National Museum of Unity, Ibadan

Coordinates: 7°23′06″N 3°52′08″E / 7.384937°N 3.868776°E / 7.384937; 3.868776
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Ibadan National Museum of Unity
Map
EstablishedApril 4, 2002; 22 years ago (2002-04-04)
LocationNational Museum Road, Ibadan South West, Oyo State, Nigeria
Coordinates7°23′06″N 3°52′08″E / 7.384937°N 3.868776°E / 7.384937; 3.868776
TypeEthnographic museum

The Ibadan National Museum of Unity is an ethnographic museum in Aleshinloye Ibadan, Nigeria. The museum is dedicated to the culture of the different ethnic groups of Nigeria.

History[edit]

The idea of creating a national museum in Ibadan was proposed in 1973.[1] The museum was created to store cultural artifacts from Nigeria. The museum was inaugurated in 2002 under the supervision of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.[2] In 2014, Monument Day was organized at the museum with a focus on the condition of monuments in Nigeria.[3] In December 2017, the museum made a collaboration with OBAS for a cultural exhibition.[4] In 2018, the museum opened a new exhibition center to promote tourism in Oyo State, this exhibition featured artifacts such as a Yoruba Shigidi figurine,[a] Mumuye head mask,[b] Ekoi Head Dress,[c] Benin Rooster Bronze and Edo Metal Bells.[8]

Collections[edit]

The masquerade gallery features exhibits about Egunguns, Mmaawun, Ekpo, Egwu Atta, Dodo and Ekpe, as well as information about the spirituality of the Yoruba, Igbo, Efik, Ibibio and Ebira cultures in Nigeria's Middle Belt region. The museum also contains musical instruments such as drums, as well as royalties, effigies and masks from different parts of Nigeria. The museum has an exhibit on pottery that includes bowl-shaped pots called Kula that are used for preparing food.[9] The museum contains sculptures of Nnamdi Azikwe, Tafawa Balewa and Ladoke Akintola, as well as exhibits about the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba tribes of Nigeria. The museum contains antiques such as artistic representations of Orisa Oko, Ile Ori,[d] Orisa Ibeji dolls, Amu clay pot used to store water, traditional lamps known in Yoruba and Hausa language as Fitila and wooden xylophones.[11] The museum also contains gongs and rattles, as well as a collection of pottery including traditional plates and bowls.[12] The museum contains a collection of ritual pots used in Yoruba religion including Esu, Ogun and Osun.[13] The museum contains traditional textiles as well as exhibits explaining the history of Aso-Oke.[14] The museum contains the car of the Premier of the Western Region, Ladoke Akintola. The museum also contains cultural artifacts such as Epa masks, Esie soapstone figures, as well as a collection of traditional African instruments including Ogboni drums,[e] Agidigbos and Egun Sato drum.[f][16] The museum contains a gallery called "Gallery of Unity", in which various musical instruments are exhibited, including the cylindrical drum called "Joko-tofofo", used to cure impotence. In addition, in the pottery gallery, there are pots with perforations used for frying called "Ikoko".[17]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Shigidi represents the effigy of a Yoruba deity.[5]
  2. ^ The Mumuye masks are used by the Mumuye people that lives in north-eastern Nigeria, these masks are used in rituals.[6]
  3. ^ The Ekoi Head Dress is worn by the women of the Ekoi people of southeastern Nigeria, the headdress is fastened with a cord under the chin, while covering the body with a long gown.[7]
  4. ^ It is a ornamental garment worn by the Yoruba people on their heads and is made of cotton and leather.[10]
  5. ^ The Ogboni Drums are used by the Yoruba people in different cultural events such as ceremonies, festivals and funerals.[15]
  6. ^ This type of drum is originally from Benin, where it was brought to Nigeria, it is a tall drum and is used for moments of celebration.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Abdulazeez (2017-03-01). "Reps call for rehabilitation of national museum". Faces International Magazine. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  2. ^ Olukomaiya, Olufunmilola (2017-03-01). "Reps call for rehabilitation of national museum". P.M. News. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  3. ^ "Ibadan Museum to hold Monument Day". Premium Times. 2014-04-02. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  4. ^ Akinto, Boluwatife (2017-12-01). "Ibadan Museum Society to partner Obas on cultural exhibition". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  5. ^ Tayo, Ayomide (2017-10-12). "We shouldn't mock our tradition and culture". Pulse.ng. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  6. ^ "Mumuye Sukuru Vertical Mask". Tribal Art Gallery. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  7. ^ "Ejagham (Ekoi) Headdresses, Nigeria". Hamill Gallery. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  8. ^ Dada, Adekunle (2018-03-15). "Ibadan museum opens new exhibition centre". PM News. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  9. ^ "What you probably didn't know about Nigeria's home of historical artifacts". Pulse Nigeria. 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  10. ^ "Shrine (ile ori or "House of the Head")". Birmingham Museum of Art. 2021-09-23. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  11. ^ "Museums: Nigeria's fading history and culture bank". Punch Newspapers. 2019-05-03. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  12. ^ "Top Fun Places in Ibadan, Nigeria". Nigerian Finder. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  13. ^ "Tour Ibadan team finds out why Olubadan is not occupying Oja Oba palace". Elendu Reports Online. 2018-12-05. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  14. ^ "Re-Org National Museum of Unity, Ibadan, Nigeria - Reconnecting with collections to right the wrong" (PDF). International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  15. ^ Brandt, Andrew (2017-09-26). "Ethnographic Arts & Artifacts Auction Highlight: Yoruba Ogboni Drum". Waddingtons.ca. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  16. ^ Abodunrin, Akintayo (2010-04-03). "Akintola's limousine". TNV The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  17. ^ "Up on the road: online Diary Nigeria – October, 13th 2017". University of Potsdam. 2017-10-19. Retrieved 2021-10-23.