africa was like and what the continent lost as a result of the trade.
Background Reading
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The Lost Libraries Of Timbuktu
Until recently, many commentators on Africa claimed that African societies had no tradition of writing. With the rediscovery of ancient manuscript collections, some dating back to the 8th century AD, this perception is changing.
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Introduction To Various African Kingdoms