To perpetually preserve the cultural heritage of Ijebu, His Royal Majesty; Alayeluwa Oba Dr. S. K. Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, led the achievement of a great idea! I do not think there exists any such monumental repository of ethnic culture in Nigeria that is privately sponsored! I made a quick check and found that there are 52 Museums in Nigeria. All Federal Government-owned. The Ijebu National museum is a indeed a masterpiece! A comprehensive compilation of artefacts and symbols of the Ijebu Civilization conceptualized and established by a great king with enthusiastic support from his loyal subjects!
It was in the year 2014. Kabiyesi was celebrating his 80th Birthday and 54 years on the throne of his forefathers. Otunba Deji Osibogun (an endeared mentor to me) was the Chairman of the Museum Committee. His old-time friend Mr. Craig Fashoro was the Chief Curator who was contracted to set up the Museum. And yours truly was on the team to assist. I worked. I saw. I learnt. Got inspired. Proud to be Ijebu!
The Curator, the king and the Chairman.Throne of an Ijebu king
The structure that houses the Museum was designed as an appurtenant structure to the Awujale Pavilion / Palace Extension opposite the Royal Palace of the Awujale in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. That stadium-like facility where Ojude Oba is hosted every year… Yes. That’s exactly the place! Enter the gate and proceed to your extreme left, you will see the Museum neatly tucked in that corner of the state-of-the-art arena. You are welcomed with a warm smile by a receptionist employed and trained to receive discerning Ijebus and visitors alike, young and old, who want to know more about Ijebu heritage. Step in and get awed at the sights you behold! Every item in the Museum tells a story… An Ijebu story! Ijebu Traditional Drums. Beaded Crowns, Shoes and Horsetail Sceptres (Ìrùkèrè) and the Staff of great Ijebu kings who had long gone to be with their ancestors. Images with names in prints representing all the Awujales of Ijebuland from Inception till date. Beautifully crafted masks and figurines. Various Ijebu towns have various artefacts representing their place in the cultural history of the Ijebu nation.
One of the most prominent items in the Museum is a pair of Connon Firers! Despite the heavy bombardment endured by Ijebu at the Imagbon war of 1892, our valiant fathers ensured that they captured some of these “strange weapons”, perhaps to study the technology and create theirs?!
A pair of Canon firers from the Imagbon War of 1892 on displayA sculptured of Awùjalès S. K. Adetona in the Museum.
I remember how pleasant and brilliant Craig Fashoro opened my eyes to the beauty of African Arts and, more so, to the potential for financial gains in the creative sector. With his million-dollar Company, “African Quintessence” based in the USA, Mr. Fashoro is a world-class Curator who has established several museums all over the world and executed inumerable exhibitions! Such is the quality of hands that put the Ijebu National Museum together… Top notch world class! I also remember that it was at this Museum experience that I met an Itsekiri man (also an artist who was there to work with Mr. Fashoro) who taught me that the Itsekiris of Delta State are actually Ijebus who migrated yonder! This is not an Ijebu man laying claims over the Itsekiris, this is an Itsekiri man proudly alluding to the fact that the great Itsekiri tribe of Delta State sprouted out of Ijebu!
Do not visit Ijebu-Ode without a stop-over at the Ijebu National Museum…
