One of three amazing museums in the Ibirapuera Park.
The Afro – Brazilian Museum is perhaps one of the first contemporary museums worldwide, which aims to obliterate racial differences, while reserving a prominent place for African culture.
Owned by the São Paulo State Secretariat for Culture and managed by Associação Museu Afro Brasil - Organização Social de Cultura (Museu Afro-Brasil Association - Social Organization for Culture), the museum boasts over 6,000 works highlighting the pivotal role that African culture and people played in shaping Brazilian culture, with a main focus on heritage and identity in the sense given to the terms today. At the same time, the Afro-Brazilian Museum celebrates the art and accomplishments of the African people and Afro-Brazilians.
The collection is considered to be the largest Afro-American expo across the two American continents including sculptures, documents, engravings, ceramic works, paintings, contemporary art, jewelry, photography, textiles, various objects and reliefs.
More than 70% of the collection is featured in the long-term exhibition, focusing mainly on Brazil, a number of African countries, Cuba, Haiti, and the United States. If you do get the chance to visit the museum, stop by the Pavilion Padre Manuel da Nóbrega, where the exhibition is hosted. The 11,000 sqm building was designed by the famous Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and strategically built inside the central park of São Paulo, Ibirapuera Park.
Apart from this spectacular and eye-catching collection of works, the Afro-Brazilian Museum boasts a library of around 12,000 titles, which give voice to the African ancestors of the Brazilian people and culture.
The museum can be visited from Tuesday thru Sunday, between 10 am and 5 pm, extending to 6 pm. And, surprise – each last Tuesday of the month, the museum is open until 9 pm. It is closed on Christmas (December 24th and 25th) and the New Year (December 31st and January 1st).
The cost of a ticket is R$6.00. Students benefit from 50% rebate (provided that they show a current ID) – R$3.00. Saturday free!
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