Masks, spears, chests or a rickshaw: our Ethnological Museum in Wuppertal contains cult objects, clothing, weapons and everyday objects collected by missionaries of the Rhenish Mission Society and the Bethel Mission in the mission areas of Asia and Africa, beginning in 1829.

180 years of history

The items that have been collected from southern and eastern Africa, China, and from what today are Indonesia and Papua New Guinea show cultural practices that vanished long ago. They also testify to the actions of the people who brought these objects to Germany during the past nearly 180 years. The work of these people and the mission is also the topic of revolving special exhibitions – and these exhibitions do not gloss over the fact that this work was often also problematic.

New places at the museum

Following a complete renovation of the museum in 2008, the permanent exhibition took on its current, clearly structured form. There is now sufficient space for the uniqueness of the artefacts to work its full effect on visitors.

Our younger guests can rummage through a "museum suitcase" and enjoy new experiences in sound with various instruments from Africa and Asia.