Nigeria, rich with history, arts, and culture, has its fair share of artefacts stored in its museums. As a result, a visit to museums is one of the fun activities among Nigerians.
History of museums in Nigeria
It can be claimed that the development and appreciation of museums began in Nigeria in the 1950s. The art and culture of Nigeria were preserved through some institutions. They gathered numerous anthropological items and materials that were discovered on Nigerian soil. Many museums have a wealth of antiquities only accessible through books and other historical writings.
The collection of cultural artefacts began much earlier than the 20th century, despite the late start of the museum movement, thanks to the concerted efforts of some highly regarded and wealthy individuals and groups in different Nigerian communities who were relentlessly collecting private collections of cultural items as hobbies or decorating their homes, traditional shrines, and cultural palaces like those of the Oba of Benin, Ooni of Ife, etc.
The late Kenneth C. Murray, Bernard E.B. Fagg, E.H. Duckworth, and H. J. Brauntholts were notable British nationals who fought to establish museums in Nigeria.
Since museums exist in their individual countries of origin, they already knew a lot about the significance of museums. As a result, when they saw the kinds of items the Nigerian people owned, they immediately understood their significance.
It is crucial to note that from the time of colonial rule in Nigeria until the present, approximately 33 national museums have been established in the nation, one in each of the following states of the Federation: Esie in Kwara State (1945); Jos in Plateau State (1952); Ife in Osun State (1954); Lagos in Lagos State (1957); Oron in Akwa-Ibom State (1958); Kano in Kano State (1960); and Owo in Ondo State (1968).
Enugu in Enugu State, Benin in Edo State, Kaduna in Kaduna State, Ibadan in Oyo State, Aba in Abia State, Umuahia in Abia State, Calabar in Cross River State, Lokoja in Bauchi State, and Uyo in Akwa-Ibom State were all established in the 1970s and many others.
The first museum in Nigeria
The first museum to open in Nigeria was the Esie Museum, which opened its doors in 1945. It was built to store more than a thousand human figures or images found on tombstones. It once served as a focal point for local religious devotion and worship, with an annual festival in April serving as its culmination. However, all of this has since disappeared because the current King has ended it. The tombstone is off-limits for photography.
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Types of museums in Nigeria
There are different types of museums in Nigeria. They are:
General museums
General museums are frequently referred to as multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary museums because they house collections in various topic areas. A lot of them date back to the 18th, 19th, or early 20th centuries. The majority came from prior private collections and were representative of the encyclopaedic mindset of the period. Some general museums exhibit the impact of cross-cultural interactions brought about through commerce.
Natural history and natural science museums
The natural world is of interest to museums of natural history and natural science; their collections may include specimens of birds, mammals, insects, plants, rocks, minerals, and fossils.
History museums
The phrase “history museum” is frequently used to refer to a wide range of museums where collections have been gathered and are typically displayed to provide a historical perspective. This type of museum may contain so many art and scientific artefacts due to the all-encompassing character of history that they are more appropriately referred to as general museums.
Art museums
The object is most important to the art museum (also known as an art gallery in some areas) as a medium of direct communication with its visitors. So when choosing what to add to the collection, aesthetic value is key. These collections have typically included paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts. Since the 19th century, when they were first established, several art museums have displayed industrial arts, especially to promote excellent industrial design.
Importance of museums in Nigeria
Today, Nigeria’s National Museum is one of the most popular tourist destinations for Nigerians and visitors, young and old, literate and illiterate.
Through their instructional function of displaying cultural and natural objects that represent the socio-cultural life of a people, museums serve a purpose.
Museums are still the only institution that still uses items as a form of global communication. As a result, the museum has evolved into a tool for socio-cultural integration, and museums in Nigeria use the artefacts under their care to engage with visitors from across the world to improve socio-cultural understanding and provide more information and reflections about its people.
