A renowned arts collector, Dr Yemisi Shyllon, on Friday said that Nigerian museums were not collectors of evil or devilish materials as held by some Nigerians.
Shyllon said this during the commemoration of the 2018 International Museum Day by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the theme of this year’s celebration was: “Hyperconnected Museums, New Approaches, New Publics”.
He said that this belief had discouraged many Nigerians from visiting the museum, thus depriving themselves of gaining huge historical knowledge.
He, however, said as an art collector spanning 50 years, art works had never hurt him, likewise his clients.
He said that these artefacts seen as mystical objects were Nigerians’ claim to civilisation as artefacts within the museums are within the scope and knowledge of our forefathers.
Shyllon said: “I have been an art collector from my secondary school days; I sleep, eat and dine with arts every day and none of these art works has attacked me or any of my clients.
“I know before now, the museum usually recorded over 200,000 tourists annually but we barely have 50,000 annually now, this is too bad for us.
“I want the museum managements to demystify its image before the public and bridge the gap between Nigerians and what the museum represents.”
Shyllon said the artefacts retrieved by NCMM in 2017 were not tested to know if they were the original ones taken away from the country that should have been retrieved.
He also advised the museum management to get instruments used to determine the lifespan of retrieved artefacts to ascertain their ages.
He also advised the management to create synergies with managements of museums across the world for an exchange of artefacts within a stipulated time.
He said that through that arrangement, many Nigerians could learn more about other countries’ history and vice-versa.
He said: “We are glad that some of our artefacts were retrieved last year but are we sure if they were the actual ones that were retrieved.
“So we need to get the instruments that are usually used to test the lifespan of these retrieved artefacts.’’
Taiye Olaniyi, a culture enthusiast, said that the negative belief most Nigerians held against visiting the museums was based on their inability to free themselves from mental colonisation.
He urged Nigerians to consciously liberate themselves from such bondage.
Olaniyi said: “Nigerians must consciously liberate themselves from mental colonisation so that our culture can gain more prominence.”
Omotayo Adeboye, the Curator, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Lagos office, urged all art collectors, lovers and museum professionals to intensify efforts in making museums hyper connected.
She said this would enable museums to reach out to more audience beyond the usual visiting public and attract global attention.
She noted that the use of technological devices would bring about new approaches, concepts, methodology, and ideology in museum services.
Adeboye said: “The use of technological facilities has created a wide gap between museums in the developed countries and those of the developing countries.’’