Nigeria like so many modern African States was a creation of European imperialism. This was the period where so many European countries like Portuguese and the likes came to this entity with the intention of conquering the entire territory. In whatever form they appeared either by trading or by introduction of Christian religious mission. This resulted in partitioning African states for political control. However, from the partitioning of the continent, the British had or got the advantage over others in acquiring the territory of Nigeria.
The cities and towns in Nigeria is characterized by a number of colonial buildings and bridges (Architectural Heritage) started all over the country for the last hundreds of years. These beautiful monumental buildings with their distinct aesthetic value serves as a source of inspiration to new development as well as contributing to the cities images. These magnificent pieces of building which once enriched the Beauty and Glory of Nigeria are now facing severe pressure in keeping with their existence due to Urban rapid development. Therefore, increases of need and rapid changes of use pattern are forcing new developments to invade these beautiful artefacts by completing, replacing or altering the existing structures.
It is a public knowledge that these buildings are a hybrid architectural style that arose as colonialist combined architectural style from their country of origin with design characteristics of their settled country – Nigeria. With the British assuming political power in 1914, architecture acquired a new dimension. Monuments with purely a European Renaissance style appeared, initially in the British churches of Christ cathedral, Lagos and Ariyo, Olasunkami. Another was the Holy Trinity Anglican church, Ebute Ero, and a few other outlying areas. Subsequently, this style was applied to secular buildings, of which remains may still be seen in the Western locality of ancient Benin Kingdom, Ife, Lagos and many others which offers a glimpse into the past.
As pointed out earlier, colonial artefacts in this region are basically products of two totally different cultures, the first the Nigerian’s originally in the northern part of Nigeria is a mixture of Muslim and Traditional form. The second, the colonial form of a European and particularly British culture. Therefore, the earliest 18th and 19th century colonial Urban settlement of Nigerian cities was predominantly the civil lines.
The residential section consists of European norms with spacious bungalows within large compounds. A large proportion of visual, symbolic or ceremonial space is incorporated in the layout. Roads designed for motorized elite rather than a pedestrian mass are broad and long; in contrast to the indigenous city. Climate control is attained by extensive tree planting, illustrating a basic preference or the colonial culture.
On the other hand, the National commission for museums and monuments and sites, including that of heritage services is mostly interested on built-heritage of national interest and merely on colonial artefacts of private nature which are scattered all over the city area. With limited resources and manpower of the commission, (the authority that is responsible for conservation and documentation of the past heritage) the mandate to exploit all these potentials is a possibility. Even these colonial buildings always attained public sympathy, the problems associated with such conservation job are, it need time, money and expertise. Moreover, it is also quite difficult for a government like Nigeria to preserve such numerous amount of artefacts scattered all over the country certainly due to financial constraints.
Digital preservation maybe one potential solution. Keeping in mind the constraints of economic support and lack of expertise. The National Commission for museums and monuments has taken some bold steps to identify most of the colonial buildings and bridges all over the country.
These attempts are commendable and in the right direction with the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization procedures. The fact remains that once a treasure is lost, the chance to study, analyze or simply appreciate its impact on the society are also lost.
Through digital means, culturally significant sites can be documented and preserved by committing them to computer memory. Thus, these wonders of the past can be enjoyed by present and future generations. Recently developed different techniques of ‘Digital documentation’ by means of 2D CAD drawing and 3D virtual model building technology through image-based rendering have expanded the possibilities to virtually re-create antiquities and buildings.
Digital tools and techniques now emerging from academic, government and industry Labs offer new hope to the often painstakingly complex tasks of archeology, surveying, historic research, conservation and education. Even these technologies are widely accepted and practiced for virtual reproduction of built heritage, archaeological and monumental sites. To the extent that most of these colonial buildings are enlisted in World Heritage and site and have been declared as National Monuments.
However, before enumerating most of these prominent buildings and Bridges of colonial investment, the National Commission Nationwide has identified more than two hundred potential colonial buildings, but not all of them have been digitally documented.
Nevertheless, it would be necessary to discuss these steps they took to achieve this result. The first step is to identify more than two hundred potential colonial buildings within Nigeria and study their typology according to its patronization and use. The second step is to find out the existing technologies which has been studied and the most available, effective and economic ones are selected for the purpose of tourism. To develop a comprehensive digital database is third step. Twenty-seven buildings and bridges were selected from different typologies and an extensive photographic survey has been conducted to ensure enough information to support 2D CAD drawings. Furthermore, digital drawings of selected buildings have been prepared through physical survey with photographic aid and finally, 3D Ring dad models of some artefacts have been developed by using free software to understand the total procedure and related expenses of the digitalizing process.
Some of these buildings are: Christ Church Cathedral, Lagos State; the Holy Trinity Church, Ebute-Ero, Lagos Island; Majority Hall Ibadan; site of Government House at Zungur, Niger State; Old Secretariat building, Lagos State; Lugard Hall; Jaekel House, Lagos is another colonial building located inside Ebute-Metta premises of the Nigerian Railway Corporation; the first European storey building in Badagry, Nigeri; Kajuru Castle in Kaduna has been transformed into a world-class tourist center; Mary Selesor’s House; and St George’s Hall, a two-storey building located in Lagos State.
Others are: Mallam Amino Kano International Airport Built before 1922; the Niger Bridge; Cocoa House, Ibadan; Bodija Housing Estate; Water house Lagos built by a Brazilian in the 19th Century; Gobirau Minaret (16th Century); the first and oldest Hospital in Nigeria Abeokuta, Ogun State in 1895 (Roman Catholic Mission); Lord Lugard Foot Bridge erected in 1904 and re-erected in 1954 connected his residence with the rest of colonial Zungeru; Port Harcourt Refinery; Captain Bower’s Tower, 1893; the first motorable road in Nigeria 1906; first mining Beacon at Tildan Fulani Bauchi State 1903 by colonel Henry William; and old residency building in Calabar,1884.
The LGA Idunganran old palace of Oba of Lagos at Lagos Island was built by the Portuguese in return for trading rights in a particular style of Bini architecture. The Portuguese financed the building, but they did not interfere with the traditional method except perhaps the pottery roofing tiles which they use as fire protection device. The imphivia is however the remaining of that structure. It is a living monument. It was declared a natioanl monument. It was declared a National Monument on 15th December, 1964.
Ilojo Bar No 6 Alli Street and 2 Bangbose street Lagos. This colonial building is popularly known as Casa Do Fernander. It was built in about 1855 by returnee slave family from Brazil. The house is facing Tinubu Square. This particular house has been sold to Mr Alfred Omolona Olaiya an Ilesha Indigene. It is a living monument but managed by the Museum in Nigeria.
Another colonial house is the site of Mai Jumina’s house at Wushishi, in Niger state of Nigeria. The house was occupied by the first three British Army officers to be sustained during the campaigns against Abubakari Estu Nupe and Emir of Kontagora.
The obvious issues in all these colonial buildings is maintenance. It is hoped that in the nearest future, all colonial buildings and bridges constructed in time past are preserved digitally for prosperity
*Mobunubhata is Assistant Director (Museums), National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Benin City.
