Alumni Contribution | Daniel Kumah

Overall, the experience at the 2024 MuseumsLab Programme has been a wonderful one for me. This would the first time I participated in any museum related programme, so I really appreciate the opportunity to be part of this inspiring programme.

I must say that Module 1 where the Fellows attended the online session with various Experts set the tone for the programme. This is because some of the issues that was discussed and the interactions was a good exercise which laid the foundations for Modules 2 and 3.

It is worthy of note that the session on Restitution by Kodzo Gavua and Wazi Apoh in Module 1 was one of the highlights of the Programme for me. Since restitution is a significant topic, it would have been ideal if Modules 2 and 3 had touched on it briefly.

The trip to Berlin's Humboldt Forum stands out as the most memorable event. This was a result of my being astounded by the number of cultural artefacts gathered from all around the world, especially Africa, that were shown in the gallery. The interactions the Fellows had with our tour guide after the tour, especially regarding the Benin Bronze artefacts, were unforgettable.

Furthermore, my residency at the SANParks in Pretoria, South Africa, was one of the best moments I encountered during the programme. The Thulamela National Heritage Site, the Rock Arts and the Heritage Tour at the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site were some epic places I visited. The Museum at the Mapungubwe National Park also showcased some fabulous collections from the ancient Mapungubwe site.

The golden rhinoceros object tells of the ancient ingenuity, crafts and trade of the people in the Mapungubwe area with people from far away.

In my work in Ghana, TheMuseumsLab has inspired me to incorporate multivocal viewpoints and be more critical in my interpretations of museum studies and heritage research. Professionally, TheMuseumsLab assisted me to network with museum experts from around the globe who are doing amazing work in their home countries. Some Fellows and I have found possible projects that we could work together on through this program