Press Release

PHILADELPHIA’S AFRICAN CONNECTIONS: FROM ANCIENT EGYPT TO SOUTH OF THE SAHARA
Exhibitions, Restaurants And Shops Give Philly Visitors A Taste Of The African Experience

PHILADELPHIA, February 5, 2007 - Visitors coming to Philadelphia can connect with Africa through three extraordinary exhibitions in town: Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs at The Franklin Institute; Amarna, Ancient Egypt’s Place in the Sun at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology; and The Art of African Women: Empowering Traditions at the African American Museum in Philadelphia. Together, the exhibitions display more than 225 artifacts and 100 photographs, along with a fine selection of textiles, clothing and jewelry.

African-American Museum in Philadelphia

Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC

But Philadelphia’s African connections don’t stop there. Exhibition goers can extend their city visit and continue their exploration of Africa by dining at a local Ethiopian, Senegalese or Sudanese restaurant or shopping for native furnishings, sculptures, jewelry, textiles, skin products, soaps and more at one of several African boutiques.

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs:
More than 3,000 years after his death, ancient Egyptian boy pharaoh King Tutankhamun is about to rule once again: this time his empire consists of Philadelphia and The Countryside™, and his reign will last not a decade, but eight months, from February 3 through September 30, 2007. The landmark exhibition, Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, presented by Mellon Financial Corporation, is making Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute the last stop on its North American tour. The traveling show includes 130 treasures, including 50 artifacts that have been excavated from Tut’s tomb. To welcome Tut, his royal family and the record-setting number of visitors who will visit the exhibition, cultural organizations and businesses across the region are commissioning Tut-related activities fit for a king. www.fi.edu/tut

Amarna, Ancient Egypt’s Place in the Sun:
The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia’s premier facility for exploring ancient Egypt, is hosting a “Year of Egypt” to honor all of the Tut activities taking place in the city. A special exhibition, Amarna, Ancient Egypt’s Place in the Sun, spotlights the city of Tutankhamun’s childhood, now through October 2007. The installation features more than 100 artifacts that date to the time of Tutankhamun and offers a rare look at the meteoric rise and fall of this unique royal city. The museum is also hosting lectures, guided tours of the permanent Egyptian collections and even belly dancing classes. www.museum.upenn.edu

The Art of African Women: Empowering Traditions:
The African American Museum in Philadelphia hosts a new exhibition, The Art of African Women: Empowering Traditions, now through May 6, 2007. Philadelphia is the first city to host this Schomburg Center traveling show featuring the work of world-renowned photojournalist Margaret Courtney-Clarke. The retrospective collection of the artist’s work, built over a 20-year period, features a stunning combination of colorful photographs, textiles and artifacts that pay tribute to the beauty rural African women create in their daily lives. It also shows the artistic traditions that these artists and entrepreneurs have been handed down from generation to generation. The exhibition is part of Clarke’s commitment to bringing public attention to the work of the women throughout Africa. www.aampmuseum.org

Exotic Dining, Philly-Style:
Those who wish to extend their African experience beyond the exhibitions need only head to one of the city’s African restaurants, all as diverse as the lands from which they are derived. Many of these restaurants are situated in University City, home to the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. Voted Philly’s number one ethnic dining destination by Philadelphia City Paper’s Dish Magazine, Abysinnia Restaurant and Bar specializes in meat and vegetarian Ethiopian cuisine. Also in the neighborhood, Fatou and Fama offers a full menu of Senegalese food, including roasted lamb, marinated chicken and grilled shrimp dishes, while Kaffa Crossing Café, owned by a long-time Philadelphian of Ethiopian descent, is a fair-trade cafe specializing in Ethiopian cuisine.

The Art Of Shopping:
Along with authentic dining, Philadelphia is home to a variety of African shops. On the edge of the Historic District, Chic Afrique, owned by Nigerian native Victoria Onwuchekwea, Ph.D., offers herbal skin and haircare products, soaps, scrubs and more—all made from traditional African materials. At Tribal Home, an African gallery and shop in Old City, the collection of antique artifacts imported directly from Africa keep patrons buying. And on South Street, Pearl of Africa is a known hotspot for African furnishings, sculptures, jewelry, textiles and more.

Philly Overnight:
Individual hotels offer special King Tut-inspired hotel packages, enabling visitors to stay overnight and take in all that Philadelphia has to offer. The Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia and Doubletree Philadelphia are among 15 hotels offering a package that includes untimed, undated, VIP tickets to the exhibition. The Hilton Inn at Penn’s package offers two tickets to both the Tut and Amarna exhibitions. Rooms are bookable by calling the hotel directly. For a full list of participating hotels, visit www.gophila.com/tut. Another option is the popular Philly Overnight® Hotel Package, now bookable at www.gophila.com. Available until April 9, 2007, the package includes two-night accommodations, free parking, a Philly’s More Fun teddy bear and the Philly’s Sleepover Savings Coupon Book with discounts at attractions, restaurants and shops.

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside™ a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit www.gophila.com or call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676. 

Note to Editors: For photos of Greater Philadelphia, visit our Photo Gallery.

CONTACT:

Leha Anderson-Rhyens, GPTMC
(215) 599-2298, leha@gptmc.com

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