In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, some of the artefacts looted from the Benin Kingdom during the 1897 British invasion will be put on public display .
Chairman of the anniversary organising committee and former Edo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen, disclosed this in Benin City while briefing journalists on the activities marking his coronation.
Imasuen said the exhibition, to be organised by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), would give members of the public an opportunity to see some of the returned artefacts.
According to him, “there will be an exhibition of artifacts by NCMM, the National Commission on Museum and Monument. Those artifacts that were stolen by the British invaders in 1897, carted away to England sold them to various countries in the world to both public and private collections but with the leadership of this great Oba, an effort started by his grandfather, passed over to his father and now to him, these artifacts are gradually making their way back home and in recognition of his effort, the former president and the federal government gazetted that this artifact upon return to Nigeria should be taken to the original location where they were stolen from. They will be displayed for the public.”
He said the anniversary would also feature a major cultural exhibition involving groups from Edo and other parts of the country.
“We are going to have a cultural display, cultural groups from the 18 local government areas of Edo State will be here in Benin City. Beyond that we have some coming from Delta.
“We also have some coming from Ondo state, we have those coming from Anambra. We have the Yoruba community here, the Igbo community here, we have the Hausa community, they will be displaying their different cultural groups and talent on that day.
“You know the Oba of Benin is not just the Oba for the Benin, he is the Oba for the entire people and I can say without fear of contradiction that the South-South, if not all, majority of the tribes here emanated from this great kingdom. So they are coming here to display their cultural talent.
“We will also have the Calabar Carnival which will take off at the boys scout ground near the Ogba Zoo and the procession will go through Airport Road to Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre.”
Imasuen also announced that the celebrations would feature a musical concert involving several indigenous Edo artistes.
“We have our indigenous musicians who will be participating in this festival. We have Influence Akaba, Fabomo,Young Bolivia among others, and to crown it all, we have our son in whom we are well, pleased Shallipopi.”
