Better days await tourists and lovers of culture as the gates to the celebrated Igbo-Ukwu museum would soon be thrown open for arts exhibitions. LEADERSHIP SUNDAY writes.
?
Igbo-Ukwu community is located in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. The town is of great historical and cultural significance in Igbo land. Due to this significance, the Federal Government granted approval for the hosting of an annual National New Yam Festival in 1998 in recognition of the effort by Mbido Igbo Association to promote the culture and tradition of Ndigbo and their new yam festival.
The festival showcases numerous dance groups and cultural displays from all parts of the country, including masquerades, traditional wrestling, best yam farmer competition, display of artworks and other side attractions that portray the cultural heritage of the people.
However, the traditional ruler of Igbo Ukwu, HRH Igwe Martin Nwafor Ezeh has disclosed that the Igboukwu museum would soon be opened to the public where cultural materials and objects that symbolise their strength would be exhibited
According to him, “the Igboukwu museum will soon be opened to the public where different cultural materials and objects that represent the good people of Igboukwu shall be exhibited”.
The Idu II who was speaking at the recently concluded Igboukwu New Yam festival noted that the National museum was the first organ of the Federal Government to register its presence in the community adding that he is ready to give out another piece of land to the commission to aid youth employment and bring about development in the town.
He said, “I am thanking the commission for their support to the success of this year’s festival. The National museum was the first federal government parastatal to register its presence in the community and I am ready to give out another piece of land to the commission to put up a structure that will create jobs and further bring about development in the town.
“I am also praying for the continued peace and stability in Nigeria because it is only peace that can bring development in the country.
Meanwhile, the Director General of NCMM, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman represented by Dr. Musa Hambolu described the Idu II as one traditional ruler who was always working assiduously to bring development to his community. He assured that the commission would continue to partner with the Igwe and the entire community to bring development to the area.
The Curator of the museum, Mr. Samuel Imebuogu Enyi said, “the museum serves as the custodian of our culture both past and present and should not be seen as ‘ojuju’ house.? While appreciating the immense support being given to the organisation by the traditional ruler, he note that the museum was one that protects, conserves, promotes and preserves the artefacts? for the benefit of the people.
It is worthy of note that the creation of the museum was a follow-up of the Igbo-Ukwu excavation work by Thurstan Shaw who dug up the Igbo-Ukwu bronze heads and vessels.? Further researches between 1960 and 1963 revealed more and beautifully made works of bronze, plastic beads, iron works which after carbon examination, were dated 9th century A.D.? Most of the works depicted the culture of the local Igbo Ukwu people till this present time.? Meanwhile, the gallery of the museum was built by an indigene of Igbo-Ukwu, Chief Sir Timothy Umeweni who donated it to the town and was later commissioned in 1977. Some of the historical and cultural artefacts within the gallery remain a case study till date.