From spiritual beliefs to daily life, masks to music, cloth to carving, West Africa: Rhythm and Spirit explores the array of vibrant and dynamic cultures of West Africa. Bordered by the Sahara Desert to the north, and by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south, West Africa is an area of tradition and change. This exhibition features over 200 objects from 28 different West African cultures, exploring kingship and authority, carved figures, pattern and adornment, divination, masks and masquerades and trade. West Africa: Rhythm and Spirit is based on a collection of Joel A. and Patricia H. Vanderburg from Otago, New Zealand. The objects were collected from 1964-1975 while living in Nigeria and Ghana (all items legitimately exported).