The word “Museum” has a classical or authoritative origin. In its Greek form, “Mouseion” means “seat of the muses” or a temple dedicated to “muses”. These muses are the nine daughters of “Zeus” king of Olympia gods. These nine daughters were said to have protected and encouraged Greek arts and also helped men to forget their sorrows. These they did through music, poetry, history and dancing, people who were bored go or visit there for relaxation in order to overcome their boredom after a hectic day. The temple of the Muses was considered and seen as a store house of knowledge of Encyclopedia and those who acquired it inserted it into others. In this temple, one can acquire knowledge through the inspiration of the nine Muses.
Thereafter, they started collections and this collection or acquisition of objects became imminent as far back as 555-538 BC. The first ever known and established museum was opened at the University of Alexandria, Egypt, in the third Century. During this period, visitors were restricted as commoners were not allowed into the museum except the rich and the prominent few individuals in the society that could access it and its facilities. Besides, during this period collections were owned by kings, royal families, noble men and travellers. The visiting hours and days to the museum then were few and as time changed, acquisition of collections grew massively just as other forms of development in the society.
In the 19th Century, many more museums sprang up and the museum world registered so many phases of development that later made it possible for museums to be opened to the public every day of the week.
The cradle of museums in Nigeria dates back to the pre-colonial era when cultural materials of religious, social and political importance were produced, conserved and preserved in shrines, palaces of traditional rulers and sometimes caves. The shrines, traditional palaces and caves were institutions that served as monuments apart from housing the objects. At that time, the individuals responsible for the care and protection of these collections were Heads of households and shrine Priests. They were like Curators that care for the materials in traditional ways.
However, the modern museums in Nigeria could be traced back to the early 1930s by the Colonial Masters such as Messrs K.C. Murray, J.D. Clarke, B.E Fagg, Hunt-Coole and Milburn of the then Education Department.
In view of the interest of these people to preserve antiquities, they pressured the colonial government to legislate against exploration of cultural artifacts as well as set up museums that led to the inauguration of the Antiquity Service on 28th July, 1943 with the first Director as K.C. Murray. Until 1953, when the Antiquities Ordinance No 17 was passed, the legislation to prevent the indiscriminate acquisition and exploration of Nigerian cultural materials were not instituted. The bill provided for the creation of the National Department of Antiquities charged with the responsibility of exploration, care and prevention of antiquities of works of arts as well as the control of exportation of works of arts from Nigeria.
In 1979, a review of the legislation concerning cultural resources in Nigeria was made with the promulgation of Decree No. 77 dissolving the Antiquities Commission and the Department of Antiquities earlier established was replaced with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM). The NCMM saw to the establishment of museums and monuments in different parts of the country such as Esien, Jos, Ile-Ife, Lagos, etc. In 1945, the Esien Soap Stone became the first museum to be established in Nigeria and thereafter, the museum had spread across all over the states in Nigeria.
There are so many definitions of museum by many scholars but in this context the International Council of Museums (ICOM) is the focus. ICOM is a body that serves the interest of the International Organization of Museums and museum professionals. It is a non-governmental organization committed to the preservation, study and exchange of information of cultural heritage properties globally. To this end, on August 24th, 2022, during the 26th ICOM General Conference held in Paraguay, the ICOM Extra Ordinary General Assembly approved a new definition of Museum as: “A museum is a not-for-profit permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage, open to the public, accessible and inclusive, foster diversity and sustainability, operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing” (ICOM, 2022).
For a museum to be accessible and inclusive, it means that all stakeholders must be carried along. It fosters diversity to promote and encourage wide spread of different cultures and heritage. For a museum to be sustainable in nature, it must use its resources to educate the audience continually to retain its value for the avoidance of depletion and total damage or extinction.
Museums differ in type based on the type of artifacts they store and the type of objects they collect or acquire. Thus, we have general, archaeological, ethnographical, natural history, zoological, colonial, art and historical museums, museums of national unity amongst others. Museums are used to collect, conserve, research, exhibit and interpret the cultural heritages of communities to enhance understanding, improve people’s opportunities in life by removing obstacles for inclusive accessibility with a view to rendering educational services, study and enjoyment to the general public using its collections (Amadi, 2014). A museum also fosters community cohesion and preserves the rich historical culture of any country as well as the rare historical relics with a unified purpose and solidarity irrespective of political affiliations, religion, tribe, culture and other characteristics that bind the people together.
Museum institutions offer many benefits to their visitors, communities and the society in general as well as provide opportunities for self-directed learning and exploration of people of diverse ages, interests and abilities. They hold the cultural wealth of the Country in trust for all generations and by their function and unique position, they have become the cultural conscience of the nation. Therefore, adequate funding and support of museums by the government is advocated to enhance their sustainability and economic benefits.
References
Amadi, G.A. (2014). An introduction to museology: Historical development of museums for schools and colleges. Institute of Archeology and museum studies, Jos, Pub. Alaku D. Kadarko; ISBN:978-166-876-8
ICOM- International Council of Museums.(2022). A new definition of Museum by the ICOM Extra Ordinary General Assembly at the 26th ICOM General Conference held 24th August, 2022 in Paraguay.
Omoikhoje Nee Eboreime works with National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Benin City.