Museum of African Art, Belgrade

The Museum of African Art is the oldest institution in Southeast Europe dedicated exclusively to African Art. Located in the Senjak neighborhood of Belgrade, Serbia, the museum was founded in 1977 and is the only museum in Serbia dedicated to the arts and culture of Africa. The museum presents itself as an anti-colonial institution, meaning it opposes the control of one land by another and the exploitation of resources. This distinguishes it from other European collections of African Art. Its artifacts were not acquired through colonization, plunder, or exploitation but were instead received as gifts from African nations. == History ==

The museum was established by Veda Zagorac and Zdravko Pečar, a former Yugoslav ambassador to Ghana and Mali, who donated the collection they had assembled during their time in Africa. == Collection ==

The permanent exhibition highlights artifacts from West Africa, particularly from Ghana, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso Beyond masks, the museum includes cultural objects, musical instruments, and textiles used in African rituals, traditions, and everyday life. The collection contains many important and historically significant pieces from the regions that Zdravko Pečar visited during his diplomatic service. ==Anti-Colonial Approach ==

The institution identifies as an anti-colonial institution, meaning it opposes the control of one land by another and exploitation of resources. This allows it to distinguish itself from many other European collections of African Art. Its artifacts were not acquired through colonization, plunder, or exploitation but were instead received as gifts from African nations, reflecting Yugoslavia’s diplomatic relationships and cultural cooperation with its African allies. This approach sets the collection apart from many other European holdings of African Art. == Significance ==

The museum of African Art is important because it promotes the study of African cultures while providing diversity and preserving objects of historical and spiritual significance. This contributes to education, research, and intercultural understanding. ==Gallery==

Музеј афричке уметности 36.jpg|Interior Музеј афричке уметности 43.jpg|Interior MAA Exhibition (1).tif|Permanent exhibition (1977) ==See also==