Head of a Yoruba man at The British Museum, London

myminifactory

Widespread ignorance about Africa made it easier for Europeans to spread ideas that Africans were inferior. This beautiful item from the Benin and Yoruba kingdoms shows that superb craftsmanship and metalworking existed before European intervention. Over 900 bronze busts sit in museums across Europe and America, taken during a British punitive expedition that burned and looted the ancient city of Benin in 1897. Historical racism towards Africans is compounded by ignorance of Africa's cultural achievements and its people. But some of our most valued museum items are galleries that provide examples of African arts and material culture sophistication. Is it time to acknowledge and receive recognition for the richness of African cultural history? The slave trade damaged African societies and allowed European nations to deny their coherence, imposing European rule that contributed to assaults on African identities. From the early 1600s onwards, London merchants imported increasing amounts of gold and ivory from Africa, yet little was known about Africa or its people. Some knowledge came from Portuguese travellers' writings in the 1500s, but often these mixed truth with fantasy, replacing real knowledge with legends of fabulous cities and hidden gold mines. This led to a dismissal of African cultures as Africa became the principal source for slaves for the new world of the Americas. Ignorance fed racism, which was used to justify brutal exploitation. "It is strange to think that they who are considered the most learned and civilized people in the world would carry on a traffic of barbarous cruelty and injustice," wrote Ottobah Cugoano in his 1787 Narrative of the Enslavement of a Native of Africa. "Many have become so dissolute as to think slavery, robbery, and murder no crime." This object is part of the non-profit initiative "Scan The World." Introduced by MyMiniFactory, Scan The World is creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how to help.