Hamill Gallery of Tribal Art

Located in Boston, in the US, Hamill Gallery of Tribal Art is a gallery that is dedicated to a collection of traditional African art. It has a strong online presence via its website and has many internet clients. Housed in a nineteenth-century wallpaper factory, the gallery has an exhibition space that is divided that has two additional floors capable of accommodating about 40 000 objects. Half of the gallery’s collections are on the website; this includes music instruments that have been sold already. Hamill Gallery has over 70 outside major exhibition that have been arranged for New England museums, colleges and school galleries.

The gallery’s exhibition focuses on traditional drums of the Yoruba, Senufo, Kuba, Chokwe, Bamileke, Igbo and slit drums of the Yaka, Dan and Yangere. It also exhibits instruments such as gongs, horns, kora, harps and mbira, the thumb piano from Zimbabwe. Most of the collections are for visual purposes as many pieces are not in playing condition, but Hamill Gallery invites visitors to try those that are in playing condition. Djembe drums, talking drums and balliphones are all intended for playing at the gallery. Answers to questions about the use and function of these collections can be found in the gallery’s reading room/bookstore.

The gallery is open to members of the public by appointment on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Noon - 6 PM.