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Sahel: Art and Empires on the Shores of the Sahara

In the Sahel, a vast region south of the Sahara, a series of medieval empires fueled a global network of trade and cultural exchange.

An ornate gold pectoral
A black-and-white photo of a man shrouded in all-white cloth

Visualizing a Sahelian Past

How art from the Sahel brings the region’s underappreciated past to life.
By Alisa LaGamma and Hakimah Abdul-Fattah Sep 10, 2020
A black and white photo of two men in front of a mud building

Building on Architectural Traditions of the Sahel

Renowned architect Francis Kéré and photographer James Morris reflect on the past, present, and future of Sahelian architecture.
By Francis Kéré and James Morris Jul 15, 2020
Five people smile and stand in front of an ivory wall with white text that reads:

Introducing New York to the Cultural Wealth of Medieval West Africa

Two recent fellows from Senegal reflect on their time at The Met conducting outreach for the exhibition Sahel.
By Oumy Mbaye and Mouhamet Traoré Jun 4, 2020
Senegalese singer Baaba Maal, in blue, performs an acoustic concert with Cheikh Ndiaye (left) at The Met.

Baaba Maal’s Songs of the Sahel

The world-renowned Senegalese singer carries the stories of the Sahel to The Met.
By Will Fenstermaker May 6, 2020

Storytelling and West African Cinema

Filmmakers Rahmatou Keïta and Fanta Nacro speak about their work’s relationship to narrative traditions of the Sahel.
By Yaëlle Biro, Rahmatou Keïta, and Fanta Régina Nacro Apr 22, 2020
Photograph of a balafon, a xylophone-like percussion instruments made of wood against a dark background.

How Griots Tell Legendary Epics through Stories and Songs in West Africa

In the western Sahel, legendary tales are shared and passed down through different forms of expression, but especially spoken word.
By Hakimah Abdul-Fattah Apr 20, 2020

A Tour of Sahel: Art and Empires on the Shores of the Sahara

See this landmark exhibition featuring the cultural achievements of various medieval empires in sub-Saharan Africa.

May 15, 2020

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A portrait of two men, one with his arm around the other's shoulders

Alice Neel: People Come First

Learn more about one of the 20th century’s most radical painters, a champion of social justice whose humanist principles inspired her life and art.
A wooden mask decorated with stone

Art of Native America: The Charles and Valerie Diker Collection

This landmark exhibition showcases more than 50 cultures across North America.

A New Look at Old Masters

Learn more about the vision behind the reinstallation of the European Paintings galleries.

Contemporary Artist Commissions

Hear from contemporary artists invited to create original works for The Met.

Related

Sahel: Art and Empires on the Shores of the Sahara
Exhibition

Explore the cultural capital of medieval empires in Sahel: Art and Empires on the Shores of the Sahara.

Senegalese singer Baaba Maal, in blue, performs an acoustic concert with Cheikh Ndiaye (left) at The Met.
Concerts

Watch highlights from Senegalese singer Baaba Maal’s acoustic concert at The Met.

Curating & Display

Learn about the new vision behind The Met’s Michael C. Rockefeller Wing.

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