ARTS & CULTURE
Museum Reviews: A Journey Through Museums In Nigeria
Nigeria, a country rich in history and culture, is home to numerous museums that showcase its fascinating insights into its past. These institutions play a crucial role in preserving and presenting Nigeria’s past and present to both locals and tourists.
This article will review some of the most notable museums in Nigeria. It will highlight their collections, significance, and visitor experiences.
National Museum, Lagos
The National Museum in Lagos is one of the most important museums in Nigeria. Located in the heart of Lagos, it was established in 1957 and houses a vast collection of Nigerian art and artefacts. The museum’s collection includes archaeological and ethnographic materials from various Nigerian cultures.
Visitors can see ancient terracotta sculptures, bronze castings, and traditional textiles. One of the most famous exhibits is the collection of Benin bronze plaques, which showcase the exceptional craftsmanship of the ancient Benin Kingdom.
The museum is divided into several galleries, each focusing on different aspects of Nigerian culture and history. There’s a gallery dedicated to traditional Nigerian musical instruments, another showcasing traditional clothing and textiles, and a section on Nigerian currencies throughout history. The museum also has an outdoor area with examples of traditional Nigerian architecture.
While the National Museum in Lagos offers a comprehensive overview of Nigerian history and culture, some visitors note that the facilities could benefit from modernization. The lighting and display methods in some areas are outdated, which can detract from the viewing experience. Despite these issues, the museum remains an essential destination for anyone interested in Nigerian history and art.
National War Museum, Umuahia
The National War Museum in Umuahia, Abia State, offers a unique perspective on Nigerian history. Established in 1985, this museum focuses on the Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War, which took place from 1967 to 1970. The museum’s collection includes weapons, vehicles, and other military equipment used during the conflict.
Visitors to the National War Museum can see tanks, armoured vehicles, and aircraft used in the war. There are also displays of small arms, uniforms, and personal items belonging to soldiers. The museum provides a sobering look at this difficult period in Nigerian history, offering insights into the causes and consequences of the war.
One of the strengths of this museum is its outdoor displays. Large military equipment is well-preserved and displayed on the museum’s grounds, allowing visitors to get a close look at these historical artefacts.
However, some visitors note that the indoor exhibits could benefit from better organization and more detailed information panels.
Jos Museum
The Jos Museum, located in Jos, Plateau State, is known for its impressive archaeological and ethnographic collections. Established in 1952, it is one of the oldest museums in Nigeria. The museum is particularly famous for its collection of terracotta figures from the Nok culture, which dates back to around 500 BC to 200 AD.
Visitors to the Jos Museum can explore galleries showcasing traditional crafts, including pottery, metalwork, and woodcarving from various Nigerian ethnic groups.
There’s also a significant collection of prehistoric stone tools, providing insight into early human habitation in the region. The museum grounds include a small zoo and examples of traditional architecture from different parts of Nigeria.
One of the unique features of the Jos Museum is its tin mining gallery, which tells the story of tin mining in the Jos Plateau area. This exhibit provides an interesting look at an important aspect of the region’s economic history.
While the Jos Museum houses an impressive collection, some visitors note that the displays and information panels could be updated to provide a more engaging experience. Despite this, the museum remains an important resource for understanding Nigeria’s archaeological heritage.
Gidan Makama Museum, Kano
The Gidan Makama Museum in Kano offers visitors a glimpse into the history and culture of northern Nigeria. Housed in a 15th-century building that was once the residence of the Makama of Kano (a title given to a high-ranking official), the museum showcases the rich heritage of Kano State.
The museum’s collection includes traditional Hausa-Fulani clothing, jewellery, and household items. There are also displays on the history of Kano, including exhibits on the city’s famous walls and gates.
One of the highlights is the collection of photographs and documents relating to the Kano Emirate, providing insight into the region’s political history.
Visitors often praise the museum for its well-preserved building, which is an attraction in itself. The traditional architecture and intricate decorations offer a tangible connection to Kano’s past. However, some note that more detailed information in English would improve the experience for international visitors.
Museums In Nigeria: Exploring Nigeria’s Cultural Diversity
Beyond the museums listed above, Nigeria has a network of regional museums with unique heritage of different ethnic groups. For example, the Calabar Museum offers a glimpse into the lives of the Efik and Ibibio.
