ABSTRACT
The National Museum of Ethiopia (NME) was founded in 1944 with the assistance of the French government to showcase the historical archaeology of northern Ethiopia. Since then, the museum has broadened its purview to include the collecting and exhibiting of paleontology, art and ethnography. Though the country was never colonized, the NME is confronted with many of the same challenges facing museums elsewhere on the continent. Ethiopia is one of the world's most ethnically diverse countries, organized as an ethnic federalist state. How can the NME represent the identity of nation that is comprised of many nations? How can the museum diminish its dependency on the Global North for funding and “expertise” that, since the institution's founding, has influenced its activities? How can the NME deal with a government that values the patrimony of the country, not as a cultural resource that should be protected and conserved for Ethiopia's citizens, but as a heritage commodity that can be consumed by foreigners for the economic benefit of the nation? Aside from organized school groups, why do so few Ethiopians visit the national museum? Today, a growing number of museum professionals are grappling with fundamental questions concerning the museum's relevance. The NME holds tremendous potential as a vital social and cultural resource for the citizens of Ethiopia. What must happen for it to realize its potential?
