Ancestry
PRESEVING IGBO HISTORIES AND HERITAGE: THE NNEWI MUSEUM
A museum is an institution devoted to the procurement, care, study, and display of objects of lasting interest or value. It is a building where objects of historical, scientific, or artistic interest are kept.
A lot of Nigerian artefacts were looted by the British military force during their colonial expedition, most which are scattered all over museums in London.
According to art historians, around 90 per cent of Africa’s cultural heritage is believed to be in Europe.
These works continue to be held by Western institutions due to the prevailing belief that the best place for them is in these institutions.
They believe that they have the financial resources, the technology, the knowledge to conserve the objects in the best way possible, but Floods and other natural disasters have damaged collections of various types over the last several years, a situation that is only going to get worse with climate change coming.
The looting of cultural artifacts has a long history across the world.
From ancient Roman pillagers who cleaned out the city of Veii during their first conquest in 396 BC, to the British troops who took bronze art works from Benin in southern Nigeria at the end of the 19th century, the theft of these objects can have a devastating impact on the communities they were taken from.
Through the loss of these ancient artefacts, we lose the knowledge and understanding of the past that we would otherwise be able to gain. We don’t know what else was with the object when it was looted, or what its cultural, religious or political significance might have been.
In the past few decades, museums have been springing up in different regions of the country, Igboland especially, to preserve the remnants of our historical artefacts and culture. Over 50 museums, both private and public, have been established in Nigeria, of which Nnewi Museum is one.
Nnewi Museum is a private museum that was inaugurated and opened on the 1st of April, 2024. It is located in front of Igwe Nnewi Palace by the right. The infrastructure of the museum has been in progress since 2020 and was completed from the grants and sponsorships of different donors and dignitaries from Nnewi and beyond. Dr. Godwin Akpabio (former governor of Akwa-Ibom State and current Senate President of Nigeria) and Chief Dr. Willie Obiano (former Governor of Anambra State) made huge impact and donations towards the completion of the structure of the museum.
The museum is a legacy of the King of Nnewi Community and arguably the oldest living Monarch in Nigeria, Igwe Kenneth O.N Orizu (III). As a well-traveled king, he has been to so many parts of Nigeria and overseas on royal visits, taking after his grandfather, Igwe Orizu (I)-EZEUGBOONYAMBA, who was a great traveler and the most influential chief during his time.
On so many of his royal visits, Igwe Orizu (III) was invited to royal museums which holds royal artefacts relating to the monarchs he visited. The Monarchs most times also gave him take-home gifts from their royal museums. Those take-home gifts were items and artefacts relating to their history and culture.
From such experiences, Igwe Nnewi decided to establish such structure for the beautiful people of Nnewi. But he did not restrict the Nnewi Museum to only Royal artefacts nor Nnewi artefacts but artefacts from all over the world, cutting across different cultures and traditions.
The Nnewi Museum has a large compound to contain at least 200 visitors at a time. The entrance has a courtyard or sit out for visitors. Then a waiting room or reception for registration. The museum has a gallery section that holds Artworks from different artists all over Nigeria. The space is designed to display in a decorative and appealing manner, artworks of different artists, while promoting them and their crafts, and sharing their stories through their Art.
The Museum also has a picture gallery space centered in the middle of the museum. This space holds the pictures of the Late Obis of the different parts of Nnewi (Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, Nnewichi) and Nnewi indigenous dignitaries who has helped in growing the industrialization, Nnewi community is enjoying today and Chairman of top industries in Nnewi; the likes of Chairman of Innoson Group, IBETO Group, Chicason Group etc.
The museum currently has 2 artefacts hall. One of the halls hold artefacts from all over the world like a sculpted elephant from Tanzania, A Namibian woman with a child strapped behind, A bulldog from Poland, Titled men walking sticks from different states, Divine Cups from different parts of Nigeria etc. Most were gifts from the British colonial masters on their arrival to Nnewi. While others were gifts given to Igwe during Ofala.
The second hall hold specifically, artefacts from the palace used by past Igwes and some from the present like the thrones used by the past Igwes, Royal regalia, Ceremonial hats used by the past Igwes, Mortars and pestles used in the palace, The Royal drum used by the royal warriors of Igwe Orizu (I), Biafra pounds; the currency used during the Biafra war etc. Some of the artefacts were also gifted to the Igwe by the colonial masters during the colonial era like the first Fire Extinguisher, A black and white TV, some colonial cloth boxes, leather bags, luxury and sophisticated wall clocks, gun pouches/holder, Old hair clipper, missionary hats etc.
The museum has many other halls that would be occupied by other facililities in the coming times, like Nnewi Library, Seminar and workshop hall, Local/African dish spot etc.
Days and weeks after the opening of the museum, the museum has welcomed so many visitors from far and wide like the Rotaract Club of Nigeria (Nnewi District).
The executives of Anambra State Beach Soccer Association lead by its pioneer Chairman, Prof. Madubuko, the owner of Moonshine Apartments also visited the museum. They were also accompanied by the executives of the National Beach Soccer Association.
So many schools, in and around Nnewi has also visited the museum on an excursion and had amazing enculturation experience while leaving with a lot of enthusiasm and knowledge to share with friends.
The Children’s Day celebration that was just had on the 27th of May,2024 was also commemorated in grand style at the museum by the visitation of good number of schools like Excellent field International School Otolo Nnewi, Graceland International Schools Egbu Umuenem Nnewi, Little Bright Angels Nur/Pri School Egbu Umuenem Nnewi, El-Shaddai Nur/Pri School Umuanuka Otolo Nnewi, Bernice School Otolo Nnewi, to mention but a few.
The students, not excluding their teachers and guardians, had an amazing tour round the museum while the tour guide was entertaining their questions and having an interactive session afterwards. It was such a fun filled and memorable day.
The museum with open arms also welcomed the members of Nnewi Academic Congress (Unizik Chapter) on the 6th of June to explore the rich history of Nnewi and Igbo land in general. Excitement was written all over them as they went around the museum facilities in the presence of a tour guide.
The museum hosts seminars and symposiums following the UN calendar on issues or topics relating to our Igbo culture and traditions, whereby they invite well seasoned cultural Igbo men to give speeches or talks on matters concerning our rich cultural history and background.
Families and group of friends also visit the museum daily to enjoy the enculturation experience, see the great treasures which the museum holds and take pictures.
The Musuem opens daily Monday-Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm, while on Sundays by 1:00pm-5:00pm.
It is important to preserve artifacts from historical events so we can remember, learn about and honor those who were involved.The protection of the artifacts is so important because we want them to be around a hundred years from now to tell the very important part our culture.
When an artifact is conserved to retain its current condition, it preserves the truth of the historical story for generations to come.
