About the Exhibit

About The Exhibit

10 Themes

80+

Countries

10,000

Years of Black History

300+

Pieces

World Currencies Featuring African and African Diasporic

History and Cultures

Black Money features displays of thematically organized banknotes depicting the histories, cultures, politics and experiences of Africans and peoples of African descent in countries around the world. The selected currencies demonstrate the important role that money has played, and continues to play, as a marketing tool and medium of mass publicity for governments and other entities, from the 19th century to present.

As most people have never explored the vast bits of information embedded on paper/ polymer currency, and certainly not on foreign currencies, the Black Money Exhibit provides an unparalleled experience. That holds true for the exhibit’s format as well. Designed to resemble a forest of the iconic Baobab tree (“tree of life”) of the African Savanna, each “tree” displays 30-35 banknotes. These are organized into 10 interrelated themes, taking visitors on a journey through the history, cultures, and lived experiences of Africans and people of African descent:

The exhibition includes currencies depicting figures and monuments from Ancient Egypt such as the Head of the Sphinx, and the Mask of Pharaoh Tutankhamun (King Tut), and Queen Nefertiti; the learned city of Timbuktu in Ancient Mali; European colonialism in the Caribbean, French West Africa and British West Africa; women in Africa and the African Diaspora, who were commanders-in-chief and spiritual leaders of resistance movements against British slavery and colonialism in Jamaica (National Heroine Nanny of the Maroons) and Ghana (Asante Queen-Mother Nana Yaa Asantewaa).

The economic realities of the Black world, including the strength or weakness of particular national currencies, the connections between African and African Diasporic industries, labor and the world market, are common features of money in the Africana world. This is exemplified by a 100 trillion-dollar bill from Zimbabwe, and currency from Equatorial Guinea/Central African States, which shows the oil industry. The issue of the education of school children is depicted on currencies from Angola and Botswana. The 10 themes of the Black Money Exhibit are:

African Civilizations
Africana Art
Enslavement & Freedom
Colonialism
Independence
Economic Development
Black Music & Dance
Black Women on Money
Children’s Money Exhibit
Modern Africana World

The section below provides information on how to host the Black Money Exhibit.

Host the Exhibit

Be Ready To Host The Exhibit

The Black Money Exhibit is in the process of being redsigned to bring audiences new interactive ways of experiencing the Black Money Exhibit. The concept and objective will remain true to the mission, but the delivery will be fresh, exciting, and energized with extrodinary educational details. Children and adults will enjoy the Black Money Exhibition experience exploring the venue and with the continued take-away returning home.

The Black Money Exhibit is scalable to accommodate and complement the nature and needs of host museums, libraries, colleges, universities, and other institutions looking to provide a unique, informative, and fun experience for their communities.

The Black Money Exhibit offers host venues a number of support materials and services that can help to deepen each visitor’s experience:

Educational modules that comply with national curriculum standards
Objects that served as currencies in pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial African societies
Country maps
Hand-crafted musical instruments as depicted on some banknotes
“Make Me & Learn” instrument workshop
Expert speakers who can elaborate on people, events, and issues related to the 10 themes
Visit other pages on this about currencies, reference resources, and a photo gallery

The Black Money Exhibit is in the process of being redsigned to bring audiences new interactive ways of experiencing the Black Money Exhibit. We'd like to keep you updated throughout the process and continue to hear your thoughts on all thigs numismatic.

EXHIBIT