Bardo National Museum, Tunis, Tunisia

The Bardo National Museum is one of the largest institutions of its kind in the Mediterranean, consisting of archaeological treasures from over several millennia by many cultures. Inaugurated in 1888, the museum offers one of the largest collections of Roman mosaics originating from archaeological research carried out throughout the country a century ago. It also contains a major collection of other antiquities of interest from Ancient Greece, Carthage, and the Islamic period. Amongst the finest pieces it holds are the representation of Virgil surrounded by muses, or the pavement of Dionysos giving Ikarios the gift of the vine, or another celebrating the triumph of Neptune. The permanent collections are spread over fifty rooms, illustrating the various stages of Tunisia’s history, from prehistory to present day. The Museum also contains a rich collection of marble statues representing the gods and Roman emperors found on various sites including those of Carthage and Thuburbo Majus.

National Museum of Sudan, Khartoum, Sudan

Founded in 1971, the National Museum of Sudan is a double storied building which contains the most important archaeological collection of the country. The ground floor covers different period in the Sudanese history with artefacts from the kingdoms of Kerma, Kush, and Meroë. There are some stunning royal statues and perfectly preserved ancient objects from the Kerma culture. The first floor houses a variety of wall paintings depicting Christian scenes removed from the Faras cathedral in the Lower Nubia. The museum also displays a major pottery works, as well as various inscriptions on sandstone, marble or terracotta plaques from the kingdom of Makuria. The garden surrounding the museum hosts some Egyptian temples rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. The temples and tombs were dismantled and retrieved from the submergence area, alongside other monuments such as the Abu Simbel temples, under the Nubia Campaign of UNESCO.

Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, Cairo, Egypt

Established in 1858, the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is one of the largest museums in the continent with around 120,000 pieces of art. Relocated in Tahrir Square in 1902, the museum was broken into during the Egyptian revolution of 2011, with few artefacts damaged or lost. Still, the Egyptian Museum houses an extensive collection of artefacts covering the Egypt history including the largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities. The ground floor is laid out chronologically, starting with a large collection of papyrus and coins used in Ancient Egypt. There are also artefacts of different periods including statues, sarcophagi, and furniture. The first floor is laid out thematically, featuring the Tutankhamun galleries which contains the pieces found within the tomb. The rooms of the Royal Mummies houses the remains of some Egypt’s most famous pharaohs and queens from the final two dynasties. Most objects are still on display, although some are being moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is scheduled to be partially open in 2018.

Egyptian Modern Art Museum, Cairo, Egypt

The Egyptian Modern Art Museum or Gezira Center for Modern Art is the main venue for contemporary art in Egypt. It is part of the cultural complex with the Cairo Opera House located on Gezira Island, in central Cairo. Opened in 1927, the museum is a large three storied building, with a small open air display of a few statues in the garden. It holds a large collection of over 10,000 artworks including sculptures, paintings, and photographs that illustrate the development of the Egyptian art movement. Most of the works from Egyptian and foreign artists related to Egypt dates from the early 20th century through the present day. The museum was renovated several times over the last thirty years, with the intent to rehang the collection in a way that better presents the pioneers of modern Egyptian art. The first floor exhibits major works of the permanent collection, while the second floor is partially opened with contemporary artworks exhibited monthly.

Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Rabat, Morocco

The Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMVI) officially opened in 2014, and is the first museum in Morocco dedicated to modern and contemporary art. It is a three-floor white building inspired by the traditional Moroccan architecture, with international museographic standards. The permanent collection, which includes abstract and figurative art, is spread over two floors, while the basement houses traditional art. The MMVI aims to cover the evolution of Moroccan artistic creation in the plastic and visual arts, from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day. The inaugural exhibition, "1914-2014: 100 years of Creation", explored a century of Moroccan art with over 400 pieces created by nearly 150 Moroccan artists. The MMVI has also established partnerships with some institutions such as the Louvre in Paris and the Musée des civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée in Marseille to promote contemporary art and organize joint exhibitions.