Uploaded February 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
In honour of Black History Month, this Curator's Pick from Aga Khan Museum Curator Dr. Michael Chagnon highlights Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE — a monumental LEGO® sculpture acquired by the Museum in 2021.
Created by Toronto-based Ghanaian-Canadian Ekow Nimako, Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE is an Afrofuturistic reimagining of the capital of the medieval Kingdom of Ghana. Made up of approximately 100,000+ LEGO® pieces, Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE celebrates the glories of an ancient African trade hub and the limitless possibilities of the future.
In his examination of this sculptural masterpiece, Dr. Chagnon delves into the medieval roots of the metropolis, taking viewers on a journey through time to the mighty Ghanaian Empire which flourished between the 8th and 13th centuries, and whose capital inspired Nimako to create this utopian cityscape.
Photos Credits:
Ekow Nimako
Connie Tsang
Samuel Engelking
Issac Samuel (Twitter: @rhaplord)
Sultana Mangalji
Houston Museum of African American Culture
Visit the Aga Khan Museum's website to learn more about Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE: agakhanmuseum.org/exhibitions/kumbi-saleh-3020-ce
Bringing online Museum experiences to you is part of our mission to connect cultures and promote understanding between peoples. To learn more about how you can support the Museum by making a donation or becoming a Friend or Patron, please visit: agakhanmuseum.org/support
In honour of Black History Month, this Curator's Pick from Aga Khan Museum Curator Dr. Michael Chagnon highlights Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE — a monumental LEGO® sculpture acquired by the Museum in 2021.
Created by Toronto-based Ghanaian-Canadian Ekow Nimako, Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE is an Afrofuturistic reimagining of the capital of the medieval Kingdom of Ghana. Made up of approximately 100,000+ LEGO® pieces, Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE celebrates the glories of an ancient African trade hub and the limitless possibilities of the future.
In his examination of this sculptural masterpiece, Dr. Chagnon delves into the medieval roots of the metropolis, taking viewers on a journey through time to the mighty Ghanaian Empire which flourished between the 8th and 13th centuries, and whose capital inspired Nimako to create this utopian cityscape.
Photos Credits:
Ekow Nimako
Connie Tsang
Samuel Engelking
Issac Samuel (Twitter: @rhaplord)
Sultana Mangalji
Houston Museum of African American Culture
Visit the Aga Khan Museum's website to learn more about Kumbi Saleh 3020 CE: agakhanmuseum.org/exhibitions/kumbi-saleh-3020-ce
Bringing online Museum experiences to you is part of our mission to connect cultures and promote understanding between peoples. To learn more about how you can support the Museum by making a donation or becoming a Friend or Patron, please visit: agakhanmuseum.org/support
