Oriyomi Otuka the Curator National Museum of Unity said that the Alternative Nigeria Heritage FEF Project is a collaborative project with French Institute for Research (IFRA-Nigeria) to raise awareness about Nigerian cultural heritage.
Otuka disclosed this at a one-day dialogue tagged “Traditional Music and Dance“ for schools in Oyo state at the Museum.
Otuka said that the reveal marginalised objects, seek to attract more visitors to the museum.
“This will encourage interaction with the exhibits and transform it into an inclusive and vibrant cultural center.
Otuka said that the dialogue is to foster deepened knowledge of tangible and intangible cultural heritage through engaging conversations.
The event highlighted the social diversity of the Nigerian people and the importance of heritage creation and preservation.
Otuka said that intangible cultural heritages are elements of culture that are typified by non-physical expressions.
“ They can be felt but not touched. They include sports, crafts, festivals, drama, music, and dance.
“These forms of heritage possess elements of material culture that serve as vehicles for their expressions.
“These elements of material culture also constitute tangible cultural heritage that can be stored physically in the museum.
“These include musical equipment and dance props,” she said.
She added that among the over 2500 collections of objects at the museum, there is a section for musical equipment.
“They showcase a variety of musical equipment of different groups in Nigeria, including but not limited to drum and drum sticks.
Otuka added that music and dance share a unique relationship. “Music has various vehicles, including the voice and accompanying musical instruments, which also serve as the basis for dance in expressing these two forms. “Musical instruments are used in festival and dance music, as well as for ritual purposes,” she said.
She added that Nigeria is home to a diverse array of dance forms, each reflective of its various cultures.
“Notable examples include the minago dance from Plateau, the Udje dance practised by the Urhobo people.
“Certain dance styles, such as the bata dance from Yoruba, are characterised by the musical instruments that accompany them,” she said.
Dr Delphine Manetta, IFRA-Nigeria representative, said that the result of the collaboration between the Museum of Unity of Ibadan and IFRA-Nigeria, the French Institute of Research in Africa.
“The credit for today’s event goes entirely to Mrs. Oriyomi Pamela Ouka, the curator of the museum, Mrs. Christiana Alagbe and Ms.
Adejoke Rafiat Adetoro, the IFRA’s coordinator.
“ This is an FEF project to promote and study Nigerian alternative heritages—alternative because neglected.
“With this in mind, we organised our first event together, focusing on pottery-making.
“Akinpotter, the artist of that first event, did us the pleasure of coming today. “Today’s event brings another neglected heritage into the spotlight: music and dance.
“The facilitators will help us to understand this heritage from a scientific and artistic point of view.
“Dr Olaolu Emmanuel Adekola, a specialist in African musicology at the University of Ibadan, and Oluyomi Duro Ladipo, a multi-talented performing artist.
Dr. Olaolu Adekola,a postgraduate coordinator at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan Oluyomi Duro- Ladipo, a stage performer Duro-Ladipo who’s also a dancer, Some of the schools present were: The Polytechnic Ibadan, University of Ibadan, Lead City University, Oluyole Estate Grammar School, Bloom Feild Nursery and Primary School, Ibadan Prominent Height College among others.
