Museum of African Culture highlighted by USA Today

The USA Today Travel Section has identified Portland as one of "10 great towns with international flair" and singled out the Museum of African Culture as one of its cultural treasures.

Stephen Goldsmith, director of the Center for the Living City, is quoted in the article, stating, "To find this rich mixture of African communities emerge in the Rockwell-esque images of Portland is to rediscover a city that is rediscovering itself,"

The article, which appears on the newspaper's website at http://tinyurl.com/ykloqza, adds, "Hear Senegalese drummers or watch Nigerian films at this museum. Come for fall foliage, visit Somali shops and ethnic restaurants."

The article was written In honor of United Nations Day on Saturday, Oct. 24, seeking to "discover the different nationalities in communities across the USA.

Oscar Mokeme, director and co-founder of the museum, said the article was a welcome tribute to the museum and the city.

"It wasn't a surprise to us, we believe that we have one of the best collections in the country. People have also come in and told us that they haven't seen a collection like what we have," he said.

"I think it's good news for the city of Portland and the state of Maine," Mokeme said.

The Museum of African Culture was founded by Mokeme and Art Aleshire Aug. 8, 1998 in Portland. The museum's website (www.museumafricanculture.org) says the museum is "the only institution in northern New England devoted exclusively to sub-Saharan African arts and culture," noting more than 1,500 pieces in the collection.