The ancient Nri kingdom in Anaocha local government area of Anambra
state would Friday stand still as Igbo from all walks of life troupe to
the town for the unveiling of 70-year Igbo ancestral Odinani museum by
the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
The idea of the
museum was conceived by an anthropologist, late Prof. Angulu Onwuejiogwu
and his compatriot at the University of Ibadan, Nouchcot Thomas Shaw
who were then researchers on Igbo culture and civilization over 70 years
ago.
Speaking to journalists in Nri yesterday, the Chairman of
Nri Stakeholders Forum, Hon. Chijioke Ifeka said the artefacts in the
museum have recorded over 500 years in existence contrary to false
claims of other Igbo communities of having similar custodianship of such
materials.
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According
to him: “This museum has the contribution of a white man, Nouchcot
Thomas who excavated some antiquities at Igbo-ukwu. Historically, the
excavation spot is said to be the place occupied by Ora Eri people who
migrated from Nri and settled there.
“We are going to gain a lot
from the unveiling because our history was drastically going off from
the map of the world. This will as well re-unite Nri people due to the
assemblage of relics of past monarchs from different quarters of the
Kingdom in the museum.”
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Also
speaking, the General Overseer of Liberation Temple of Absolute God, Dr
Ramas Asuzu said Odinani museum was so unique from other museums
because of practical academic experiments it renders to virtually all
tertiary institutions in the country.
According to him: “It is
more of an academic centre where you could study the origin of Igbo due
to the display of relevant paraphernalia of ancient kings of Nri
kingdom.
“This also informs how Ndigbo are contained with their
democratic communal leadership and war tools in ancient days with over
5,000 artefacts.”
Asuzu advised Nri people to be mindful of what
God has given them and always project Igbo culture and tradition
jealously than being more ‘Catholic than the Pope’.
However, it
would be recalled that the museum which had collapsed out of negligence
since 2010, was later rebuilt by an illustrious son of Nri, Prince Engr
Charles Tabansi at an estimated cost of N50million.
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