The African Collection celebrates extensive cultural traditions and artistic expression through a range of media such as woodcarving, metalwork, jewellery, pottery, weaving, basketry, textiles and fashion, paintings and works on paper, alongside domestic and religious objects. The collection also contains archival materials, with photographs providing rich research material and visual representations of the cultural heritage of the region.

History

Artist John Danford, who worked with the British Council in Nigeria and Sierra Leone, collected the core of the collection between 1943 and 1957. Initially loaned to the University of Birmingham's Centre for West African Studies in 1965, it was purchased in 1975 and has since expanded through gifts, bequests, and loans from various donors.

Initially named the Danford Collection of West African Art and Artefacts, the name was changed to the African Collection in response to existing colonial narratives around the collection.

This work is ongoing, with artist and community-driven project Africanize facilitating further dialogue and interpretations of objects and artworks within the collection.

Objects

The collection comprises objects of diverse materials and mediums, including:

Woodcarving
Metalwork
Jewellery
Pottery
Weaving
Basketry
Textiles and fashion
Paintings and works on paper
Domestic and religious objects
Archive materials and photography

Many objects were acquired in what are now Nigeria and Ghana. Communities associated with the collection include Yorùbá, Hausa and Asante, with notable artists such as George Bandele Areogun (1908/10 – 1995); Moshood Olusomo Bámigbóyè (ca. 1885–1975); H I Erhabor (1898 – unknown) and Thomas Onajeje Odulate (ca. 1900 – 1952).

You’ll also find works by Nigerian modernist artists. Artists like Odinigwe Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu (better known as Ben Enwonwu), Yusuf Adebayo Grillo (1934 – 2021) and Christopher Uchefuna (‘Uche’) Okeke (1933 – 2016) revolutionised modern art in Nigeria in the mid-20th century, leading up to and following independence from British colonial rule in 1960.

Other artists include:

Lamidi Olonade Fakeye (1928 – 2009)
Clara Etso Ugbodaga-Ngu (1928 – 2003)
Demas Nwoko (b. 1935)
Felix Aganmwonyi Idubor (1928 - 1991)
Justus D Akeredolu (1915 - 1984)
Asiru Olatunde (1918–1993)

The collection has strong associations with notable mid-20th century workshops and art schools in Nigeria, such as Abuja Pottery Training Centre, Oye-Ekiti Christian Art Workshop and Nigeria College of Arts, Science and Technology in Zaria.

On Display

Sculpture from the collection is listed on ArtUK, and if you want to see something specific you can get in touch.

You can visit Largely in your hands: making and shaping a university to explore the Africanize project and a key artwork from the collection, Yusuf Adebayo Grillo’s Musicians in Procession.

Bust of an Oba (detail), David Omoregie, mid-20th century, ebony
Various goldweights, Asante, 19th century, brass
Yoruba divination bowl ('Apoti Ifa'), George Bandele Areogun (1908/10-1995), mid-20th century, wood