Reviving Nigeria`s Art: From Shrines to Museums

The Nigerian National Museum in Lagos houses a treasure trove of cultural artefacts, yet it remains largely unvisited, despite its importance. The museum's new director, Olugbile Holloway, aims to change this by bringing these artefacts back to the communities they once belonged to. His vision is to create a museum experience that resonates more with Nigerians, questioning whether the traditional museum model truly works in Africa. The museum, established in 1957, is home to Ife bronze heads, Benin brass plaques, and Ibibio masks, among other significant items. While the museum preserves much of Nigeria's heritage, it is also a product of colonial efforts to collect these pieces, often for safekeeping from those who might destroy or steal them. Back in 1967, two unlikely Americans, Charlie Cushman and Herbert “Skip” Cole, ventured into remote Nigerian villages to gather cultural artefacts on behalf of the antiquities department. Their mission helped preserve hundreds of sacred objects from being lost or destroyed.

During their journey, they convinced many Nigerian Christians, who viewed the artefacts as pagan symbols, to hand them over to the museum rather than destroy them. Cushman and Cole’s efforts, guided by Kenneth C. Murray, a British colonial art teacher who was instrumental in establishing Nigeria’s museum system, helped save over 400 artworks. Despite the risks and eventual loss of some of the collected items during the civil war, much of what these men gathered remains in Nigeria’s museums today. Holloway is now tasked with rethinking how to best represent and display these sacred objects, considering their true cultural significance and value.

The future of Nigeria’s museums may involve breathing life back into these artefacts by displaying them as they were originally used, rather than as static objects in glass cases. Holloway believes this approach could spark new interest and engagement among Nigerians, making the museums more reflective of African traditions and heritage. ⚡ ImageCredit: GettyImages