These regional museums often possess smaller but more specialized collections. However, they sometimes suffer from inadequate funding and maintenance. Investing in these institutions would greatly enhance their ability to preserve and showcase Nigeria’s cultural diversity.
Museums In Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities
While Nigeria’s museums hold immense potential, they face various challenges. Limited funding, inadequate staffing, and lack of awareness among the public hinder their development. Additionally, the security of artefacts is a constant concern.
To overcome these challenges, increased government support, public-private partnerships, and community engagement are essential. By investing in education and outreach programs, museums can attract more visitors and generate revenue.
The Role of Museums in National Development
Museums play a crucial role in shaping national identity and fostering cultural pride. They serve as educational resources, inspiring future generations and promoting tourism. By preserving and showcasing Nigeria’s heritage, museums contribute to the country’s economic and social development.
It is essential to recognize the potential of museums as catalysts for cultural exchange and dialogue. By collaborating with international institutions, Nigerian museums can expand their reach and impact.
In conclusion…
Nigeria’s museums offer a wealth of information and artefacts that showcase the country’s rich and diverse heritage. From the comprehensive collections of the National Museum in Lagos to the specialized focus of the National War Museum in Umuahia, these institutions provide valuable insights into different aspects of Nigerian history and culture.
While many visitors praise the richness of the collections, there is a common theme in feedback that many of Nigeria’s museums could benefit from modernization. Updating display methods, improving lighting, and providing more detailed information could greatly enhance the visitor experience.
Despite these challenges, Nigeria’s museums remain essential institutions for preserving and presenting the country’s heritage. They offer both Nigerians and international visitors the opportunity to engage with Nigeria’s past and gain a deeper understanding of its cultural diversity.
As Nigeria continues to develop its tourism sector, these museums have the potential to become even more significant attractions, showcasing the country’s rich history and culture to the world.
Would you like to focus on a specific region or type of museum?
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Renowned Nigerian theatre personality Bolanle Austen-Peters will introduce the inaugural Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF) in November 2024. This groundbreaking event, a joint initiative between Austen-Peters and Lagos State, aims to create a thriving hub for theatrical artists worldwide.
The LITF will show a diverse array of creative talents, fostering excellence and sustainability in the Nigerian theatre industry. Austen-Peters, a distinguished director, producer, and award-winning filmmaker, is leading the charge, garnering support from corporate partners including First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Dorman Long Engineering, Amstel Malta, and the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts.
In a statement announcing the festival’s launch, Austen-Peters expressed her enthusiasm for this ambitious project. She emphasized the LITF’s potential to elevate the Nigerian theatre scene and provide a platform for international collaboration. She said,
In Nigeria, there’s a special kind of magic that you can’t just see. It’s a feeling. I want to share this Nigerian magic with you through this article. In this article, we’ll talk about crazy Nigerian myths.
These stories are very popular in Nigeria especially while growing up. If you’re from Nigeria, you probably know them well. If you’re not, stay tuned and gird yourself.
Nigerian myths instilled fear in us as children, keeping us grounded at home after dark.
These myths could breed all shades of fear and instil restriction in us as kids. Would you want to know them? Stay with me as we read on.
1. The Tattoo Candy
People say that once, a little boy had 20 naira and wanted to buy candy. He went to the school store and chose a candy with temporary tattoos. When he got home, he opened the candy and licked it. He was going to put the tattoo on his hand, but his mom stopped him and told him not to put any tattoos on his body.
The boy didn’t understand why his mom was against it, so that night, he ignored her and put the tattoo on his arm. He was happy with how it looked and played with it, then went to bed.
In his sleep, he dreamed of a green snake wrapping around him and trying to kill him. He woke up scared, only to find a real, scary snake on his arm. The snake was wrapping around him, trying to squeeze him.
The boy screamed, and his mom came into the room. She saw the snake and grabbed a broom to hit it, but the snake didn’t die. The mom didn’t know what to do, so she used the special oil she had in her room. She sprinkled some on the broom, prayed over it, and hit the snake again. This time, the snake slowly died, and the tattoo disappeared.
