Activities for families

A world of discovery 

Learn about who grows the cocoa beans and make your own chocolate. Try a rainbow of beans from Burundi, which help farmers adapt to climate change. Taste edible insects to explore new flavours which are not easily available on the market. Extract DNA from a banana using everyday kitchen tools. Take part in the Customs Officer Challenge and inspect mock luggage contents and decide whether food products are allowed, prohibited or require further scientific identification. And there is much more to explore. 

A unique encounter with African diaspora food organizations

Meet the communities behind the food. Discover the innovations driven by African diaspora agrifood organizations and startups. Food enthusiasts and experts will share their life’s work to raise the visibility of African and African diaspora food systems.

A curated African food menu

During the event, cheffe Jumah from Jumah’s Corner will take over the museum’s brand-new Africafé. Visitors of all ages and culinary backgrounds, prepare to be delighted by her curated African food menu!

A collaboration between citizens and researchers

Roots and Recipes, The Science of food, identity and belonging, is a fun-filled culinary adventure taking place on 25 and 26 September 2026 at the AfricaMuseum, as part of the European Researchers’ Night, Europe's largest celebration of science and research.

Throughout the two days, join researchers, culinary experts and food enthusiasts as you explore the rich and fascinating world behind African and diaspora cuisines, their impact on our health, their role in our societies, and their connection to our roots.

The cornerstone of Roots and Recipes is The Citizens’ Committee. It reunites six experts representing African diaspora communities, each with deep knowledge of food systems. With diverse profiles, ranging from educators to food entrepreneurs, they have played a key role in guiding the project’s decision-making processes.

Join the screening on Friday 25 of September

Learn more about the programme of day one.

Join your family on a sound tour through the halls of the AfricaMuseum this summer. Immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of the Congolese capital, Kinshasa. Play a tune on a 100-year-old xylophone ... with your mobile phone. Or be surprised by the sound of hyena dogs.

In short, experience the AfricaMuseum in a different way and step into a world full of fun listening moments!

From 5 April to 11 May, children and families are invited to a playful adventure at the AfricaMuseum!

Come and discover Kisolo, Targui and Yoté, traditional African board games. Play puzzles and create masks from recycled materials!

Some can be played solo, others in pairs or groups.

From 22 February to 9 March, come join us for a new edition of Krokuskriebels! This year’s theme is games! All open activities are free. Registration is required for the workshops. 

African board games

Have you heard of Felli, Targui, or Cirk? These are some examples of fun African board games that you can come and play in the second week of the Carnival holidays. There’s also Yoté, also known as ‘Choko’ in Gambia, or Awélé, where you sow and reap. Some games are played alone, while others require two or more players. 

Dip-O-Dip : a ‘happy families’ game for budding scientists

Did you know that flies, like bees, are terrific pollinators? This is also true in Africa.
Play this ‘happy families’ game and find out which flies are the best pollinators, which ones are the biggest, which ones are found in Belgium, and so on! At the AfricaMuseum, budding scientists can see knowledge come into full bloom.

Like small chameleons: A workshop for tiny tots 

The littlest ones can have fun with mum, dad, grandma… in an AfricaMuseum workshop space that has been specially designed with them in mind. All the senses are awakened in a range of activities that all have a small, colourful chameleon as the main character. The workshop ends with a short shadow puppet show.

Are you planning to visit the AfricaMuseum during the Christmas holidays? Great idea! With the holiday bingo, you can playfully search for African objects, musical instruments, stuffed animals, and much more. The first person to check them all off wins!

Fly has a taste for it now! It’s buzzing around again in the galleries of the AfricaMuseum during the summer holidays. Get to know colourful Toby jugs, funny names of some beans from Burundi, and more! Go on a food trip in the busy streets of Kinshasa and look for the mineral from Congo that’s also found in your toothpaste. Do you want to know what the favourite snack of a dung beetle is? Come over and find out!
And if you’re a good treasure seeker, you’ll find the code to the treasure chest. Let’zzzzzz go!
 

Information: Dutch or French

Did you know that the AfricaMuseum is 125 years old and was revamped 5 years ago? Plenty of reason to come and visit with your family in the summer holidays. While you're here, you can look for the colourful sensory boxes hidden in the museum rooms. In them, you'll find all kinds of fun assignments. How about making a spider's web without looking? Picturing your own proverb on a Congolese pot lid? Or listening to Burundian wedding music? 

And if that wasn't enough, you'll discover Vlieg’s treasure and get a present! 

So get your hands ready and feel! 

Only available in Dutch.