October Half Term: Cultural Connections
16 Oct - 21 Oct 2023
11:00 - 16:00
Around the museum
Free, drop-in
Some workshops are paid, bookable (see below)
A welcoming week of cultural connections for all the family.
Join us this half term to share in a mixture of music, song, dance, storytelling and art connecting to Africa and the Caribbean.
What's on when?
Mon 16
Object Encounters
10:00 – 12:00, Grand Gallery, Free, drop-in
Sailor’s Valentines Craft Activity
14:00 – 16:00, Learning Centre, Studio 2, Free, drop-in (spaces may be limited at busy times)
Garifuna Drumming and Drop-in
10:30 – 12:00 & 14:00 – 15:30, Grand Gallery, Free, drop-in
Tue 17
Object Encounters
10:00 – 12:00, Grand Gallery, Free, drop-in
Sailor’s Valentines Craft Activity
14:00 – 16:00, Learning Centre, Studio 2, Free, drop-in (spaces may be limited at busy times)
African stories with Chief Chebe
10:30, 14:00, 11:30, 15:00 (30 mins), Meet by the Lighthouse Lens in Grand Gallery, Free, drop-in
Wed 18
Object Encounters
10:00 – 12:00, Grand Gallery, Free, drop-in
Sailor’s Valentines Craft Activity
14:00 – 16:00, Learning Centre, Studio 2, Free, drop-in (spaces may be limited at busy times)
African Maua Drumming & Dance Classes
10:30 - Ages 3 – 7, 14:00 - Ages 7 – 12, Event Space, Learning Centre Level 2, Booking required, £3
Thu 19
Object Encounters
10:00 – 12:00, Grand Gallery, Free, drop-in
Print-making Craft Activity
14:00 – 16:00, Studio 2 full location, Free, drop-in
Fri 20
Object Encounters
10:00 – 12:00, Grand Gallery, Free, drop-in
Print-making Craft Activity
14:00 – 16:00, Studio 2 full location, Free, drop-in
Sat 21
Celebration Day
11:00 – 16:00, Grand Gallery, Free, drop-in
Print-making Craft Activity
14:00 – 16:00, Studio 2 full location, Free, drop-in
Programme
Object Encounters
Mon 16 – Fri 20
10:00 – 12:00, Grand Gallery, Free, drop-in
Drop by our handling trolleys to discover some of our amazing African objects with the help of our Engagement team and uncover some of the fascinating facts and surprising stories behind our collections.
Sailor’s Valentines Craft Activity
Mon 16 – Wed 18
14:00 – 16:00, Learning Centre, Studio 2, Free, drop-in
(spaces may be limited at busy times)
Sailors’ valentines were originally created in the 1800s from seashells . Many were sold in Barbados, with sailors bringing them home for loved ones after long sea voyages. Make your own version to take home with our Engagement team.
Garifuna Drumming and Drop-in
Mon 16
10:30 – 12:00 & 14:00 – 15:30, Grand Gallery, Free, drop-in
Learn about the unique and fascinating Garifuna people and their connection to Scotland from Belizean drummer, dancer and singer Ronald Raymond McDonald. Each session begins with a ten minute drumming performance, followed by a drop-in session where you can look at the beautiful hardwood drums made by Ronald and learn more about this unique UNESCO recognised culture.
African stories with Chief Chebe
Tue 17
Meet by the Lighthouse Lens in Grand Gallery, Free, drop-in
After our fantastic online storytelling sessions during lockdown we are excited to invite Chief Chebe back to the museum for some in-person story sessions. There’s nothing like live storytelling, but if you can’t make our live sessions you can still watch video recordings of these stories on our website.
10:30 & 14:00 (30 mins)
Join Chief Chebe for some African animal stories - hear about Anansi the spider, and how the tortoise came to be so slow and wise.
11:30 & 15:00 (30 mins)
Join Chief Chebe to discover the story of Kofi, a boy whose village is celebrating 40 years of Ghanaian independence. But before he joins the party, his father sets him a challenge...
African Maua Drumming & Dance Classes
Wed 18
Event Space, Learning Centre Level 2, Booking required, £3
10:30, Ages 3 – 7
An opportunity for little ones to learn and explore different African rhythms through drumming and dancing.
