Opinion
The Igbos, one of the main ethnic groups in Nigeria,
are known to have a rich culture and remarkable history. While modernization
has ensured the erosion of certain aspects of their culture, much of its
history has been preserved, including relics from the past which reveal its
heritage. Jumia Travel, Africa’s No.1 Online Hotel Booking Portal, lists 5 of
the places where the culture and history of these people who dominate the
eastern part of Nigeria can be discovered.
lgbo-Ukwu Museum
The Igbo-Ukwu museum is in Ngo village, Igbo-Ukwu,
Amabara state. The town, Igbo-Ukwu is of great historical and cultural
significance in Igbo land as it is notable for bronze artifacts from a very
sophisticated bronze metal-working culture centuries before other known bronzes
of the region. It is in recognition of this that the Federal Government in
Nigeria granted approval for the hosting of an annual National New Yam Festival
in Igbo- Ukwu to promote the culture and tradition of Ndigbo and new yam
festival. The festival takes place at National Yam House built by the Federal
Government in Igbo- Ukwu since 2005. The Igbo-Ukwu bronze treasures were
accidentally discovered by a worker who was hired to dig a cistern by Mr.
Isaiah Anozie during dry season in 1939 . Subsequent archaeological excavations
of the area led by Professor Thurstan Shaw led to the discovery of other sites
, making a total of three sites: Igbo Isaiah (a shrine), Igbo Richard (a burial
chamber), and Igbo Jonah (a cache). Among the recovered object include a ritual
Pottery Vessel,Scabbard, Pendant with rams head, Human face with scarification,
Bronze bowl and a pear – shaped bowl. While some of these artefact have been
exported and some lost, the Museum plays a significant role in preserve the
remaining Igbo ukwu pieces, indigenous productions, which are vital in
discerning the ancient history of not only Igbos, but of the human existence
within ancient Africa. lgbo-Ukwu Museum has remained an attraction to tourists
mostly because of its bronze artifacts. It is great place to visit as the
bronze pieces are a sight to behold.
The Long JuJu Shrine of Arochukwu
Arochukwu is the third largest town in Abia State
(after Aba and Umuahia) in southeastern Nigeria and is a famous tourist
destination as the cave of the famous long juju oracle is a particular
attraction. It is originally, a religious centre with a well-laid down
administrative structure headed by a Chief Priest. The cave is believed to hold
the long metal pipe through which the gods speak to the people, and was used to
judge the perpetrators of crimes in the old time. A dark kilometre-long series
of tunnels, some deeply mysterious features of the shrine include the Throne of
Judgement, where Chukwu would decide on the fate of a person, the Tunnel of
Disappearance, and the Red River, which would turn coloured when a person was
killed. What makes this shrine, also known as Ibinu Ukpabi, a spectacular
historical site in the region is the role it played in the slave trade era and
thus the impact it made in Nigeria’s history.In the 15th Century, when the
slave trade was introduced, West African middlemen used it to their advantage,
as the condemned were no longer killed inside the shrine, but secretly sold on
into slavery. The mystic Long-Juju shrine, the slave routes and other relics of
the slave trade era have become important tourist attractions in the area as a
result of what they represent in Nigeria’s history.
Mbari Cultural Centres
Mbari is a traditional arts and crafts center retained
by the Imo State council for Arts and Culture. Situated at Ikenegbu in Central
Owerri, Mbari, it is an open air museum that houses monumental arts depicting
the culture, tradition and history of the Igbo people. Sometimes referred to as
the ‘house of gods’, it is a huge tourist attraction. Although Mbari is a
monumental art sacrifice to "ALA" the earth goodness, it also
shelters artistic representations - artefacts as well as sculptures- which tell
of the prevalent social life of the Igbos and images of other prominent deities
that inhabit the traditional Igbo cosmic system. These deities include Amadioha
(the god of thunder), Ogwugwu (the god of the forest), Nwaorie (the goddess of
Nwaorie River), Ahiajoku (the god of harvest), etc. Closely attached to each
deity are images of animals such as monkeys, tortoise, rams, snakes and owls,
believed to represent errand spirits or mystical messengers of the deities.
There are also images of Ikoro, the Igbo traditional instrument for
communicating messages; unfamiliar creatures such as the ostrich (Enyi Nnunu);
a certain tall figure representing Alakuko, allegedly the tallest man in
Igboland; ‘Onye afo toro’, a man whose stomach became bloated because he
committed an abomination against Ala, etc Contrary to general assumption, Mbari
is neither a centre for idol worship nor an idol in itself. It is an art form
that has its origin very deep in Igbo cultural and religious beliefs and
practices. The Mabari cultural centre is a three dimensional cultural facility,
made up of the Mbari House, Mbari Museum Kitchen and an amphitheatre, and
definitely a must-see location.
National War Museum Amafor Isingwu
Umuahia
National War Museum Amafor Isingwu Umuahia is a museum
set up to exhibit relics used during Nigeria’s Civil war of 1967. The museum
has the largest collection of the Nigerian civil war weapons that are no longer
in used. The weapons are from both the Nigerian military and the defunct
Biafra. Commissioned in 1985, the museum is located at Ebite Amafor in Isingwu
Autonomous Community in the Umuahia North Local Government Area. The museum’s
location was chosen because it was where the bunker housing the famous
shortwave radio “the Voice of Biafra” was transmitted from. It has three
galleries featuring items on the traditional warfare, armed forces and Nigerian
civil war weapons. War relics in the museum include weapons used during the
pre-colonial civil disturbances, warfare materials used during communal and
inter-tribal wars and those of the Nigerian civil war. The Museum Complex opens
at 10am and closes at 6pm daily with a gate fee of N100. For those who did not experience the civil
war, they may not get a mental picture of how it occurred without visiting
the museum. And for those who did, they
could relive the period by visiting the museum. It is a perfect way to gain
firsthand knowledge of the civil war, a huge part of Nigeria’s history. It is
certainly a place to go.
Mungo Park House
Mungo Park House, also known as National Museum Asaba,
is tucked behind the Delta State High Court and the state Library Board complex
along Nnebisi Road, Asaba, Delta state
Nigeria. Although named after Mungo Park, the man who discovered River Niger,
the prominent colonial vestige of pre-fabricated wooden storey building was
never owned or visited by Mungo Park. The house was constructed by the Royal
Niger Company (RNC) in 1886 and served as the first British administrative
headquarters in the country and invariably the first government house in
Nigeria. The Mungo Park House offers education on Nigeria’s rich historical
background (mainly that of trade and investment in pre-colonial era) and
journey to civilization. Although some
parts of the building are slowly dilapidating due to the elements (weather
corrosion), it is definitely a place to visit. The museum is also just a few
blocks from the popular Grand Hotel, Asaba.
Leave your culture.
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