Museo etnografico “Fratel Francesco Massa”
Museum in Chieri with around 150 masks, statues and objects from West Africa, visits by appointment with a guide.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The ethnographic museum of the Fondazione CAM SAFA gathers objects arising from the work that the Fratelli della Sacra Famiglia (Brothers of the Holy Family) and their collaborators have carried out for decades in West Africa. The pieces have been brought together because they show the values of the communities with whom the religious have lived, and the museum aims to encourage dialogue between cultures.
The venue is the Istituto dei Fratelli della Sacra Famiglia at Villa Brea, in Chieri. Around 150 statues, masks and ornaments are arranged by ethnic group along an imaginary journey through the Sudanian savanna region: Burkina Faso (Mossi, Gurunsi, Bwa, Bobo, Lobi), Mali (Djenné culture, Fulani, Bambara, Dogon), Côte d’Ivoire (Senufo, Guro, Yaouré, Baoulé, Dan) and Ghana (Ashanti, Koma).
The sculptures mainly depict ancestors; among the masks are forms such as the portrait mask, the helmet mask and the butterfly mask. The collections are documented in a catalogue with texts by Luigi Minetti and photographs by Livio Strasly.
Highlights
- Around 150 statues, masks and ornaments from West Africa
- Route by ethnic group: Burkina Faso, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana
- Portrait, helmet and butterfly masks
- Sculptures of ancestors
Permanent exhibition
- Percorso per etnie dell’Africa occidentale – Statues, masks and ornaments arranged along an imaginary route from Burkina Faso and Mali to Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
- Operated by
- Fondazione CAM SAFA – Fratelli della Sacra Famiglia
- Visitors per year
- approx. 400
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission according to the Turismo Torino and Museionline listings; the museum’s page gives no prices.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
The museum is at Villa Brea, seat of the Istituto dei Fratelli della Sacra Famiglia, in Strada Pecetto.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
According to Turismo Torino, parking and a refreshment point are available.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Visits take place only by appointment and with a guide. Classes of every level are welcome, with routes tailored to the educational aims (art history, cultural anthropology, geography, intercultural education). |
