Musée africain de Namur, African museum in Namur, Belgium

The museum in Namur holds a collection focused on Central African objects, with strong emphasis on items from Congo and surrounding areas. The exhibits include weapons, furniture, musical instruments, and household goods that document different aspects of daily life in these regions.

The institution was founded in 1912 to collect and preserve objects from African regions. Following damage sustained during the World Wars, it relocated and reopened in new premises in 1951.

The collection shows Central African craftsmanship through everyday objects, musical instruments, and traditional weapons that reflect how people once lived. These pieces reveal the knowledge and skills passed down through generations in the regions where they were made.

The museum reopened to the public on 19 April 2025 after renovation and enlargement works that began in 2019, and now has a lift among its new fittings. It occupies the guardhouse of the former Léopold barracks in the Casernes district, on the other side of the Meuse from the historic centre. The library stays accessible and exhibitions, lectures and events are still organised.

The research library holds around 20,000 volumes covering African subjects including geography, zoology, geology, ethnography, and economics of the continent. This substantial collection makes the institution a valuable resource for anyone seeking in-depth knowledge about Africa.