Five Ways to Highlight African, African American History in February

PHILADELPHIA – Throughout February, the Penn Museum will celebrate African and African American history through a variety of activities and programs.

Saturday, Feb. 8, 11:00 am: Exploring Ancient Egypt/Second Saturdays
Discover what life was like in Ancient Egypt with a family-friendly tour, design-your-own cartouche, scavenger hunt, a “games station,” and write-your-name in hieroglyphs. In addition, at 2:30 pm, there is a free film screening of the Science Channel’s documentary Lost Kingdom of the Black Pharaohs in Harrison Auditorium. Advance registration is suggested.

Saturday, Feb. 15, 10:00 am: CultureFest! African & Diasporic Cultures
Hosted in partnership with Artvolution, the Penn Museum brings contemporary and traditional practices across Africa and the African Diaspora together for an all-day, family-friendly festival. Experience the cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora through art-making, mask-making, live musical and dance performances, drumming, interactive dance workshops, a storytelling circle, workshops for all ages, and an African-inspired marketplace. CultureFest! is sponsored by NBC 10 | T 62.

Each day throughout February, 1:00 pm: Daily Dig
The Daily Dig is a 15-minute pop-up talk that encourages Museum guests to “dig a little deeper” into one artifact. Every day in February, to celebrate Black History Month, the Daily Dig will focus on a different object in the Africa or Egypt Galleries. Included with Museum admission.

Every weekend, the Penn Museum hosts Global Guides Tours of its new Africa Galleries. Global Guides are immigrants from Africa who share their own firsthand knowledge to lead one-of-a-kind tours with a personal touch. Included with admission, Global Guides Tours are Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 pm.

Interactive, private tours of the Africa Galleries are available on Sunday, Feb. 16 at noon or Thursday, Feb. 20 at 6:00 pm: Trace the paths of key objects—from their African makers to the Museum—with a Graduate Guide who will explain how this innovative approach advances ongoing conversations about museum collections acquired in colonial contexts. $15 per person includes a private tour and admission to the Penn Museum for the entire day.

As part of its ongoing Building Transformation project, the Penn Museum has just unveiled more than 10,000 square feet of reimagined spaces, including its new Sphinx Gallery; a suite of Africa Galleries; a Mexico and Central America Gallery; the historic Harrison Auditorium; and its stunning new Main Entrance.