The Invaluable Institutional History: Ghana’s National Museum from a Obroni Perspective

Abstract

Understanding an institution’s historical conception and its subsequent role on collecting practices and museum narrative is essential when entering into an international internship. Understanding the history of a collection, the initial conception of an actual permanent exhibition and the limitations of available resources can lead to a deeper appreciation and cultural exchange by explaining otherwise confusing or odd differences. Of course not every cultural difference can be explained by an institutional history. But larger questions of interpretation can be explored through the lens of understanding the international partner’s history.