The five places mentioned below reveals some interesting details and rich culture of the Igbos people do not know about.
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.
1. 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-workingculture 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 apear – shaped bowl. While some of these
artefact have been exported and some lost, the Museum plays a
significant role in preserve the remaining Igbo ukwupieces, 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 isa 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.
4. National War Museum Amafor Isingwu Umuahia
National War Museum Amafor Isingwu Umuahia is a museum set up to
exhibitrelics 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.
5. 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, theprominent 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 servedas 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment