Owo museum: A peep into early African civilisationJuly 27, 2014by Oluwole Josiah1 CommentMuseumOLUWOLE JOSIAH, who recently visited the Owo Museum of Antiquities in Ondo State, writes about its historical and cultural significanceThe Owo Museum of Antiquities portrays a humble and classical facade, yet holding an array of rich historical and archaeological artefacts which depict the early life of generations gone by. Although there is not much awareness aboutits significance, it remains a place for inquisitive tourists and ethnographic researchers.Founded in 1968 for the purpose ofpreserving the antiquities of the monarchical history of the Owo kingdom, it is also a host to famous artefacts from the two great ancient traditions of Benin and Ife. Owo’s strategic location between these two traditions enriches its contents, potential andvalue as a tourist centre.Underscoring its origin and its intrinsic value to the culture and traditions of the Owo people is its location within the palace confines of the Olowo, the town’s monarch. The museum is the historical link between the people, their past and their ancestors. The materials are arranged into three broad sections– early civilisation, archaeological excavations and exhibition gallery.Approaching the first section, the visitor is struck by a picture of fossils unearthed in 1965, in Iwo Eleru, which is said to be the earliest man on the soil of West Africa. The skull and other skeletal remains of the “early man” is datedto be about 12,000 years. Even more striking is the fact that ancient tools were said to have been found along with the fossil. These are stone and wooden tools specially made for cutting and for agricultural purposes.This is why some believe that but for the corruption of Western civilisation, it would have been possible for the African society to develop its tools and machinery to serve its needs in science and technology.The museum also displays an arrayof terra cotta heads discovered by Ekpo Eyo during the 1969 excavations in Owo. These terra cotta sculptures date back to the 15th century. Eyo carried out the excavations under the Department of Antiquities. The Owo terra cotta heads bear a striking resemblance with those of Ife and Benin, underlining the similarities among the three cultures.A fascinating display of pictures chronicling the Igogo Festival of the Owo people stands as one of the attractions of the museum.The Head of Education at the museum, Mr. Dada Olaoluwa, relives a heart rending myth behind the festival, stating that, “It is the commemoration of a spirit-woman who was the wife of the ninth Olowo, Renrengenjen. The festival is used to deify the goddessand remains an important momentin the cultural life of the Owo people.”A site of national importance is theexhibition of the Ife-Owo-Benin Artaffinity which details the similarityies among the three greatart centres in the country.Olaoluwa says the display is often used to preach peace among the people of these cultures and across the country. A common feature of these arts is the parallel striations on the terra cotta heads with slight variations as it moves from Ife, through Owo to Benin. Such similarities exist in the use of hand bangles, coral beads, cylindrical armless and other ceremonial adornments.The royal costumes – brass bells and Ifa objects – point to the deep spirituality of the people of the “three great civilisations.” The gallery is also an inter-mix of crosscultures. There are masks from other parts of the country adorningits platforms. The twin-faced Ekpa mask and Olusepe drums are examples.One of the startling icons of the museum is the chain mail, an armour made of metal chain, wornduring the medieval period with the capability of preventing the wearer from being cut by a sword.According to Olaoluwa, the mail was imported from the Ottoman Empire in the 18th century and traded across the Sahara by the thenOlowo. It tells the story of how kings sought to improve on their military capabilities during the period as they battled to sustain and expand their kingdoms.The early textile industry is captured by theSeghosen, a loom for local textile used to make very expensive fabrics. The wooden structure, in its primordial form, is bearing the fibres. Other features of the museum include the ancestral shrine housing theAko(second burial) masquerade and theAladokomasquerade.Olaoluwa, however, says there is lack of awareness and passion from both the public and those involved.He says the museum, despite its challenges, witnesses a modest 1,000 visitors on the average every year. For him, this is encouraging given the status of the museum presently.“There are regular foreign visitors. Institutions are also paying regularvisits. We have an average of 1,000 visitors annually,” he says.He further notes that there is a close collaboration between the museum’s management and the community, especially with schools, in the raising of awareness among the populace, hoping that in the near future, the place will be improved and become one that Nigerians and foreigners would love to visit.He says while new researches havebecome necessary, inadequate funding is limiting such expeditions, adding that with adequate funding and the proper management of what is available, new frontiers could be discovered in archaeological research.It is, however, observed that the museum could benefit from more government attention, which will also provide a better and improvedgallery for the museum. Also, the museum has to rely on a generatorto power its operations most of thetime.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 07:36:05 +0000
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