This Essay Narrates the History of the National War Museum, Umuahia
THE NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM,UMUAHIA:PRESERVATION OF CIVIL WAR MEMORIALS AND NIGERIAN MILITARY HISTORY Chijioke N. Onuora, University of Nigeria, Nsukka INTRODUCTION to house major archaeological and ethnographical This essay narrates the history of the finds, including the Jos Museum (established by National War Museum, Umuahia, as a national Bernard Fagg in 1952), the Nigerian National heritage site. In 1965, political turmoil in postco- Museum, Lagos (established by Kenneth C. Mur- lonial Nigeria resulted in a conflict between the ray in 1957), and the Owo Museum in Owo. Nigerian state and the secessionist state of Biafra. Other museums in Benin City, Esie, Gidan A political challenge against a perceived Igbo Makama, Oron, and other regions of Nigeria dominance in the affairs of the postcolonial contain artworks in terra cotta, bronze, brass, nation led to riots, arson, and pogroms against wood, iron, ivory, and stone, as well as other arti- Igbo peoples in northern and western regions of facts associated with ancient indigenous Nigerian Nigeria, which eventually resulted in a secession cultures. Beyond the Kanta Museum in the Kebbi bid by Igbos and other minority ethnic groups in area, Kaduna Museum and Owo Museum in the eastern part of the country. The civil war that which weapons of war were accorded significant followed lasted from 1967 to 1970 and left in its visibility, the National War Museum, Umuahia trail unprecedented hardships and Igbo losses of remains the only museum in Nigeria (and one of almost 1 million people from deaths of mostly the few in Africa) devoted to the collection, con- starved children, soldiers, and civilians.
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