From the desert sands of the Sahara to the thunderous roar of Victoria Falls, visitors to the Pensacola Museum of Art can now experience the vibrant diversity of art and culture from all corners of the African continent.

Beginning on August 14, Art of Africa: Objects from the Collection of Warren Robbins will present over 80 objects- including sculpture, textiles, beaded clothing and jewelry, bringing to Pensacola the creative diversity of over 30 cultures in sub- Saharan Africa. The exhibit closes on Oct. 30.

Robbins, who passed away on Dec. 4, 2008, was an American art collector, whose collection of African art led to the formation of the National Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian Institution.

His first visit to Africa was in 1973, by which time his museum's collections had grown to 5,000 pieces with a staff of 20.

Robbins had raised funds to purchase from a Manhattan art gallery a bearded icon called Afo-AKom, considered sacred by the Kom people of West Africa, which had been taken from a hill-top village in Cameroon in 1966. Returning the figure, Robbins was welcomed by Nsom Nggue, then king of the Kom people, greeted by men and women in tribal dress.

The collection is on loan from the Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communication in Washington, DC. Warren Robbins, its founder and director, is also founder and director emeritus of the National Museum of African Art, now a branch of the Smithsonian Institution.

The PMA is located at 407 South Jefferson Street ,Pensacola. Hours of operation are Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday noon-5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for students and active duty military. Tuesdays are free admission for all.

For more information please call the Museum (850) 432-6247 or visit www.pensacolamuseumofart. org.