Celebrating Nigeria’s monuments and sites

April 18 each year is set aside by the International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) as the International Day for Monuments and Sites but Nigeria marked the day on April 29th in Abuja due to the general elections in the country. The event served as a forum to discuss some of the challenges facing […]

April 18 each year is set aside by the International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) as the International Day for Monuments and Sites but Nigeria marked the day on April 29th in Abuja due to the general elections in the country.

The event served as a forum to discuss some of the challenges facing monuments and sites and emphasized the need for proper heritage impact assessments that will protect them against developmental programmes.

Speaking at the event, the Director General, National Commissions for Museums and Monument (NCMM), Alhaji Yusuf Abdallah Usman said the Commission   has put in place a pictorial exhibition to create awareness about them so as to facilitate their conservation and management.

He disclosed that Nigeria has 65 declared monuments and sites, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 15 potential National Monuments spread across the country.

Speaking on this year’s theme “The Cultural Heritage of Water” he said, “It must be emphasized that the need to preserve water has motivated human endeavour in a number of ways. Water has also been instrumental in the development of significant cultural practices which have generated intangible cultural heritage values, inspiring the development of philosophies, beliefs and religious practices. The heritage of water has also inspired poetry, literature, arts and culture as forms of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.”

Also speaking,  the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Abubakar  Sadiq Mohammed, represented  by the  Director of Culture  in the  Ministry, Mr. George Ufot emphasized  the need  for  a national museum in Abuja as in another world capitals.

Presenting a lecture titled “Heritage of Water” Dr.  O. J. Eboreme, Former Director General National Commission for Museums and Monuments, defined Heritage as man’s legacy from the past, which he lives with today and passes on to future generations.

He explained that there is cultural and natural heritage, adding that “Cultural Heritage can be defined as material and non material art forms which are testimonies from the past, while Natural Heritage are physical and biological formations bestowed on mankind by God such as mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, waterfalls habitats of species of plants and animals like zoological and botanical gardens, parks, reserves, wetlands, sanctuaries and others.

Dr. Eberoreme focused mainly on the works of art that have been inspired by water, monuments and sites that have resulted from man’s interaction with water including norms, beliefs, music, dance and other traditions that have been inspired by water.

“Water has led to the development and generation of significant material culture in the form of items, technology and places. Water has inspired poetry, literature, artistic endeavours such as painting, dance and sculpture. It has informed and inspired the development of philosophies and religious practice.

While delving into the Cultural Heritage of water In Nigeria, he mentioned the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove.

“The Osun River is an important part of the Osun Osogbo sacred grove which covers 75 hectares of forest alongside the Osun River on the outskirts of Osogbo town, in South West Nigeria.  The river meanders through the whole grove and along its length are nine worship points. The waters of the Osun River signify a relationship between nature, the spirits and human beings, reflecting the place given to water in the Yoruba cosmology as symbolizing life.  The river is believed to have healing, protective and fertility powers. The fish are said to have been used by the goddess Osun as messengers of peace, blessings and favour.”

“The Annual Osun-Osogbo festival is a 12-day event held once a year at the end of July and the beginning of August and attended by tourists from around the world.

The Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove was declared a world heritage site in July 2005.  Prior to that, part of the groove was declared a national monument in 1965.

In Yoruba mythology,there also is Olokun, ancient goddess of the ocean. The name means Owner of the ocean (Olo – owner and Okun – Ocean).

This deity is worshipped chiefly by dwellers near the sea and by those whose vocations take them unto the sea. Olokun governs material wealth, dreaming, meditation, mental health and water based healing. It is also personified in several human characteristics such as patience, endurance, etc.  Olokun is one of many Orisas known to help women that desire children.

He explained that water has led to the development of non material culture in the form of the international fishing festival in Argungu which began over 75 years ago to mark peace between the former Sokoto Caliphate and the Kebbi Kingdom.

“What happened at that time was that hundreds of men and boys jumped into the waters to catch fish.  The largest fish caught was then presented to the Sultan. Since that year, the festival has become an annual international event. Throughout the fishing festival, competitors are only allowed to use traditional fishing tools and many prefer to catch fish entirely with bare hands to show their prowess. The fishing competition takes place February every year to the beat of drummers who move through the water on their canoes.”