5 Notable Museums in Nigeria

Museums are a showcase of the history and culture of a people as it houses artefacts and other items that help to trace history of a society.

Nigeria has various museums in the country which symbolizes the cultural heritage of the people. In this article, we shall be looking at five notable museums and the states they are located.

Benin City National Museum

This museum holds three galleries and it houses a large number of Nigeria’s bronze, terracotta, and cast iron artefacts. It used to be located at the Palace of the Oba of Benin before it was moved in the 1970s. The Benin people were known for their skills in casting iron and bronze and this has reflected in the artefacts that can be found in the Benin Museum.

Jos Museum

The Jos Museum in Plateau State, was originally Nigeria’s first national museum. It has some exquisite collections of artworks with architectural patterns found in the North Central regions of the country.

The Jos Museum was established in 1952 by a British archaeologist, Bernard Fagg, and is located within the city’s hill resort and houses some ancient Nok Terracotta sculptures. It has the exhibitions of the tin mining and rail systems from Colonial Nigeria on display.

Gidan Makama Museum, Kano

The Gidan Makama Museum, or now known generally as the Kano Museum, is one of Nigeria’s oldest and notable museums. It was established in the 15th century and houses 11 galleries.

The Gidan Makama Museum was previously a palace which exhibits various aspects of ancient Kano and its history. One can find artifacts on architecture, civil war, music, and religion in the museum. Among its collection of works are ethnographic collections of the Hausa people and photographic documentation of the city.

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Nigerian National Museum

This Nigerian National Museum was established by English archaeologist, Kenneth Murray in 1957. It is one of the popular museums in Nigeria and houses Nigeria’s notable artefacts. Examples of the art it showcases are the “Jemaa Head” terracotta, the Benin ivories and bronzes, and the Cycle of Life exhibit. It is located at Onikan, Lagos State. The museum is managed by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

National War Museum

This museum was established in honor of those who fought in the civil war in Nigeria. It also honors those who were involved in the causalities including other victims of violent conflicts in Nigeria.

The Civil War is one of the sad events in the history of the nation. The museum, which is located in Abia State, houses items from the war including warships, armored tanks, and local bombs. It also serves as the centre for research on warfare in the country. It is one of the tourist attractions in the state. Besides, it is located at the former bunker that housed the popular war radio station “Voice of Biafra.”