The Museum of the African Diaspora celebrates art, music, dance, style, culture, and life. It aims to link all of humankind to each other through the diaspora: the spreading of people with a common origin throughout the world.

The African diaspora is the story of how millions of Africans – through the trans-Atlantic slave trade – were able to retain their traditions and identities in a new world. MoAD takes it one-step further, however. Its all-inclusive philosophy says that because life first existed in Africa, all people are descendents of the diaspora.

After 10 years of planning, and the hard work of many dedicated people-including former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown -what was once an idea for a unique cultural center that could be meaningful to all, became reality in December 2005.

MoAD is the first museum in the world to celebrate African culture through the diaspora. Its four themes: origins, movement, adaptation, and transformation aim to capture the essence of this philosophy - humankind’s journey from Africa.

“Nothing like this has existed before,” said Shiree Dyson, curator of public programs for MoAD. “There is an African diaspora here in the Bay Area that we don’t really talk about. Quite frankly, people aren’t used to the black experience here.”

Located at 685 Mission St., the museum sits on what was the last vacant space in Yerba Buena Gardens before its construction. In 1999, the City of San Francisco required the owner/developer of the site to designate at least three stories of the building for the museum.

The three-story museum highlights special exhibits such as “Linkages and Themes,” a collection of 39 photographs, paintings, mixed media and genre works of contemporary African artists from around the world.

The Freedom Theatre shows short films that depict the lives of historical figures. These 12 to 15 minute films explore Toussaint L’ Ouverture and how he orchestrated the Haitian slave revolt, the story of little-known civil rights leader Howard Thurman and Nelson Mandela and his work to End of Apartheid.

“I like the way it mixes art and history,” said Melisa Di Tano, 31, while observing the museum. “The art really evokes a lot of emotion for me...”

The photo mosaic along the walls in the stairway and elevator are a compilation of more than 1,500 images of people from all over the world. The photos were donated after MoAD conducted a global call for photos in 2004.
All of the museums exhibits aim to place a global focus on the diaspora and they instill a sense of consciousness and identity in its viewers.

“Because there is so much here, you’re not going to get it all the first time around,” said Dyson. “We have the 'Freedom Theatre,' you can’t see these films anywhere else. Each and every time you come there will be something new to explore.”

MoAD is open daily, except Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Adults admission is $8 and $3 off with student id. The museum will be closed from March 13 to March 21 for construction. For more information call 415-358-7200.