USA Africa Dialogue Series - FW: Thoughts on responsibility for preservation of artefacts and intellectual responsibility

FYI and interest!

Kwabena

_____________________________________
From: Kwame Opoku [k.opoku@sil.at]
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2013 9:10 AM
Subject: Thoughts on responsibility for preservation of artefacts and intellectual responsibility

As far as I can tell, the NCMM has not yet publicly commented on any of the recent matters relating
to preserving and protecting Nigeria's culture and heritage. Should we accept this?

The Benin Royal Family seems split, with one group going to the Boston opening of the
so-called Benin Gallery, alleging they represent the Oba of Benin and another group denying that the
Oba ever sent anybody. Is this of no relevance to preservation of culture? Does the Commission not
have obligation to educate the public to make sure that Nigerians are not running in different
directions, uncoordinated? And what about the intellectuals? Should we not put forth our views on
such matters?

The Germans have alleged that they have not been discussing the issue of the
restitution of the Benin bronzes with the NCMM. We have written on this shameful and mendacious
position and provided documentary evidence on this. Does this not require a comment from the NCMM,
as the organ charged with preservation and protection of Nigeria's cultural heritage? Should African
intellectuals not take such occasions to try to correct the views of the West that they can do
practically whatever they want with us and our resources.

The Germans have taken most of the Nok pieces they excavated from Nigeria and are now
putting up an exhibition which opened in Frankfort, Germany and not in Nigeria. The Archaeological
Association of Nigeria has quite rightly protested with a public statement. But what about the other
intellectual groups in Nigeria/ Where is the answer of the NCMM, the organ responsible for
excavations in Nigeria? Is this matter only of interest to the archaeologists? What about the
political scientists, economists, students of culture, historians, jurists and the rest? What did we
study for?

Look at the delegation that went to this exhibition that should not been organized in Germany,
including the DG of NCMM and even the Governor of Kaduna State. Does he not have anything more
important to do than spend time at the Frankfurt Exhibition where those responsible for preservation
of Nok were also present, attending an exhibition that should never have been?

All the above matters should require public explanations and discussions not only from the NCMM
which has the main responsibility for preserving the artefacts and for educating the Nigerian
public on such matters but from all those concerned by Nigeria'€™s status and future. Let us not
make a mistake about this. The Germans
are building up Frankfort to be the place to study African art and especially Nok culture and
history. All future Nigerian and African students interested in Nok culture will go, not to Jos
or ABU but to Frankfort. Can we not contribute to freeing our continent from economic and
intellectual subjugation?

Best wishes, Kwame.

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