Cultural Anthropology and History Libraries

Our network of libraries consists of one central library and five specialist libraries. 

All of the libraries have a reading room and databases that can be consulted on site.

Works may only be consulted on site; they cannot be taken out.

Copies cost € 0.10 per page and documents can be scanned free of charge.

Would you like to consult one of our libraries? 
> Contact the library managers to make an appointment.

***Coronavirus update***

Read the COVID-19 measures for the consultation of our archives and libraries before taking an appointment.

 

Central library

The Central Library contains:

  • Ethnography works
  • Social anthropology works
  • Publications of the RMCA
  • General works on Africa, particularly Central Africa, reference works and bibliographies.

Practical information:

  • Where?
    CAPA building, ground floor
    Leuvensesteenweg 17, 3080 Tervuren
    Building complex
    The library is accessible to people with reduced mobility.
  • When? 
    By appointment. 
  • Information and appointments:
    infobib@africamuseum.be
    Tel. : (+32) 02 769 56 00

 

Archaeology library

Library specialising in the archaeology of sub-Saharan Africa. 

Practical information:

  • Where? 
    African Palace, second floor
    Paleizenlaan, 3080 Tervuren
    Building complex
  • When?
    By appointment, Monday to Friday, excluding Tuesday, 9:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:00.
  • Information and appointments:
    archaeo@africamuseum.be

 

History library

The History Library has a collection of documents on the history of Africa and in particular the DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi (16th-21st centuries).

The collection mainly covers exploration, colonisation (particularly Belgian colonisation) and decolonisation, and themes concerning current historical, sociological, memorial and artistic issues.

It contains 14,000 references: 

  • General and specialist works
  • Periodicals and reviews
  • Rare and valuable works, particularly atlases, geographical descriptions and travel writings 
  • Offprints
  • Theses and dissertations

> Online catalogue of the History Library

Practical information 

 

Library of Independent Congo

The library is closed in July and August 2021.

The library has an extensive collection of documents on the political, social and economic developments of the DR Congo from decolonisation (end of the 1950s) through to the present day. 

It comprises:

  • restricted or limited-availability documents
  • newspapers (including six newspapers that are currently published in Kinshasa) and periodicals 
  • files of press clippings
  • election posters for the 2006 Congolese elections
  • listed periodical articles
  • a variety of documents
  • theses and dissertations
  • maps.

The majority of these documents are now available in digital format. The database currently contains 33,000 references (listing all acquisitions - works, periodical articles, theses, dissertations, documents, archives, headlines from Congolese newspapers - since 1984). 

A daily updated version of the catalogue is available on-site.

> Online catalogue of the Library of Independent Congo

Practical information 

  • Where?
    Finances building, floor -1
    Museumlaan 5B, 3080 Tervuren
    Building complex
  • When?
    By appointment, Monday to Friday, from 9:00 to 16:00. Closed Wednesdays.
  • Information and appointments:
    Lore Van de Broeck
    lore.van.de.broeck@africamuseum.be 
    Tel: (+32) 02 769 58 45
  • Easy parking, accessible to people with reduced mobility.

 

African Linguistics Library

Books and periodicals dedicated to the oral literature and linguistics of sub-Saharan Africa:

  • grammar, lexicons, linguistic maps
  • comparative or historical linguistics, classification
  • vehicular languages, linguistic interchange
  • teaching manuals
  • epics, stories, proverbs, etc.
  • bibliographies

The Bantu and Mande groups are particularly well documented.

The digital catalogue contains some 2,800 works and articles. 

The library contains more than 11,000 references. 

Practical information

  • Where?
    CAPA building, third floor
    Leuvensesteenweg 17, 3080 Tervuren
    Building complex
  • When?
    By appointment, Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:30. 
  • Information and appointments:
    Muriel Garsou
    muriel.garsou@africamuseum.be
    Tel.: (+32) 02 769 56 72
  • Accessible to people with reduced mobility.

 

Musicology library

Specialist library concerning the music of Africa and particularly Central Africa.

Practical information:

  • Where?
    CAPA building, third floor
    Leuvensesteenweg 17, 3080 Tervuren
    Building complex
  • When?
    By appointment, during office hours.
  • Information and appointments:
    Rémy Jadinon
    remy.jadinon@africamuseum.be
    Tel.: (+32) 02 769 56 10
  • Accessible to people with reduced mobility.