Afrikamuseum

About the museum

Schweiklberg Benedictine Abbey above Vilshofen was founded from St. Ottilien in 1904 and has been dedicated from the start to the training and support of missionary Benedictines. Missionaries returning from East and Southern Africa brought back carvings, antlers, taxidermy, weapons, shields and pottery; over the decades these grew into a small mission museum.

In 1990 today's Africa Museum emerged from this collection. Donations from supporters and purchases from private collections expanded the holdings so much that today they rank among the largest collections of African art and ethnology in southern Germany. They are displayed in a bright hall that once served as the seminary chapel and is accessed through the abbey café.

Around 800 objects in standing and horizontal display cases span the range from West Africa through Cameroon and the Congo region to Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The focus is on ancestor sculptures, dance masks and short weapons, which mostly served to display rank and dignity rather than for combat. Among the highlights are a heavy Yoruba ceremonial cloak covered with hundreds of thousands of glass beads and a rare Kuba royal knife. A seminar of the University of Passau is researching part of the collection.

Highlights

• Painted Yoruba body masks at the entrance
• Yoruba ceremonial cloak covered with glass beads and cowrie shells
• Kuba royal knife from the Congo region
• Around 150 short and throwing weapons as symbols of rank and dignity
• Dance masks of the Dogon, Tshokwe and Songye

Permanent exhibitions

• Afrikanische Kunst und Völkerkunde – Around 800 masks, ancestor figures, drums, jewelry and weapons from West, Central, East and Southern Africa in the abbey's former seminary chapel.

Founded

1990

Operated by

Missionsbenediktinerabtei Schweiklberg

Admission & discounts

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Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Abbey café "Cafeteria Olala" with terrace and abbey shop with products made on site, right next to the museum.

Events & venue rental

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