Boganda National Museum

The Musée National Barthélemy Boganda in Bangui holds the country's ethnographic and archaeological collections: musical instruments, masks, tools, weapons and material from the various peoples of CAR, along with finds from the megalithic sites in the west. It is named for the country's first leader. The collection is significant and the building it is housed in has had a difficult time of it. It is the only museum of its kind in the country, and what it holds has no other home.

History

The museum was founded in 1964 and opened in 1966, named after Barthélemy Boganda, the country's first prime minister. After the building was ransacked in 2013-14, most of its 3500 objects were packed into large wooden crates inside it to protect them (Wikipedia, Boganda National Museum).

What to look for

• The ethnographic collection - material from the peoples of the country.
• The musical instruments - the assembled traditional instruments.
• The megalith finds - material from the western stone sites.
• The masks and tools - the working and ceremonial objects held.

When to go

December to February is the driest window. The museum has been closed to the public since 2013-14, so check before going. Mornings are the best bet.

Before you go

The museum has been closed to the public since 2013-14, when the building was ransacked; most of its 3,500 objects remain on site, packed in wooden crates. Display and labelling are limited and conditions in the building are poor. The collection deserves better than it has.

Nearby

Bangui is around it, and the Ubangi is south.

Key facts