Dr Edwards
Executive Director, Collector, and Founder
Eric Edwards has spent 49 years of his life in the amassing of one of the largest African artifacts collections ever held in private hands in the United States, as well as in the world, comprising approximately 3000 items, which encompasses the 54 countries of Africa. Also having developed a significantly supportive documented library supporting the collection: which consists of actual items (many extremely rare) from African royalty, men’s and women’s secret societies, spiritual & ritual masks, ancestral figures, weapons, musical instruments, as well as utilitarian items of everyday life, it is all encompassing. He has given educational symposiums, seminars for children, and personal exhibits to educate all people, of the African ancestry and the Diaspora of their heritage, and tremendous contributions to the world going back thousands of years. The museum is supported by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. He introduced the 1st “Celebrate Africa Month” at Brooklyn Borough Hall to join forces with the economic power forces of Africa, which is now an annual event; and has appeared on NBC TV Nightly News with Lestor Holt, WABC TV “Here And Now”, CUNY TV, Whatz UP TV, and in Essence Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, and other cable, editorial & program media which is international in scope. Eric’s purpose is to educate through the stories told by each of the artifact items within his collection, the details of our people’s cultural and technical gifts, skills, beautiful value systems, and artistry – those stories, the history that hasn’t been told in the present educational system, to empower our young people through the knowledge of self – history as told through the study of their art, their ancestors’ great and important contributions to man and womankind. Eric’s collection expounds on the contributions of the ancestors in architecture and science. He has items on exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The collection is a cultural powerhouse. Eric’s goal is to open The Cultural Museum of African Art, and its wonders – The Eric Edwards Collection, in a new state-of-the-art building in Brooklyn, New York by year end 2023.
Also an educational program has been written by Mr. Edwards and Principal Myrna Williams to put voice to the artifacts.