Africa Day Trail
Africa Day is an annual event that marks the founding of the Organization of African Unity (now called the African Union) on 25 May 1963. Manchester Museum invites you to explore and experience the richness, and vibrancy of African culture when we celebrate Africa Day!
Collect your Africa Day Trail from the Welcome Desk and as you walk around the Museum, look out for this image. It shows the continent of Africa, which has more than fifty countries.
See if you can answer all the questions and hand in your completed sheet at our welcome desk to enter our Africa Day prize draw.
Don’t forget to take pictures and tag us on social media as well
#AfricaDay2026
Item 1
Archaeology Gallery
This item is almost four thousand years old. It was excavated in 1912, and archaeologists believe that this item, and other jewellery in the case, survived for so many years because of an accident. This item is shaped like a shell and has an inscription (some writing) on it.
What is the name of the person written on this item?
Item 2
Egypt and Sudan Gallery
This bowl includes an animal that has been extinct in Egypt since the early 1800s. It was present in the time of the ancient Egyptians, who lived side by side with such animals next to the River Nile. Ancient Egyptians used the painted zig-zag lines to indicate water.
What type of animal is on the bowl?
Item 3
Mezzanine
This case explores stories about minerals obtained through mining, such as gold and diamonds. The text also explains how mining can be harmful, and why it is important to consider the people involved. The diamond in this case was purchased by Professor William Thomas Gordon.
What country did the diamond come from?
Item 4
Nature’s Library
The Goliath beetle (Goliathus regius) can lift up to 850 times its own weight. That is equivalent to a human lifting almost sixty-five tons. Adult males have a Y-shaped horn on their head, used in battles with other males. Adult females have a wedge-shaped head that helps with burrowing when laying eggs.
How many male beetles are there in the display case?
Item 5
Nature’s Library
This case includes three mammals with similar features, diets, and lifestyles. For example, they all have long, sticky tongues used to eat insects. Scientists used to believe they were related to each other, but they are not. The mammal in this photo came from South Africa.
Name two animals related to the mammal in the photo.
Item 6
Africa Hub
This item is a plant, known as a spice and a colour. It is used to flavour sweet foods such as biscuits and cakes, as well as savoury dishes. When someone feels unwell, they sometimes take this item with hot water, honey, and lemon.
Where in Africa is this plant grown?
Terms and conditions
1. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
2. Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions and agreement to be bound by them.
3. The competition is open to UK residents of any age. Entrants under 18 must get consent from their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) before entering. Manchester Museum will assume that the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of entrants under 18 agree to these Terms and Conditions on behalf of the entrant.
4. Employees of Manchester Museum, or their family members or partners (or anyone else connected in any way with the competition) shall not be permitted to enter the competition.
5. Manchester Museum will not accept responsibility for entries that are lost, mislaid, damaged or delayed in transit, regardless of cause, including, for example, as a result of any postal failure, equipment failure, technical malfunction, systems, satellite, network, server, computer hardware or software failure of any kind.
6. The rules of the competition, and the prize for each winner, are as follows:
A winner will be drawn at random from the completed trails submitted at Manchester Museum’s reception desk, which have all 6 questions answered correctly, and include contact details for participant. The competition will run from 23 May 2026 to 31 May 2026, and the winner will be selected at random on Monday 1 June 2026. The winner will be contacted via phone or email and will have 24 hours to claim their prize. Failure to claim prize will result in Manchester Museum selecting another winner.
Prize includes £50 voucher for the Museum Shop.
The prize does not include travel or food and drink during your visit.
The voucher is valid for use in the Museum Shop for 12 months from 1 June 2026.
7. Manchester Museum reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition, and these terms and conditions, without notice, in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil, or military disturbance, act of God, or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation, or any other event outside of the promoter’s control. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
8. In entering, you confirm that you are eligible to do so and eligible to claim any prize you may win. Manchester Museum may require you to provide proof that you are eligible to enter the prize draw or competition.
9. Manchester Museum reserves all rights to disqualify you if your conduct is contrary to the spirit or intention of the prize draw or competition.
10. Manchester Museum is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied to any entrant by any third party connected with this competition.
11. The prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable and no cash alternative is offered. Manchester Museum reserves the right to replace the prize with an alternative prize of equal or higher value if circumstances beyond Manchester Museum’s control makes it necessary to do so.
12. The decision of Manchester Museum regarding any aspect of the prize draw or competition is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into about it.
10. The winner will be chosen by a judging panel from all entries received and verified by Manchester Museum.
13. The winner will be notified by email or phone before 30 April 2026. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 24 hours of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize and pick a replacement winner.
14. Manchester Museum will notify the winner of when and where the prize can be collected.
15. The competition, and these terms and conditions, will be governed by English law, and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.
16. The winner agrees to the use of their name and image in any publicity material. Any personal data relating to the winner, or any other entrants, will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation, and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.
17. The winner’s name will be available 28 days after closing date by sending an email to: museum@manchester.ac.uk
18. The information you provide will be used in conjunction with the privacy policy on our website.