Smithsonian Museum to Showcase Works of Nigerian Photographer
Photo Exhibition
Damilola Oyedele
The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington DC is set
to exhibit the works of the first official photographer to the Royal
Court of Benin, Chief Solomon Alonge, who died in 1994 after a career
spanning six decades.
The exhibition is being planned to coincide with Nigeria’s centenary celebrations next year and would be permanently on display in Benin City, Edo State from September 2014.
The exhibition is being planned to coincide with Nigeria’s centenary celebrations next year and would be permanently on display in Benin City, Edo State from September 2014.
The Senior Archivist of the Museum, Dr. Amy Staples, said at a press
briefing in Abuja Thursday to raise awareness for the exhibition that
over $150,000 had been expended by the museum to ensure the preservation
of the works after they were secured from the family for an undisclosed
sum in 2008.
She added that it was a marvel that Alonge managed to preserve his works considering the high level of humidity in Nigeria.
The collection is historic photographs captured on Kodak glass plate
negatives and large format films. Staples added that the exhibition is
an opportunity to share a visual history of Nigeria with Nigerians and
to develop educational programmes around the exhibits.
This is the first time a foreign museum would decide to come to Nigeria
to showcase Nigerian works and leave them permanently on display.
The Co-founder of Didi Museum in Lagos, Mrs. Elizabeth Jibunoh,
called on Nigerians to continue to seek the return of various artifacts
taken from Nigeria during colonial rule.
She lauded the Smithsonian institution for taking such a bold step to
plan to exhibit Nigerian works which it legally secured and leave them
on display in Nigeria permanently.
A VIP dinner would be held this Sunday to raise awareness for the
exhibit. It will be co-chaired by Crown Prince Edaiken of Benin Kingdom;
President, Nigerian Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria
(NPAN) and Chairman/Editor-in-Chief, THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Nduka
Obaigbena; Chancellor of Gregory University, Chief Gregory Ibe and
Jibunoh.
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