the bma was one of the first museums in the united states to obtain a collection of african art. a large part of the collection was donated by janet and alan wurtzburger in 1954. it contains more than 2,000 objects whose sources range from ancient egypt to contemporary zimbabwe, and includes works from many other cultures, including bamana, yoruba, kuba, ndebele. the collection includes many different forms of art, including headdresses, masks, figures, royal staffs, textiles, jewelry, ceremonial weapons, and pottery. several of the pieces are known for their use in royal courts, performances, and religious contexts, and many are internationally known.