African Legacies in Cambridge Museums

Service Description

Step inside Cambridge’s world-renowned museums for a thought-provoking journey into African collections and histories within the University. This guided walking tour is inspired by the groundbreaking African Collections Futures Report by Dr Eva Namusoke (2024), a landmark survey that examined over 350,000 artefacts of African origin and up to 200,000 natural history specimens held across the University of Cambridge’s museums, gardens, and libraries. The report’s findings reveal that the vast majority of these African objects entered Cambridge’s collections during the British colonial period — through scientific expeditions, purchases, gifts, commissions, and, in some cases, outright looting. On this tour, we will bring these histories to life, exploring how both African objects and African people — as artists, scientists, collectors, and workers — have shaped the collections and knowledge we see today. Along the way, you’ll encounter powerful stories of creativity, resilience, and cultural exchange, as well as critical conversations about colonial legacies and the future of these collections. This tour invites reflection on what it means for museums to hold such heritage, and how contemporary dialogue can lead to more inclusive and responsible ways of curating history. ---- This tour by Uncomfortable Cambridge has been developed with support of the Researching Legacies of the Past Project at the Cambridge Heritage Research Centre and the University of Cambridge Museums, ensuring a rich combination of academic research, museum expertise, and public engagement.