Global Africa

The Global Africa collection brings together works by artists, designers and performers of Global African descent, alongside works that represent Global Africans. Ranging from Carrie Mae Weems' legendary photography to a pair of Grace Wales Bonner 'Afrique' jeans, from Kehinde Wiley's decorative portrait of Melissa Thompson to Keith Khan's Trinidad carnival jab jab costumes, the array of objects in the collection originate from the continent and its global diasporas, including the Caribbean. Discover more about the collection through highlight objects, interviews with creatives, and news of upcoming exhibitions and events.

Search “Global Africa” in Explore the Collections

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Global Africa Collection at the V&A

Discover more about the history of the V&A's Global Africa Collection and our ongoing work to shape collecting policies and practice.

  1. Read

    Rediscovering the story of an Ethiopian manuscript at the V&A

    Was this Emperor Tewodros' personal devotional book?
  2. Read

    From culture to currency: glass beads and the transatlantic slave trade

    Objects of resistance, through which enslaved Africans and African Americans asserted their own identities, culture, and communities
  3. Read

    Africa fashion: cloth of a continent

    Discover more about African cloth types through our collections
  4. Watch

    Celebrating Black American history: Rahim Fortune's photography series Hardtack

    Discover the stories behind Rahim Fortune's photography series 'Hardtack'
  5. Read

    Althea McNish – an introduction

    Discover how Althea McNish's tropical textile designs changed the character of British Modernism
  6. Watch

    Fashion Unpicked: couture ensemble by Imane Ayissi

    Join Senior Curator Christine Checinska as she examines this striking fuchsia ensemble
  7. Watch

    Nigeria's first fashion designer: Shade Thomas-Fahm

    Meet iconic fashion designer Shade Thomas-Fahm

  8. Watch

    Whitney Houston's dress for the 1994 Grammy Awards

    Take a close-up look at the glittering dress that was worn by Whitney Houston at the Grammy Awards in 1994
  9. Visit

    V&A trail: Africa fashion 

    Follow this trail to discover African fashion and textiles across our collections
  10. Watch

    Magician of the desert: Alphadi

    Meet Alphadi – world renowned fashion designer drawing upon histories and cultures from across the continent
  11. Watch

    Nisha Kanabar: Industrie Africa

    Meet Nisha Kanabar, founder and CEO of Industrie Africa

  12. Read

    A life through clothes: Professor Lalage Bown, OBE

    Take a look inside the wardrobe of Professor Lalage Bown, OBE
  13. Visit

    V&A trail: Africans in Europe

    Take a closer look at European depictions of race, enslavement, pride, freedom, equality and activism
  14. Read

    Europe Supported by Africa and America by Sokari Douglas Camp

    Unpack the symbolism behind this spectacular sculpture
  15. Read

    Solidarity and design: An introduction to OSPAAAL

    Find out more about OSPAAAL
  16. Read

    Revolutionary design: OSPAAAL and the art of the poster

  17. Make

    Design and make a talking textile

    Learn about some of Africa's 'talking textiles' and have a go at making your own!
  18. Watch

    Fashion in Motion: Thebe Magugu

    Marvel at pieces inspired by fabrics discarded by Europe and America
  19. Read

    Dream weavers

    Discover the African creatives who are reinvigorating ancient textiles and inventing radical new fabrics
  20. Visit

    V&A trail: Britain and the Caribbean

    Explore the traumatic history that connects Britain and the Caribbean
  21. Read

    Àdìrẹ – 'tied and dyed' indigo textiles

    Discover a hugely popular African textile tradition
  22. Watch

    Fashion in Motion: Grace Wales Bonner

    Grace Wales Bonner presented highlights from her collection which take inspiration from black visual culture and mix couture techniques with African craft
  23. Watch

    Fashion design: Priya Ahluwalia

    "One of the most important outfits in a man's wardrobe is a tracksuit"
  24. Watch

    The story of The Supremes

    Mary Wilson, co-founder of The Supremes, talks about her extraordinary career and the heyday of Motown
  25. Read

    The Wedgwood anti-slavery medallion

    Discover more about Wedgwood's anti-slavery medallion – a forerunner of the protest badge
  26. Interact

    Francis Williams – a portrait of a writer

    Explore the portrait of scholar and writer Francis Williams
  27. Read

    Ayishat Akanbi – Cultural commentator, stylist and artist
  28. Read

    Thomas J Price at the V&A

    Discover Thomas J Price's sculptures, which, when placed in dialogue with works in the V&A Sculpture Galleries, prompt questions about representation and the ways in which art is displayed.

  29. Watch

    Monumentalism, representation and materiality – Thomas J Price at the V&A

    Price discusses how his work raises questions of representation, perception and power, prompting us to think about the nature of monuments: who is represented and why?
  30. Read

    The groundbreaking Black models who changed fashion

    Find out about the trailblazing women who paved the way
  31. Read

    Fashion in Motion: Orange Culture

    See their bold, androgynous designs

Collection highlights

Show all
  1. photograph
    Hans Himmelheber, Masked Figure and Men, DRC, Pende Region, 1939, Scan of a Chalcopyrite from the Kipushi Mine, and Reflection in Mirror, photograph, by Sammy Baloji
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  2. mask
    Sande mask, unknown maker, 1900 – 40, Sierra Leone
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  3. bust
    Souvenir 4 (Princess Alexandra), bust, by Hew Locke, 2019, England
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  4. textile design
    'Tomee', textile design, designed by Althea McNish, made for Danasco Fabrics Ltd, 1961, Britain
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  5. sparkle Vase
    Sparkle Vase, by Ndidi Ekubia, 2012, London, UK
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  6. inlay
    Inlay, unknown maker, 305 BC – 30 BC, Egypt
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  7. dress
    Oku, dress, designed by Frank Aghuno for Fruché, 2020, Lagos
  8. print
    Spirit of the Carnival, print, by Joseph Tam, 1988, UK Spirit of the Carnival, print, by Tam Joseph, 1988, Great Britain
    V&A East Museum
    On display
  9. print
    'What Chu Lookin at Ho?, Before', print, by Khaleb Brooks, 2020, UK
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  10. photograph
    'Mofolo South, Soweto', photograph, by David Goldblatt, 09/1972, South Africa
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  11. poster
    Guinea and Cape Verde Solidarity / 3 August, poster, by Berta Abelenda, published by the Organisation in Solidarity with the people of Africa, Asia and Latin America (OSPAAAL), about 1974, Cuba
    V&A East Museum
    Not on display
  12. poster
    'I Can't Breathe', poster, designed by Greg Bunbury, printed by Metro Imaging, 2014, London, UK
    V&A South Kensington
    View by appointment
  13. portrait of Melissa Thompson
    Portrait of Melissa Thompson, painting, by Kehinde Wiley, 2020
    V&A East Museum
    On display
islamic tile
person working with clay with their hands
two women sat on a long green chair looking away from camera
woman working with a pen in hand on a black mannequin head

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Header image:
Golden Harvest, furnishing fabric, designed by Althea McNish for Hull Traders Ltd., 1960s, UK. Museum no. T.178-1989. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London