- Home
- Washington File
- Visitors Throng Washington Museum for Benue Artifact
Visitors Throng Washington Museum for Benue Artifact
- By Williams Ekanem
- Published September 19th, 2011
- Washington File
- Unrated
At no other time has the cultural heritage of the lower Benue, especially that of the Tiv been showcased as is going on presently at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington D.C.
Tagged “Central Nigeria Unmasked,” 148 cultural artifacts from communities that constitute the Benue River Valley covering six states of Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa and Northern Cross River were on display for lovers of arts.
The exhibition kicked off with a media preview last week with Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam in attendance.
Conducting members of the media made up of international journalists on a tour of the exhibition, Marla Berns gave a vivid description of each cultural artifact, which according to her have been variously acquired and assembled,
Ranging from vertical masks which were useful to the people in ancient days during pre-planting to harvest seasons, to ritual intermediaries which represented items used by the ancestors to avert disasters and fusion masks, Berns said it is quite an amazing collection that has helped to enrich the museum.
The Curator in charge of the exhibition, Jaren Milbourne said the exhibition is a treasure trove of outstanding works of art, placed for the first time within a broader context.
According to her, the exhibition tells the story of how individual artists have experimented with styles and communities have exchanged ideas and objects. It sheds light on a heretofore little understood but long admired art-producing region.
In an exclusive interview with BusinessWorld, Governor Suswam disclosed that he was actually invited by Smithsonian National Museum of African Art to the exhibition which holds from September 14, 2011 through March 4, 2012.
According to the Benue State Governor, “this is about the first time we are having a comprehensive exhibition of arts from along d Benue valley n I think it is quite amazing some of the artworks displayed, dating to early 1920s and 30s that one cannot find back home but they are here.”
The Governor regretted that “these are things we don’t have, back home you will not see any of these items; it shows that there is a better perception of our history in some other continent. I find that very unfortunate and I feel very sad about it.”
“ Our own history is no longer with us I do not think we have people from home that can explain these artifact better than they are doing here,” the governor added.
The Smithsonian National Musuem of African Art is the only national museum in the United States dedicated to the collection, exhibition, conservation and study of arts of Africa.
The museum’s collection of more than 9000 African art objects represents nearly every area of the continent of Africa and contains a variety of media and art forms from textiles to photography, sculpture, pottery, painting etc.
Director of the museum, Johnnetta Cole praised the curators and thanked all the sponsors that made the event possible.According to her, the exhibition was a great example of collaboration between different groups for good.
Central Nigeria Unmasked features more than 148 objects used in different ritual contexts, with genres as varied and complex as the vast region itself.
The collections were transported from different countries, sometimes with great difficulty passing through customs and keeping them in their original form.
The exhibition covers several rooms in the museum with detailed explanation of each object on display. The explanations tell of a people highly expressive through various forms of art. It also gives an insight into the life and culture of a vibrant people.
Tagged “Central Nigeria Unmasked,” 148 cultural artifacts from communities that constitute the Benue River Valley covering six states of Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa and Northern Cross River were on display for lovers of arts.
The exhibition kicked off with a media preview last week with Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam in attendance.
Conducting members of the media made up of international journalists on a tour of the exhibition, Marla Berns gave a vivid description of each cultural artifact, which according to her have been variously acquired and assembled,
Ranging from vertical masks which were useful to the people in ancient days during pre-planting to harvest seasons, to ritual intermediaries which represented items used by the ancestors to avert disasters and fusion masks, Berns said it is quite an amazing collection that has helped to enrich the museum.
The Curator in charge of the exhibition, Jaren Milbourne said the exhibition is a treasure trove of outstanding works of art, placed for the first time within a broader context.
According to her, the exhibition tells the story of how individual artists have experimented with styles and communities have exchanged ideas and objects. It sheds light on a heretofore little understood but long admired art-producing region.
In an exclusive interview with BusinessWorld, Governor Suswam disclosed that he was actually invited by Smithsonian National Museum of African Art to the exhibition which holds from September 14, 2011 through March 4, 2012.
According to the Benue State Governor, “this is about the first time we are having a comprehensive exhibition of arts from along d Benue valley n I think it is quite amazing some of the artworks displayed, dating to early 1920s and 30s that one cannot find back home but they are here.”
The Governor regretted that “these are things we don’t have, back home you will not see any of these items; it shows that there is a better perception of our history in some other continent. I find that very unfortunate and I feel very sad about it.”
“ Our own history is no longer with us I do not think we have people from home that can explain these artifact better than they are doing here,” the governor added.
The Smithsonian National Musuem of African Art is the only national museum in the United States dedicated to the collection, exhibition, conservation and study of arts of Africa.
The museum’s collection of more than 9000 African art objects represents nearly every area of the continent of Africa and contains a variety of media and art forms from textiles to photography, sculpture, pottery, painting etc.
Director of the museum, Johnnetta Cole praised the curators and thanked all the sponsors that made the event possible.According to her, the exhibition was a great example of collaboration between different groups for good.
Central Nigeria Unmasked features more than 148 objects used in different ritual contexts, with genres as varied and complex as the vast region itself.
The collections were transported from different countries, sometimes with great difficulty passing through customs and keeping them in their original form.
The exhibition covers several rooms in the museum with detailed explanation of each object on display. The explanations tell of a people highly expressive through various forms of art. It also gives an insight into the life and culture of a vibrant people.
