The Africa Collection and Socialist Anticolonial Struggle in Náprstek Museum Exhibitions, 1948–1989

Abstract

This paper focuses on exhibitions of African culture at the Náprstek Museum between 1948 and 1989. During this decolonisation period, Czechoslovakia maintained strong ties with Africa. This fact had a significant impact on the country’s cultural sphere, inspiring numerous projects related to African themes. The Náprstek Museum in Prague was a unique institution within Czechoslovakia. It had all the prerequisites to serve as a showcase of the communist regime, demonstrating its relationship with the non-European world. This study examines exhibitions held from 1948 to 1989 in the context of the socialist approach to decolonisation—specifically, the extent to which the exhibitions dedicated to Africa were used as a tool for presenting official political positions. It also explores how African art was interpreted within the contemporary context and how it was presented to the Czechoslovak public. The main part of the research is based on previously unpublished archival materials from the Náprstek Museum.

Alternate abstract:

Straipsnyje apžvelgiamos 1948–1989 m. Náprsteko muziejuje surengtos Afrikos kultūros parodos, kurios pristatomos Čekoslovakijos socialistinio požiūrio į dekolonizaciją kontekste. Muziejus buvo tapęs platforma skleisti antikolonijinius ir prosocialistinius naratyvus, atspindinčius šalies pastangas daryti poveikį naujai dekolonizuotoms valstybėms Šaltojo karo metais. Šių parodų etnografiniai eksponatai dažnai perteikdavo politines žinutes, naudojant Afrikos meno ir kultūros pristatymą buvo sie kiama stiprinti solidarumą ir pabrėžti Čekoslovakijos pramonės ir kultūros modernumą. Remiantis archyvine medžiaga, straipsnyje analizuojama, kaip šios parodos tarnavo visuomenės suvokimui formuoti ir režimo užsienio bei vidaus politikai remti.