BY: OBHAKHOBOH JENNIFER
BRIEF HISTORY:
The National Museum,
Lagos which was established in 1956 is an outlet for collecting, preserving and
presenting cultural History/Heritage in Nigeria. It was founded in 1950s, after
a period of pre-colonial that saw the country hemorrhaging traditional Heritage
through Art Work taken from Nigeria and sold abroad including some Sotheby’s to
showcase at the new museum.
 |
| ART WORK FROM BENIN |
 |
| BRONZE FROM BENIN KINGDOM |
The new museum today is a relatively vibrant branch of the
national commission of museums and monuments. In 2002, construction of a
shopping complex called ‘galleria’ and located close to the museum began, it is
the intention of the city of Lagos to view the mall later called Onikan City
Mall as a way to rejuvenate the Onikan environ.
The museum has various collection of pots, bronze and
terracotta statutes from Benin, Igbo Ukwu, and the central regions of Nigeria
and from Ife, the major centers of classical Nigerian Art. It also has a large
collection of ‘Ere Ibeji’. Because of the great diversity of people and
culture, Nigeria has distinguished herself over the centuries in the field of
arts. Nigerian versatility in art is so great that it is generally felt that
all African nations should view Nigeria as the principal trustee of the most
durable fruits of black artistic genius. It is not precisely known when the
first works of Nigerian art reached the outside world, but in 1897, following a
British punitive expedition to Benin, over 2,000 Benin bronzes and ivories were
shipped to England and later dispersed all over Europe and America.
The oldest sculpture found in Nigeria were from the southern
Zaria and Benue areas of Central Nigeria. They consist of terracotta figures
and figurines made by people who achieved a high degree of cultural elements,
have been named the Nok Culture. Evidence shows the NOK people had knowledge of
iron smelting and adorned themselves with tin and stone beads, earrings, nose
rings and bracelets. The next known phase of Nigerian cultural evolution was
Igbo Ukwu, near Awka, the casts date from the 9TH century A.D. they
first came to light in 1938 and consist of staff heads, crowns, breastplates,
pendants, ornaments, anklets, wristlets and chains. About the same time the
Igbo-Ukwu people were casting bronze, the ancient Ife people were also
producing works in bronze, copper and terracotta. In the first quarter of this
century, Ife works caused a great stir among world art critics and historians
who were unaccustomed to such naturalism in African art. The best known
Nigerian art works are the Benin people learned the art of bronze casting from
Ile-Ife around 1400 A.D. Oba Ogunta, the sixth king of Benin, is credited with
having encouraged this art in Benin. Nigeria’s cultural heritage is woven from
threads of history and diversity, legend and conquest. Tourist visiting the
country will gain insights to a glorious past as well as a promising future,
set amid the natural beauty of this diverse country.
 |
| DISPLAY OF ART WORK AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM, ONIKAN. |
 |
| THE CAR IN WHICH MURTALA MUHAMMED WAS ASSASSINATED |
APPRECIATING ART
It has been observed widely in Nigeria that art is only
appreciated by Foreigners, most especially the Chinese and by students for
educational purposes. According to these people, this is what they have said
concerning art in Nigeria.
SEE VIDEO:
No comments:
Post a Comment