The Botswana National Museum, also known as the National Museum and Art Gallery, is located in the
Botswana
Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label=Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahar ...
capital of
Gaborone
Gaborone ( , , ) is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 246,325 based on the 2022 census, about 10% of the total population of Botswana. Its agglomeration is home to 421,907 inhabitants at the 2011 census.
Gaboron ...
and is a multi-disciplinary institution that includes the
National Art Gallery
List of national galleries is a list of national art galleries.
{{tocright Africa
*Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
*National Art Gallery of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia
The Americas
*Galería Nacional, San Juan, Puerto ...
and
Octagon
In geometry, an octagon (from the Greek ὀκτάγωνον ''oktágōnon'', "eight angles") is an eight-sided polygon or 8-gon.
A '' regular octagon'' has Schläfli symbol and can also be constructed as a quasiregular truncated square, t, whi ...
Gallery,
as well as—since November 2007—the
National Botanical Garden.
It displays traditional Botswana crafts and paintings and aims to celebrate the work of local artists.
The museum is also involved with the preservation of
Tsodilo
The Tsodilo Hills are a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS), consisting of rock art, rock shelters, depressions, and caves in southern Africa. It gained its WHS listing in 2001 because of its unique religious and spiritual significance to local peo ...
, the country's first
world heritage
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
area,
among other efforts.
It is the caretaker of
Tsholofelo Park
''Tsholofelo'' is the debut studio album by South African hip hop recording artist Cassper Nyovest, released digitally via iTunes on 18 July 2014 and physically released on 31 July 2014 under a distribution deal witAMG Worldmediaowned by Lind ...
, the burial place of the "
negro of Banyoles
The Negro of Banyoles ( ca, negre de Banyoles, es, link=no, negro de Banyoles or ) was a controversial piece of taxidermy of a San individual, which used to be a major attraction in the Darder Museum of Banyoles (Catalonia, Spain). In 2000, the r ...
," known as "El Negro" in Botswana, following the body's return from the
Darder Museum of Banyoles, in
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
.
The museum was established in 1967 via an
Act of Parliament
Acts of Parliament, sometimes referred to as primary legislation, are texts of law passed by the Legislature, legislative body of a jurisdiction (often a parliament or council). In most countries with a parliamentary system of government, acts of ...
and it officially opened to the public in 1968. The museum celebrated a year-long 40th anniversary in 2008 under the banner of "Museum as Agents of Social Change and Development", mirroring that used by the
International Council of Museums
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to museums, maintaining formal relations with UNESCO and having a consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Founded in 1946, I ...
.
Gallery of the National Museum of Botswana
Kgotla_at_the_national_museum_of_Botswana(Provides_information_about_the_kgotla)_2.jpg, Sign board for Kgotla
A ''kgotla'' (English pronunciation or ) is a public meeting, community council, or traditional law court of a Botswana village. It is usually headed by the village chief or headman, and community decisions are always arrived at by consensus. H ...
at the national museum Botswana
Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label=Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahar ...
Traditional_House_at_the_national_museum_Botswana_2.jpg, Traditional_House_at_the_national_museum_Botswana
Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label=Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahar ...
Botswana Society (National museum).jpg, Botswana
Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label=Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahar ...
Society (National museum)
Traditional thatched house at the national museum of Botswana 4.jpg, Traditional thatched house at the national museum of Botswana
Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label=Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahar ...
Traditional thatched house at the national museum of Botswana 6.jpg, Traditional thatched house at the national museum of Botswana
Toilets at the national museum of Botswana.jpg, Toilets at the national museum of Botswana
References
External links
Official site
Museums in Botswana
Museums in Gaborone
Museums established in 1967
1967 establishments in Botswana
{{Africa-museum-stub