UCSB Library Special Collections (Third Floor)September 2014 - January 2015
Exhibition is open during Special Collections' hours of operation.
When you think of Africa, what images come to mind? The Pyramids? Nelson Mandela? Maasai warriors? The Sahara Desert? Africa is a vast continent, with a rich array of cultures, languages, religions, geography, and history. UCSB Special Collections houses a wide range of rare, valuable, and unique items that explore this diversity. The Images of Africa exhibition draws upon research materials in Special Collections, by and about Africans over the past 400 years. Special Collections has long taken a global view in building its research collections whose materials support UCSB students, faculty, and research programs, as well as the scholarly community.
A listening kiosk with African music is installed as part of Images of Africa and features the CD Opika Pende, with 100 never-before-reissued 78 RPM recordings from 1909 to the 1960s.
The exhibition also contains items from the collection of David C. Tambo. David Tambo is the retired Head of Special Collections, who in his earlier days spent several years in Nigeria, first as a Peace Corps volunteer (1968-1970) and then doing dissertation-related field research (1975-1976).
Images of Africa is curated by David Tambo and Edward Fields, Special Collections staff member.
On November 6th, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm there will be a public reception with live DJ in the Library's Mary Cheadle Room (3rd Floor). Jon Ward will be spinning a selection of African 78s. Wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and African themed snacks will be served.
