Museum Displays Over 3,000 Historic Photographs, Images of Benin Palace

• As Obaseki hosts US Ambassador to Nigeria

By Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Over 3,000 collections of photographs and images found in the royal court of the Benin king’s Palace were on exhibition yesterday, at the National Museum in Benin, Edo State. 

The exhibited photographs were taken by Chief Solomon Alonge, photographer to the royal court of Benin over 50 years ago.

The exhibition was organised by the United States Diplomatic Mission and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art based in the United States. 

It followed a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the National Commission for Museum and Monuments and Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Arts of the United States which has the collections. 

Speaking shortly before the commencement of the exhibition, United States of America Consul-General to Nigeria, F. John Bray, said Art, including photographs, represent freedom of expression in his country’s democracy, adding that the Smithsonian’s National Museum and National Museum of Benin have been working for many years to carry out the exhibition.

Commending the two National Museums and the Edo State Government for their support, Bray said the exhibition was significant because it was the first time in the history, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art, Washington DC was holding an exhibition in Africa. 

He said: “I think we are delighted because this first exhibition in Africa is not only in Nigeria, it’s here in Benin City. So, this exhibition of Benin National Museum will go a long way in preserving the essential history of Benin people and exhibition of its leaders. The cultural heritage was a reminder of the contribution and experiences of the people. 

“The US Government seeks to show its respect for culture by assisting efforts to preserve cultural heritage around the world, including Nigeria. 

“In the year 2000, the US government introduced an initiative called the Ambassador Fund for cultural preservation. This initiative awards grants for cultural preservation. As at 2013, the fund has provided support for more than 850 projects to preserve cultural heritage in more than 125 countries including Nigeria. We have several projects in Nigeria”.

In his speech, Director-General of National Commission for museums and Monuments, Dr. Yusuf Usman, said the Commission had series of collaboration with museums around the world, stressing that “what makes this exhibition significant is that it comes with materials that have been taken out of Nigeria.”  

“The Alonge archival materials left the country many years back and now we have a replica. We have replica and we are going to use this to tell the story of not just the Royal Court of Benin but also Benin City in the 19th century, to help us to understand where we are as a people, where we have been as a people,” said Usman.

Responding to a question on Benin stolen art works in foreign countries, a Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum, Johnnetta Cole said it was incredibly important in their museum to honour where each and every object has come from.  

Cole added: “We have two figures and went to the government of Mali saying we were prepared to send them back. They told us they know where they are and proud that it is in the National Museum of African Art. If every work of African Art is returned to Africa, how will the rest of the world know of your arts, know of your culture, know of your history?”