National Museum of Colonial History Aba Holds Museum Conversation
The popular Aba Town Hall in Aba South local government area of Abia State was agog and filled to capacity on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 with a galaxy of distinguished personalities from far and near including the Director of Goethe Institute, Nigeria, Dr. Nadine Siegert and her team who came to witness the Museum Conversation organized by the National Museum of Colonial History, Aba.
The epoch-making event with the theme, ‘Exploring the Intangible Heritage and Sacred Landscapes in the Eastern Nigeria’ is aimed at connecting the people, especially the youths to their culture through research and training in creative and virtual arts.
In the past six months, the National Museum of Colonial History, Aba had been engaged with one youth and researcher, Orinayo Odubawo attached to it who carried out a research on the Intangible Heritage and Sacred Landscapes in the Eastern Nigeria’, which culminated in the theme of the Museum Conversation while ten selected Aba youths within the ages of 15-25 were trained in virtual arts.
The event injected a new lease of life into the National Museum of Colonial History, Aba and overwhelming interest in the museum.
In his opening remarks, the Curator, National Museum of Colonial History, Aba, Mr. Amadi Theophilus Chukwuemeka appreciated the large turnout, especially the Director of Goethe Institute Nigeria, Dr. Nadine Siegert and others for their presence and support.
He said that the essence of the programme is to help the people to identify with their culture.
He regretted that so many Nigerians today are no longer proud of their culture, especially the Igbo people who he said have lost their cultural identity and embraced western culture all in the name of civilization.
He observed that some Igbo people no longer give their children Igbo names or teach them Igbo language.
He said that the Igbo language is fast going into extinction adding that it has become imperative now for Igbo parents to start teaching their children Igbo language and culture from infancy so that they would not be lost.
He also expressed dismay that a lot of Aba residents do not know about the National Museum for Colonial History, Aba and used the opportunity to appeal to them to visit the museum adding that it boasts of so many interesting things that would inspire and captivate all who visit it.
According to him, the National Museum of Colonial History, Aba is unique. It houses the table on which the Amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria was signed by Lord Lugard including other well-documented history of the nation’s pre-colonial era, colonization of Nigeria, the struggle for Independence, Post Independence period among others making it an appealing destination for students and researchers.
He commended the Goethe Institute Nigeria for choosing the National Museum of Colonial History, Aba among the six museums across the nation to propagate its Connecting the Dots programme.
He used the occasion to call on the government, corporate bodies, individuals and other stakeholders to support the National Museum of Colonial History, Aba to make it more relevant and vibrant adding that it would boost tourism and generate revenue for the nation.
In her speech, the Director of Goethe Institute, Nigeria, Dr. Nadine Siegert expressed happiness to be in Aba.
She said that the Connecting the Dots programme started last year and has made lasting impact across the nation within a very short time.
She exuded confidence that they would achieve more positive results in connecting the people to their culture in the coming years with greater commitment through research and training in creative and virtual arts.
On her part, the Acting Director of Museums, Ezinne Mrs. Evelyn Ihuoma Osuagwu who represented the Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mr. Olugbile Holloway commended the National Museum of Colonial History, Aba for organizing the event.
She said that so many people think that museum is all about a place where they keep old things without knowing that it is more than that.
According to her, museum is a place for cultural exhibition as well as an educational and research institution.
She said that the Director General, National Commission of Museums and Monuments would have been present at the event but for other official engagements.
She disclosed that the National Commission of Museums and Monuments is doing its best despite onerous challenges to ensure that the nation’s museums compete favourably with those of other countries of the world.
She recalled that the National Museum for Colonial History, Aba was upgraded about two years ago but regretted that many things were looted from the gallery during the EndSars Protest.
She stated that inasmuch as the National Commission of Museums and Monuments is doing its best to upgrade museums across the nation to meet international standard, it is also the duty of all and sundry to protect the museum from any form of looting or vandalization.
She said that there are about 54 museums in Nigeria with over 150 monuments to preserve and called on individuals and corporate bodies to partner the government in preserving them stressing that the government cannot do it alone.
The event featured drama, cultural dance, exhibition of artworks, panel discussion among others.
The panel discussants made it clear that there is a gross decline in Igbo culture and advocated the need for gatherings like this to explore sustainable solutions to prevent further loss of the cultural heritage of Igbo people.
They bemoaned the extinction of the popular Akwete clothing, raffia among others and condemned the attitude of embracing Western culture at the expense of what binds them together as a people.
In her brilliant contribution, one of the panel discussants, Hon. Dame Blessing Nwagba, PhD averred that one’s culture is one’s identity and should not be lost.
The award-winning sociologist and APC Senatorial Candidate for Abia South Senatorial District in the 2023 election appreciated the National Museum for Colonial History, Aba and the Goethe Institute Nigeria for bringing the people together to appreciate their cultural heritage.
She said that every community has something unique to showcase but if they are not encouraged to come up with it by way of cultural shows or other ways people might not know about it.
She called on the government to step out through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and find out what the people have in common in their different localities and showcase them.
She frowned at the attitude of some parents who deem it more prestigious for their children to speak English at home instead of their mother tongue.
She said that it is a way of alienating them from their origin stressing that their inability to speak their mother-tongue amounts to loss of their identity linguistically, culturally, historically and psychologically.
Contributing, the President General of All Ngwa Cultural Organization (ANCO), Elder Dr. Sunny Nwosu lamented that the Igbo people have lost their cultural identity and heritage to civilization.
He called on the Igbo people to be proud to showcase their culture wherever they are so as to save it from extinction saying that the All Ngwa Cultural Organization (ANCO) under his watch is doing its best to strengthen and uphold the cultural heritage of Igbo people.
The event was a huge success and attracted the presence of the following personalities including Ezinne Mrs. Evelyn Ihuoma Osuagwu (Acting Director of Museums), Dr. Nadine Siegert (Director, Goethe Institute Nigeria), Tobi Bolaji Idowu (Programme Coordinator, Goethe Institute Nigeria),
Tolulope Ami Williams (Youth Educator, Goethe Institute), Dr. Oluwatoyin Sogbesan (President, ICOMOS), Prof. Adisa Ogunfolakan (Consultant to Goethe Institute), Orinayo Odubawo, a researcher attached to the National Museum of Colonial History, Aba), Dr. James Raphael (CEO, CRIMMD Museum Lagos), Elder Uche Idika Kalu (Curator, National Museum Asaba), Mrs. Ofumaka Joy (Curator, National Museum Calabar), Ernest Ifeanyichukwu Ewekay (Chief Accountant, National Museum of Colonial History, Aba), the Connecting The Dots team of five researchers attached to National Museum Kaduna, Natural History Museum, OAU, Ife, Slave History Museum, Calabar, CRIMMD Museum Lagos, National Museum Benin and representatives from other Museums.
Also in the team were the ten youths (cohorts) who received training on creative and visual arts for two months whose works were exhibited at the event.
Other dignitaries in attendance were the representative of Dr. Chris Okoro (The Rector, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba), Mr. Oriuwa Ikechukwu (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Abia State), Sir Geoffrey Ogbonna (The HoD, Hospitality/Tourism Department, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba), (DPO, Eziama Police Station, Aba) represented by Mr. Etim Sunday DCO 1, Hon. Dame Blessing Nwagba, PhD, Hon. Barr. Chukwuemeka Nwaogu, Elder Dr. Sunny Nwosu (President General, All Ngwa Cultural Association),
Chima Iwuoha among others.
