Visit London Blog » benin http://blog.visitlondon.com Enjoy the very best of London Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:43:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Togo in London: African Worlds Gallery at the Horniman Museum http://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/01/togo-in-london-african-worlds-gallery-at-the-horniman-museum/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/01/togo-in-london-african-worlds-gallery-at-the-horniman-museum/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:00:55 +0000 Jenny http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=24829 Drum with membrane, red textile and bells at either end. Part of set with beater Wooden female Ho Ho figure (one of twin set), wearing blue dress 'Hare' green lipstick in green and gold plastic container Bottle of perfume called Bint El Sudan Gourd rattle with blue and yellow plastic beads Anyu soap in pink box

Where can you find something in London which represents the small West African Nation of Togo? The answer is in Forest Hill. More specifically, in the African Worlds Gallery of the Horniman Museum and Gardens, a  treasure trove of objects collected from across Africa.

We’ve been to the Horniman before on our World in London journey, in fact, we’ve previously featured the very Vooduon altar where the objects from Togo can be found.

Nestled among the pieces in the Mami Wata altar from Benin, are a few seemingly random objects from neighbouring Togo. Not much is known about these objects, which were acquired during a field trip in 1998. They include a glass perfume bottle, a green lipstick (!), a rattle, a drum and wooden figures.

All these objects are on display at the museum and can be seen on the Mami Wata altar, apart from the perfume bottle which is positioned out of view.

Do you know anywhere else where you can find Togoan culture in London?

]]> http://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/01/togo-in-london-african-worlds-gallery-at-the-horniman-museum/feed/ 0 Benin in London: Benin Vodoun Altar for Mami Wata http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/09/benin-in-london-benin-vodoun-altar-for-mami-wata/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/09/benin-in-london-benin-vodoun-altar-for-mami-wata/#comments Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:00:15 +0000 Jenny http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=22711  

This colourful altar from West African country Benin is on permanent display in the Horniman Museum’s African Worlds gallery.

Vodoun (voodoo) is widely practised in Benin and this altar is dedicated to the vodoun water spirit Mami Wata.

Where else in London can you find examples of Benin culture?

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