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Top 10 museums in Nigeria
National Museum, Lagos
This institution, established in 1957, has a significant collection of artwork, archaeological digs, and ethnographic exhibitions. Ancient statues, carvings, and monuments are on display here. This museum is rightfully regarded as among the greatest in Nigeria.
Jos museum
It started operating in 1952. It is situated in the city centre, not far from the zoo. You will discover much about Nigeria’s prehistoric era when visiting this site. Exhibits in the Jos museum date as far back as 500 B.C. You will appreciate the aesthetics of beautifully made ceramic objects. Additionally, there are displays of antique, preserved mining materials. It will be a fun activity for both a visitor and a Nigerian who wants to learn more about his home nation.
Additionally, there are anthropological displays and an excellent ceramics gallery featuring works from different regions of Nigeria and Cameroon. A small zoo, a transportation display, a pottery studio, an arboretum, and the open-air Museum of Traditional Nigerian Architecture (MOTNA), the largest example of architectural representation in Black Africa, are all located on the museum’s grounds.
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National War Museum, Umuahia
This institution was founded in 1985 and is listed as one of Nigeria’s seven wonders for tourists. This magnificent location is found in the Abia State. It has galleries that are devoted to the military and the Nigerian Civil War. Numerous Nigerian equipment and weaponry have been used in the Niger Delta and other conflicts. The bombs and other items the militants used at the time will astound you. These displays act as a reminder of the negative aspects of war. You will undoubtedly see how the war has affected Nigeria’s standing abroad and the lives of its citizens.
National Museum, Benin City
Being in the middle of the city, this location will be simple to find. King’s Square, specifically. In 1973, the museum was established. Here, you’ll find unique creations that will inspire sincere respect, like bronze sculptures, terracotta goods, and cast iron artefacts that harken back to the era of the former Benin Empire. You’ll discover a lot about the history and culture of our country.
Oron museum
Most of the 800 known ancestor figures (ekpu) of the Oron people, considered among the oldest and finest surviving wood carvings in Africa, were first housed in the museum when it first opened in 1958. During the civil war, the museum was robbed, and many of the wood carvings were stolen. It was rebuilt and reopened in 1975 to hold the ruins of these wooden sculptures and other ethnographic items from many different regions of Nigeria. A handicraft village and the preservation and display of Civil War-era bunkers are further elements.
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Gidan Makama Museum Kano
In addition to being a national monument, Kano has displays that, in part, tell its history, its people, and their way of life from ancient times to the present because of its outstanding architectural design. The building itself is a replica of the original construction and is home to outstanding specimens of Kano arts, crafts, and historic artefacts.
Owo museum
The museum was founded in 1968 to house the artefacts that were formerly housed in the Olowo of Owo’s palace. The archaeological artefacts and other ethnographic items found in and around Owo are conserved in the museum.
Kaduna museum
The former North Central State Government donated the Kaduna Museum building, which at one time served as the Northern Peoples Congress’ political party headquarters (NPC). The museum, which showcases Nigerian-made archaeological, ethnographic, and artisan exhibits, was established in 1975. The museum is connected to a live crafts centre where traditional craftsmen and women can be seen at work.
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National Museum of Colonial History, Aba
The museum of colonial history was inaugurated on March 8, 1985 in Aba, Abia State, and its goal is to illustrate how the current geographical expression of Nigeria developed through the fusion of various languages and customs brought by European imperialists who arrived as traders, explorers, missionaries, and later as colonisers. The growth of nationalism and eventual independence are also portrayed in the museum. There is also a “live” crafts centre for seeing traditional craftwork.
Calabar Old Residency Museum
This institution’s history is highly intriguing. The one-story structure was constructed in 1884. In actuality, it was not even constructed in Nigeria. Many pieces came from Scotland via Morocco and were delivered here. The building initially served as the administration’s main office for colonial authority. A wealth of historical information regarding our nation’s colonial and pre-colonial eras can be found here. The sale of palm oil is a case in point. Additionally, this structure addresses the issue of the slave trade. Relics and documents are carefully preserved so that museum visitors can view them for a long time.
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