THE NEXUS BETWEEN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM BENIN CITY AND THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM

“I hope there’s nothing wrong” she asked in concern from the other end of the line.

“Should there be?” I enquired in half bemusement as I silently pleaded with the female guide with my eyes for patience. 

Continuing, I responded, “Everything’s fine. I just decided it was high time I visited because it’s something I’ve been wanting to do”.

My sister let out a chuckle from the other end of the phone and went on to explain, 

“This one wey you dey visit there na im make me ask because I know say person no just dey wake up visit museum for Nigeria!”

Aha! Imagine that! A huge grin slowly enveloped my face as the realization of the cause of her question hit me.

“You know it’s the same thing I wondered” quipped the museum guide who must have gotten the gist of our conversation by the time I had exchanged pleasantries and hung up the phone. 

“Usually, most of our Nigerian visitors are those based outside the country, usually in the company of their children who are curious about their heritage”, she went on to add. I gave myself a mental pat on the back for belonging to what it seems is a league of extraordinary home-based Nigerians. (Insert smug face)!  

WORLD ARCHITECTURE DAY 2019

Architects are united in their excitement world wide today! It's our day- World Architecture Day. It was created by the Union International des Architects (UIA) or the International Union of Architects as it is more popularly known to further underscore the importance of architects, their leadership in the built environment industry and by extension also, their invaluable role in shaping the world we live, work and play in.

QUOTES CAPTURING THE TRUE ESSENCE OF ARCHITECTURE

Architecture is erroneously thought to concern only buildings but in its truest and purest sense, it is an experiential science that shapes the built environment. It has been posited that all human activity can be orchestrated by architecture and I tend to wholeheartedly concur
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There are many quotes from architects the world over but here are a curated few that hit at the core of what the true value and meaning of architecture is to the larger society.

BENIN KINGDOM'S MOST SYMBOLIC TREASURE- The Queen Idia Mask

Idia Mask - British Museum
Source: Wikimedia

" Know whence you came, if you know from whence you came, there are absolute no limitations to where you can go"

This James Baldwin quote resonated deeply with me from when it was first encountered as it not only bolstered my pride in my rich Benin heritage, but it further strengthened an inner resolve to continually fan the embers of that heritage with special emphasis on its art and architecture. As children, we were deliberately exposed to various aspects of the Benin culture by our father in the form of related art and books. Till date, the Idia mask occupies pride of place in the living room of my childhood home.

There are so many aspects of the Benin heritage to celebrate notably its arts especially masterpieces such as the Benin bronzes and the Idia mask which has an interesting history surrounding its creation.

ARCHITECTURE AS A COUNTRY'S VERITABLE PR TOOL

Ghana Freedom Pavilion at the 2019 Venice Biennial

The seamless integration of architecture and art, soulmates as it were, ensured that Ghana’s entrance into the biggest event in the art world created a huge buzz. The Ghana Pavilion at their first outing at the Venice Biennial draws inspiration from the Gurunsi earth houses. The Gurunsi huts are renowned for their elaborate decorations with hand painted designs and murals. The Gurunsi tribe inhabit the northern region of Ghana as well the southern part of Burkina Faso. In Ghana, their estimated population is 976, 311 while in Burkina Faso, they are up to  1,000,0000.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of seventeen (17) global goals created by the United Nations in 2015 to mitigate the gaps and shortcomings of the MDGs. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. The goals which are a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity, are interconnected with a target deadline of 2030