Since then, the boy never bought candy with tattoos and warned his friends not to either.
2. Rebecca/Oroma, The Headless Girl Who Braids Her Own Hair
In Nigeria, there was once a girl named Oroma. She was the most beautiful girl in the kingdom and always had the best hairstyles. Everyone loved her, but no one knew how she did her hair.
One night, two curious girls followed Oroma home to find out. When they looked into her house, they saw something shocking. Oroma was sitting on the floor without a head, and a hundred strange hands were fixing her hair.
The girls ran away and told everyone what they saw. The people got angry and tried to find Oroma, but she was gone. She disappeared. To this day, no one knows where Oroma went.
So it is believed that if you see a girl with amazingly beautiful hair, she might be Oroma.
3. Bush Babies
You lie in bed, struggling to fall asleep in the darkness of night. Suddenly, a baby’s cry pierces the silence, startling you awake. Concern floods your mind as you throw off the covers and swing your feet to the cold floor.
Following the haunting wails, you run out of your room and down the hallway. The cries grow louder as you approach the front door. Hesitantly, you turn the knob and step outside into the chilly night air.
The baby’s cries lead you away from your home and into unfamiliar territory. Tall grass brushes against your legs as you push deeper into a dense thicket. Branches snag your clothes, but an inexplicable compulsion drives you forward.
After what feels like hours of trudging through the wilderness, you stumble into a small clearing. There, in the centre, lies a baby face-down on the ground, its cries muffled by the earth.
Relief washes over you as you approach the infant. You reach out, ready to scoop up the distressed child and bring it to safety. Just as your fingers brush its soft skin, the baby abruptly stops crying.
In one fluid motion, the infant’s head swivels 180 degrees to face you. Your blood runs cold as you stare into glowing red eyes set in a repulsively ugly and deformed face. A mouth filled with needle-sharp teeth gapes open, and before you can react, the creature lunges at you with inhuman speed.
The forest falls silent once more. No trace of you is ever found, leaving behind only whispered stories of the thing that lures its prey with a baby’s cry.
The above narration is exactly how we were told. This is one of the Nigerian myths that kept us in fear even when there was a genuine cry of a baby.
4. Mami Wata
Contrary to the sweet, innocent mermaids portrayed in tales like “The Little Mermaid” or “Aquamarine,” Nigerian stories paint a very different picture of these water-dwelling beings. Known as mami watas, they are not benevolent creatures but rather vicious spirits with a penchant for deception and harm.
These spirits are renowned for their extraordinary beauty, a trait they use to ensnare unsuspecting victims. Often appearing in human form with legs, mami watas can walk among men. They are said to lure men to the river or sea, seduce them, and then claim them as their own, never allowing them to return to land.
While some mami watas target men on land, others prefer to prey on sailors. These seafaring spirits use their seductive charms to lure men aboard their ships, only to reveal their true nature and claim them as their victims.
Therefore, if a stranger, particularly a woman, invites you to the beach or river on a first date, it’s wise to exercise caution. Nigerian legends warn that such an invitation could be a ploy by a mami wata, a dangerous spirit with malicious intent.
5. Night Whistling
Nigerian folklore warns against whistling at night, claiming it summons spirits to your doorstep. Various tales recount the fates of those who dared to whistle after dark…
One chilling story, passed down through generations, tells the story of a young girl named Adaku:
On a moonless night, Adaku’s cruel stepmother orders her to fetch water from the distant stream. Trembling with fear but unable to refuse, Adaku clutches her empty water jug and steps out into the oppressive darkness.
As she trudges along the dirt path leading deeper into the village, Adaku’s fear gives way to an eerie calm. Without thinking, she begins to whistle a quiet tune to keep herself company. The melody drifts through the still air, echoing off the silent huts.
Suddenly, rustling sounds originate from the thick bushes flanking the path. Adaku halts, and the noises cease. Curiosity overrides her caution, and she resumes her whistling. The strange sounds in the undergrowth grow louder, keeping time with her tune.
Heart racing, Adaku quickens her pace, her whistling becoming more anxious. In an instant, the bushes erupt with movement. Slithering snakes, ugly demons, and misty ghosts materialize around her. Decomposing corpses rise from the earth, their bony fingers reaching for the terrified girl.