14:00, Ages 7 – 12
High-energy and fun Afrobeats dance class which focuses on Modern African dances from Nigeria, Ghana and others!
Booking for classes will open on Wed 4 October. Please note adults must accompany children – there will be seating at the side of the room.
Print-making Craft Activity
Thu 19, Fri 20, Sat 21
14:00 – 16:00, Studio 2 full location, Free, drop-in
Drop-in for some print making craft activity developed by artist and creator Keisha Rowe. Inspired by the work of Althea McNish, a true pioneer and the first designer of African-Caribbean descent to achieve international recognition with collections with Liberty London and Christian Dior. McNish's bold and colourful prints were inspired by her Trinidadian heritage, as well as the natural world around her.
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Sailor’s Valentine, Level 5, Design for Living, National Museum of Scotland
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Ronald Raymond McDonald - Garifuna Drumming
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Chief Chebe
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Dancing African Maua
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‘Painted Desert’ fabric designed by Althea McNish. Level 3, Making and Creating, National Museum of Scotland
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Jit Jive Duo
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Davie Luhanga
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Samba Sene & Diwan (photographer Gaelle Beri)
Celebration Day
Sat 21
11:00 – 16:00, Grand Gallery, Free, drop-in
Working with local musicians, dancers and artists – join us for a day of celebrating connections to Africa and the Caribbean with performances in the Grand Gallery.
African Maua – Drum Chronicles
11:00 - 11:20
Presented by African Maua, Drum Chronicles is a play that tells the story of Djembe, an African Drum with a soul. Djembe travels through Africa and African diaspora exploring the history of the drum in the continent. Presented by a diverse cast, this play is a story of African drumming as a movement of resistance blend of African cultural expressions.
Davie Luhangah
11:30 - 12:00
Luhangah is a Malawian Singer Songwriter based in Edinburgh. His sweet and melodic African rhythms will take you to places you have never been before.
Ronald Raymond McDonald – Garifuna drumming
12:15 - 12:45
Experience the engaging rhythms and songs of Garifuna drumming and music from Belize. Distinct from better known steel drum and djembe rhythms and music, this performance will feature traditional Garifuna songs and rhythms performed by professional Belizean drummer Ronald Raymond McDonald.
DJ from Jambo! Radio Scotland
12:45 - 13:45
The only radio station for people of African and Caribbean heritage in Scotland
Adie Baako Dance
13:45 - 14:15
Adie Baako - a professional dancer from Ghana – will be performing a social dance from Accra called Kpanlogo. Then join in as Adie teaches you the steps to dance it yourself!
Jit Jive Duo
14:30 - 15:00
Rise Kagona is the founder and lead guitarist of the world-famous band from Zimbabwe, The Bhundu Boys. Rise composes all his own music, and many of his songs became hits back home in Zimbabwe. Flowing through his music are infectious Jiti rhythms, which in his duo are played by Ugandan-born Andy Cooke on Ghanaian kpanlogo drums, and Ugandan akogo (thumb piano).
House of Jack - AfroHouse Dance
15:15 - 15:45
Afro House is an energetic dance style that derives from Kuduro, an Angolan dance style and is also inspired - among other styles - by Pantsula, a dance style developed in South Africa. Afro House is a playful and expressive mix of different African dance genres that can be easily learned and danced by all.
Samba Sene
16:00 - 16:30
Exuberant fusion of funky mbalax/Afrobeat grooves, with irresistible dance beats, undercurrents of ska, rock and Senegalese soul. Original songs by charismatic Senegalese singer Samba Sene.
Getting here
Enter the museum from the main public entrance on Chambers Street.
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1JF
Access
We want everyone who comes to our museums to enjoy their time with us and make the most of their visit.
- There is level access to the museum via the main doors to the Entrance Hall on Chambers Street and the Tower entrance at the corner of Chambers Street and George IV Bridge.
- Lifts are available to all floors and accessible toilets are available on most floors, as well as a Changing Places (U) toilet in the Entrance Hall on Level 0.
- Guide dogs, hearing dogs and other recognised assistance dogs are admitted.
- Find out more about our access information. If you have any questions about accessing this event, please email us in advance at publicevents@nms.ac.uk
Black History Month
This event is part of Black History Month 2023.
| This family activity is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery |  |
