National Museum Of African Art

Lonely Planet review

Devoted to ancient and modern sub-Saharan African art, the peaceful galleries display masks, textiles, ceramics, ritual objects and other examples of the visual traditions of a continent of 900 distinct cultures, and comprise the country's foremost collection of traditional work. Don't miss the eight Hot Spots highlighted at the information desk. We like the small collection of highly accomplished creations from the Kingdom of Benin.

Enter the museum's ground level pavilion through the Asian moon gates and geometric flowerbeds of the beautiful Enid A Haupt Memorial Garden. Take note of the African rhythms around you. Then descend into the dim underground exhibit space, connected by tunnel to the Sackler and the Freer.

The works all relate to the rule of the Oba, or king, of the Edo-speaking people who lived in what is now Nigeria. Some of the pieces date back as far as the 15th century. Keep an eye out for the copper-alloy heads, made from sophisticated wax casts. The most intriguing is the defeated enemy. You can tell he's not Edo by the four raised scars over each eye (the other heads only have three).