I could spend all day here asking Henning Christoph question after question. So many interesting, thought provoking secrets from the Diaspora. Henning's knowledge is extensive and more than likely far beyond what any other Anthropologist and/or Researcher could ever have access to. A must visit Museum that should be locally and state funded for expansion!

The museum consists of 3 rooms with a lot of exhibits. Without a guide you're pretty much lost, so I can only recommend everyone to book a tour. The owner has great stories to tell, has experienced a lot himself and can confidently answer questions and generally tell interesting stories. An absolute recommendation!

The most exciting museum tour I have ever experienced. A magnificent, extraordinary and exciting collection. Definitely visit!!

I can highly recommend the S.O.A Museum. It was, together with the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the most interesting exhibition with the best guided tour. Mr. Christoph, who leads the tour himself, takes you into a completely different world that exists in secret and is only accessible to a few. If you want to find out more about this world, you can buy the appropriate literature in the museum and the author is often Mr. Henning Christoph himself! The photos in the books were also taken by Henning Christoph himself, as he is also a very well-known photographer! So it's definitely worth stopping by here and listening to the stories from another world.

An absolutely fascinating experience. If you have any interest in anthropology, African culture and history, voodoo, or just the unusual or macabre, I highly recommend a visit. I went rather spontaneously while on holiday in the area and wasn't sure what to expect, so I just rang the doorbell and hoped for the best. Fortunately I arrived just as a group of three others were about to start the guided tour, so I was able to join them. My ability to speak German is very limited, but the curator and other visitors were willing to do the tour in English, for which I am very grateful to them all! We were shown many extremely interesting and rare items related to voodoo and the African diaspora, and given many extremely interesting facts and backstories about them. The curator is a captivating person who has great knowledge and personal experience with his subject matter. It is obvious that he cares deeply about Africa and it's people, beliefs and customs. Definitely bring cash as card payments are not accepted. I found the experience well worth the money. I recommend calling ahead, especially if you are not fluent in German. But most of all I just recommend going! This museum deserves much more space and recognition, a true hidden gem.

Although one might initially dismiss the four-room apartment, full of Vodou fetishes, as an old-school cabinet of curiosities, it offers an exciting insight into a world unknown to most Central Europeans, away from Abrahamic norms and Western ideas of reality. You shudder and are reminded of the fragility and subjectivity of your own world, while you are drawn into a completely different sphere that you, as an outsider, will never really understand because it can only be lived. However, the exhibition stands or falls with the explanations of the museum director and curator, who has compiled the collection over numerous years of travel and research. The oral narrative of subjective experience conveys so much more than plaque texts. A gem that Essen can be happy about.

Unique collection, collected and curated with great care and passion. However, a guided tour is recommended as there are few labels.

(Translated by Google) Very informative just great museum (Original) Sehr informativ einfach tolles Museum

(Translated by Google) Super interesting little museum with changing exhibitions and an extremely knowledgeable guide. Must see! (Original) Super interessantes kleines Museum mit wechselnden Ausstellungen und einer extrem kenntnisreichen Führung. Unbedingt anschauen!

Really interesting and worthwhile visit. It is important to know that one must make an appointment beforehand, and that only a limited number of visitors can be accomodated at one time. Henning Christophs extensive knowledge of central Africa and its diaspora is amazing, this must not be lost and will benefit greatly from external (national) funding if this jewel of knowledge is to be relocated and saved for all time. All carefully preserved unique objects and materials have been collected during Mr Christophs research and collaboration with local groups and organisations, NOT as a result of 'stealing' perpetrated by so many nations in the past. The stories Mr Christoph tells are personal and of first hand experience. PLEASE VISIT!, I can wholheartedly reccomend the richly illustrated book 'African Secrets', which can be purchased for just 15 euro, which will also support this fantasic museums future.

(Translated by Google) An absolute gem in a museum! So many great exhibits with interesting and incredible stories behind them. Please visit with a guide. It is worth it! (Original) Ein absolutes Schmuckstück an Museum! So viele tolle Ausstellungsstücke mit interessanten und unglaublichen Geschichten dahinter. Bitte unbedingt mit Führung zu besuchen. Es lohnt sich!

(Translated by Google) So if you are in Essen you should definitely visit this museum. A highlight for us. The owner breathes life into the museum. I could have listened for hours. (Original) Also wer in Essen ist sollte auf jedenfall dieses Museum besuchen. Ein Highlight für uns. Dem Museum wird durch den Besitzer Leben eingehaucht. Ich hätte noch Stundenlang zuhören können.

Had the guided tour, loved it: very informative, great place to visit

Very interesting

A super exciting museum. Relatively small, but one of the most interesting and best museums I have visited in my life. I've seen a few voodoo documentaries before and, as I said, I was absolutely thrilled. Definitely take a guided tour!

The small museum is private collection in 3 rooms but there are a lot to see about African culture .The owner is your guide and he knows a lot to tell you about which is nessecary to realise what you see.Take with you cash to pay (and chocolates for the Gods if you want something from them.)

Very informative, very exciting and very nice tour

(Translated by Google) The most impressive and beautiful museum I have visited so far !! Henning Christoph's tour is terrific. His stories contain many personal anecdotes and experiences, but also plenty of information about the historical background. When looking at it, I sometimes forget that it was originally a matter of everyday use. The wood and metal work in the form of masks, puppets, oracles and much more simply invite you to be amazed and admired. I would particularly like to recommend the illustrated book "African Secrets" for the current exhibition. As a layperson, you can’t remember everything right away and you will have forgotten a lot later if you want to remember it. Apart from Mr Christoph's photographs, you can look at them for hours at home; D I'm already looking forward to my next visit and a new exhibition 🌺 (Original) Das beeindruckendste und schönste Museum, das ich bis jetzt besucht habe!! Die Führung von Henning Christoph ist grandios. Seine Erzählungen enthalten viele persönliche Anekdoten und Erlebnisse, aber auch reichlich Informationen zum geschichtlichen Hintergrund. Beim Betrachten habe ich ab und zu vergessen, dass es sich ursprünglich um Gebrauchsgegenstände gehandelt hat. Die Holz- und Metallarbeiten in Form von Masken, Puppen, Orakeln und vielem mehr laden einfach zum Staunen und Bewundern ein. Den Bildband "African Secrets" zur derzeitigen Ausstellung möchte ich besonders empfehlen. Als Laie kann man sich bei weitem nicht alles auf Anhieb merken und wird später vieles vergessen haben, wenn man sich daran zurückerinnern möchte. Von Herrn Christophs Fotografien mal abgesehen, die kann man dann Zuhause schön lauschig stundenlang betrachten ;D Ich freue mich schon auf meinen nächsten Besuch und auf eine neue Ausstellung 🌺

To see the African region history, it is good to go here.

Worth visiting and interesting stories

Great tour. We had great thrilling moments. Please visit.

This museum is one of the best anthropological museum I have visited. I strongly recommend you to visit it and enjoy. It will be very informative for everyone.

(Translated by Google) Very interesting! There is a lot to see. Definitely worth a visit !! (Original) Sehr interessant! Gibt viel zu sehen. Auf jeden Fall einen Besuch Wert!!