Hein Vanhee

Background

About Hein Vanhee

I have recently moved back into a research position at the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren, Belgium), after having served for six years in diverse management functions.I have just completed a major project with the Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida in Gainesville."Kongo across the Waters" is the title of an exhibition and a book about the history and culture of the Kongo peoples (Bakongo) in northern Angola and in Lower Congo (DRC) and about the historical impact of Kongo culture on the development of African American cultures in the southern United States, as a consequence of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.The exhibit has opened on October 22, 2013, at the Harn Museum of Art, and will travel in 2014-2015 to Atlanta, Princeton and New Orleans.Check out: I am currently writing up a major research project that I started years ago at Ghent University. This is about the early colonial history of Mayombe, a region in Lower Congo (DRC). My focus is on the development and implementation of the colonial policy of 'indirect rule' and on its long term impact on the political culture of the region.From 2006 till 2012 I was in charge of the division of Collection Management at the RMCA. For shorter periods I was also in charge of the Library and of the Division of Public Services.This has enabled me to acquire important skills in policy development and implementation and in diverse aspects of museum management. I have also been trained in project management and I have used those skills in a range of projects in the domains of collection registration, digitization, database development and online access.Specialties: African history, anthropology, museums, information management