What this life looks like
You are the guardian and interpreter of collections. Museum Curators manage the collections of museums — acquiring new objects, researching and cataloguing existing holdings, developing exhibitions, and making collections accessible to the public and researchers. The museum curator's role is both scholarly and creative — combining deep specialist knowledge with the ability to communicate meaningfully to diverse audiences.
What she actually does
You research objects in the collection, write scholarly catalogue entries and exhibition labels, acquire new works for the collection, develop and install exhibitions, manage collection storage and conservation, respond to researchers and public enquiries about the collection, develop education programmes, and contribute to the museum's published output.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| National Museums | National Museum of Nigeria, South African Museum, National Museums of Kenya, National Museum of Ethiopia |
| Contemporary Art Museums | Zeitz MOCAA (SA), Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (Morocco), Fondation H (Morocco) |
| University Museums | University museums at Wits, UCT, University of Nigeria — significant research collections |
| International Museums | African curators are increasingly recruited by major international museums seeking African expertise |
Why it matters in Africa
Africa's museums are at a historic turning point. The global debate about decolonising museum collections, the return of the Benin Bronzes, and the development of new African museums like Zeitz MOCAA are all reshaping what African museums are and can be. A new generation of African museum curators is needed to lead this transformation and define how African heritage is collected, interpreted, and presented to African and global audiences.
Your pathway in
- Study Art History, History, Archaeology, or Museum Studies at university
- Gain practical experience through internships and volunteer work in museum collections and exhibitions departments
- Pursue a postgraduate degree in Museum Studies, Curatorial Practice, or a relevant academic specialisation
- Develop deep expertise in an area of African material culture — contemporary art, archaeological objects, ethnographic collections, or natural history
- Build relationships with the museum community through professional associations like ICOM (International Council of Museums) Africa
Skills you will need
- Collection research and documentation
- Exhibition development
- Scholarly writing
- Collection management systems
- Conservation awareness
- Public communication
A woman in this field
Tandazani Dhlakama
Zimbabwe
Tandazani is a Zimbabwean curator who has held positions at the Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town and has developed critically acclaimed exhibitions of contemporary African and diasporic art. She is known for curatorial projects that foreground African women artists and challenge established hierarchies in the global art world. Her thoughtful, politically engaged approach to curatorship is shaping how a new generation of African museum professionals approach their practice.
Take your first step
- Read about the debate over the return of the Benin Bronzes — it is the most significant and contested issue in African museum curatorship today, and understanding it is essential
- Visit every museum near you and study how they display and interpret their collections — what works, what could be better?
- Research ICOM (International Council of Museums) at icom.museum and the ICOM Africa chapter — they are the professional body for museum professionals globally
- Write a concept for an exhibition you would curate — what theme, what objects, what story? Developing exhibition ideas is the core creative skill of a curator
Careers close to this one
- Curator
- Cultural Heritage Specialist
- Art Therapist
- Cultural Diplomat
- Academic Researcher