Sahel: Art and Empires on the Shores of the Sahara

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

NOW CLOSED

Boli (19th–20th century), Bamana, Mali. Photo: Peter Zeray; © Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

With unprecedented loans from Mauritania, Senegal, Mali and Niger, this show tells the story of civilisation in the Sahel. Sculptures, textiles and manuscripts touch on such key moments as the birth of urbanism and the rise of Islam. Find out more from the Metropolitan Museum’s website.

Preview the exhibition below | View Apollo’s Art Diary here

Equestrian figure (19th–20th century), Bamana, Mali. Photo: Peter Zeray; © Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Equestrian figure (3rd–10th century),Niger

Equestrian figure (3rd–10th century), Niger. Photo: Maurice Ascani.

Kneeling Female Figure with Crossed Arms (12–14th century), Middle Niger civilisation, Mali.

Kneeling Female Figure with Crossed Arms (12–14th century), Middle Niger civilisation, Mali. Courtesy Menil Collection

Tunic (before 1659), West Africa.

Tunic (before 1659), West Africa. photo by Oleg Kuchar, Ulm; © Museum Ulm–Weickmann Collection