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The Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Olugbile Holloway has called for a reimagining of the concept of museums to better reflect the local context.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Sunday, Holloway argued that museums should be more inclusive, offering narratives in various Indigenous languages and creating spaces for cultural immersion. He noted,
“I think a huge part of what we have to do is to reimagine the concept, how do we localise the concept of a museum. Why can’t we have narratives in other languages in the museum, actually entrenching the people in the culture? While English is our national language, I think it’s important to also understand that some of these objects cannot properly be described in English.”
He further added that the spiritual aspects of some artifacts cannot be adequately described in English, making it essential to embrace local languages and contexts in the museum experience.
Holloway reflected on the historical and cultural implications of the Benin punitive expedition, where he described the 1897 event as one of the most infamous acts of colonial looting, which disrupted the spiritual, cultural, and social fabric of the Benin Kingdom.
“The Benin Kingdom had existed for hundreds of years undisturbed before this,” Holloway remarked. “The collective trauma of what happened in 1897 hasn’t really gone away because people go to museums and they ask themselves how come these pieces are in foreign museums and we don’t have as many in museums in Nigeria.” He stressed that the context of the event is vital to understanding its impact on the Benin people, Nigerians, and Africans as a whole.
Addressing the return of the Benin Bronzes, Holloway detailed the NCMM’s central role in their repatriation and management. He highlighted ongoing collaboration with the Oba of Benin, stating that a management agreement is being finalised to ensure the bronzes are accessible to Nigerians.
“The historic facility we are currently constructing in Benin will be completed by Q1 this year. The vision is that the returned bronzes will be stored there temporarily and, as time goes on, they will be spread across the NCMM’s network of museums across the country,” he explained.
Holloway confirmed that plans are underway to expand the NCMM’s facilities in Lagos, which already houses numerous artifacts. Additionally, he emphasised the importance of developing a museum in Abuja as a top priority, ensuring the nation’s capital represents Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
“It is important that the most populous Black nation on the face of the earth has a befitting museum in its capital,” he affirmed.
Responding to debates about whether looted artifacts are better preserved in Western institutions, Holloway urged a reorientation of the African mindset.
“The concept that anything foreign is better than anything Nigerian or African is really the root cause of why a lot of our heritage and artifacts aren’t appreciated in the first place,” he stated. Holloway advocated for taking ownership of Nigeria’s history and ensuring artifacts are accessible to local audiences, although he recognised the value of allowing Nigerians in the diaspora to engage with these treasures abroad.
Beyond the Benin Bronzes, Holloway outlined broader goals for the NCMM, including leveraging technology to combat the illicit trafficking of artifacts and reimagining the concept of museums to align with Nigerian realities.
He further emphasised the importance of truth and reconciliation when addressing issues such as slavery and colonial theft.
“Returning objects is not about the objects in themselves; it’s about what the objects symbolise,” he noted. He argued that reclaiming cultural heritage is integral to reshaping Africa’s identity and fostering global respect. “For the world to respect you, you must have a true sense of who you are and what you have to offer the world,” he concluded.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
The post Olugbile Holloway: We Have To Reimagine Museums With Indigenous Narratives, Cultural Immersion appeared first on Arise News.
