Much of the African art, culture and history we know today came from the shows blasted by the different media, particularly the television. To get to the bottom of this rich but sometimes misunderstood culture, head to the National Museum of African Art in the nation?s capital, Washington, D.C.

The National Museum of African Art is a museum dedicated to collecting, preserving and promoting African art and culture. It is part of the esteemed cultural authority, the Smithsonian Institution. The African art museum was established n 1964 initially as a private gallery before it was acquired by the institution in 1979.

The building where the museum is located is highlighted by the Smithsonian; the museum?s entrance is located near its gardens. The National Museum of African Art is an underground museum, just like the Freer Gallery of Art. The museum contains thousands of relics and artwork pieces from all over Africa, from the regions below the Sahara desert such as Mali, Tanzania, South Africa, Ghana, and Cameroon. Various tribal masks, sculptures, musical instruments and other wood carvings are on display.