The air fills with an otherworldly chorus as the nightmarish beings whistle and hiss in unison, surrounding Adaku in a dizzying whirlwind of sound and motion. She screams, but her cries are lost in the cacophony.
Adaku never reaches the stream. She never returns home. Villagers whisper that deep in the bush, where the shadows are darkest, Adaku still whistles with her demonic captors. They say her song lures unsuspecting travellers who whistle in the night, forever expanding the ghostly choir that waits in the darkness.
6. Madam Koi Koi
As this story goes:
Once upon a time, there lived a beloved secondary school teacher known not for her beauty but for her distinctive footwear. She was always seen in high-heeled shoes, the rhythmic “koi koi koi” sound of which earned her the nickname “Madam Koi Koi.” She was adored by students and staff alike.
Tragedy struck when Lady Koi Koi was involved in a car accident. However, rumours circulated that this was no ordinary accident but a deliberate act of malice. It was alleged that jealous staff and students at the boarding school had framed and killed her.
Following her untimely demise, Madam Koi Koi was said to have turned vengeful. She was believed to haunt boarding schools, seeking retribution for her murder. Her presence was allegedly signalled by the unmistakable “koi koi koi” sound of her heels. Students were warned to stay indoors and close to their friends and loved ones whenever they heard this strange noise.
According to belief, Madam Koi Koi’s spirit continues to roam, haunting boarding schools across the land. The question remains: where will she strike next?
7. The Evil Passenger
Another story that tells us about Nigerian myths is the tale of a traveller who encountered a sinister hitchhiker. One afternoon, while driving down a highway, the traveller noticed a nun standing at the side of the road, signalling for help. Moved by compassion, he stopped and offered the woman a ride.
As they journeyed together, the traveller became curious about the nun’s identity and purpose. He asked her questions about her life, but she remained silent. Despite his repeated inquiries, the nun refused to speak.
Growing increasingly uneasy, the traveller pressed the nun for answers. Finally, she responded, revealing that she was a nun who had been murdered by her own townspeople.
Fear and shock gripped the traveller. He urged the woman to leave his vehicle, but she refused. According to the story, the traveller perished that day, and the vengeful nun continues to roam the streets, highways, and bushes, seeking her next victim.
This haunting story is not isolated. There are variations of the legend involving prostitutes, school girls, and other individuals, earning it the title “The Evil Passenger” rather than “The Evil Nun.”
Other Nigerian Myths with No Associated Stories
There are other Nigerian myths that do not have stories associated with them. These Nigerian myths just came to us on their own through beliefs, customs and traditions.
In certain regions of Nigeria, like Ota, Ogun State, and Okrika, Rivers State, there are tales of trees that bleed real blood. These mythical trees are believed to possess supernatural properties.
In some villages, snakes, particularly those known as “Eke Njaba,” are considered the owners of the land. If a snake enters your home, it is forbidden to kill it. Instead, you must offer it food and treat it as a guest. Once it has finished, gently remove it using a stick.
In certain areas, sweeping and packing dirt at night is considered taboo.
After 6 PM and before 5 AM, it’s advised to avoid going to certain streams. If you must, upon reaching the stream, clap your hands to alert any water spirits that may be present, giving them time to disappear.
In some parts of Igbo land, sleeping with your legs facing the door is said to be a practice reserved for spirits. It is forbidden for humans to do so.
If you accidentally injure someone with a knife, it’s customary to stab the knife into the ground immediately. Additionally, the same applies to brooms too: if you mistakenly brush someone with a broom, it is customary to brush it into the ground as well.
Further, according to local beliefs, lifting babies high in the air at night or early evening can be perilous. It is said that spirits are more active during these times, and raising babies could expose them to danger.
In certain Yoruba regions, pregnant women are not allowed to go near corpses.
What’s more, it is advised against picking wild cherries early in the evening. It is believed that spirits gather under cherry trees at this time, and disturbing them may pose a risk.
Finally, in certain parts of Nigeria, entering a room where someone has died requires a specific ritual: walking backwards. Those who violate this custom may face supernatural consequences, such as being slapped by angry spirits.
If you enjoyed this article on Nigerian myths, tune in for more here.
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