4/5 Wilson Eromosele A. 5 years ago on Google
Over
3,000
collections
of
photographs
and
images
found
in
the
royal
court
of
the
Benin
king’s
Palace
were
on
exhibition
yesterday,
at
the
National
Museum
in
Benin,
Edo
State.
The
exhibited
photographs
were
taken
by
Chief
Solomon
Alonge,
photographer
to
the
royal
court
of
Benin
over
50
years
ago.
The
exhibition
was
organised
by
the
United
States
Diplomatic
Mission
and
the
Smithsonian
National
Museum
of
African
Art
based
in
the
United
States.
It
followed
a
Memorandum
of
Understanding
signed
between
the
National
Commission
for
Museum
and
Monuments
and
Smithsonian’s
National
Museum
of
African
Arts
of
the
United
States
which
has
the
collections.
A
Speaking
shortly
before
the
commencement
of
the
exhibition,
United
States
of
America
Consul-General
to
Nigeria,
F.
John
Bray,
said
Art,
including
photographs,
represent
freedom
of
expression
in
his
country’s
democracy,
adding
that
the
Smithsonian’s
National
Museum
and
National
Museum
of
Benin
have
been
working
for
many
years
to
carry
out
the
exhibition.
Commending
the
two
National
Museums
and
the
Edo
State
Government
for
their
support,
Bray
said
the
exhibition
was
significant
because
it
was
the
first
time
in
the
history,
the
Smithsonian’s
National
Museum
of
African
Art,
Washington
DC
was
holding
an
exhibition
in
Africa.
He
said:
“I
think
we
are
delighted
because
this
first
exhibition
in
Africa
is
not
only
in
Nigeria,
it’s
here
in
Benin
City.
So,
this
exhibition
of
Benin
National
Museum
will
go
a
long
way
in
preserving
the
essential
history
of
Benin
people
and
exhibition
of
its
leaders.
The
cultural
heritage
was
a
reminder
of
the
contribution
and
experiences
of
the
people.
“The
US
Government
seeks
to
show
its
respect
for
culture
by
assisting
efforts
to
preserve
cultural
heritage
around
the
world,
including
Nigeria.
In
his
speech,
Director-General
of
National
Commission
for
museums
and
Monuments,
Dr.
Yusuf
Usman,
said
the
Commission
had
series
of
collaboration
with
museums
around
the
world,
stressing
that
“what
makes
this
exhibition
significant
is
that
it
comes
with
materials
that
have
been
taken
out
of
Nigeria.
“The
Alonge
archival
materials
left
the
country
many
years
back
and
now
we
have
a
replica.
We
have
replica
and
we
are
going
to
use
this
to
tell
the
story
of
not
just
the
Royal
Court
of
Benin
but
also
Benin
City
in
the
19th
century,
to
help
us
to
understand
where
we
are
as
a
people,
where
we
have
been
as
a
people,”
said
Usman.
Responding
to
a
question
on
Benin
stolen
art
works
in
foreign
countries,
a
Director
of
the
Smithsonian’s
National
Museum,
Johnnetta
Cole
said
it
was
incredibly
important
in
their
museum
to
honour
where
each
and
every
object
has
come
from.
Cole
added:
“We
have
two
figures
and
went
to
the
government
of
Mali
saying
we
were
prepared
to
send
them
back.
They
told
us
they
know
where
they
are
and
proud
that
it
is
in
the
National
Museum
of
African
Art.
If
every
work
of
African
Art
is
returned
to
Africa,
how
will
the
rest
of
the
world
know
of
your
arts,
know
of
your
culture,
know
of
your
history.
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