Beyond Disorder: Reviving Nigerian Museums in the Midst of the Nigerian Chaos

Part 1: The Nigerian Chaos and the State of Nigerian Museums

It is both intriguing and timely that two significant articles were published between October and December 2020, shedding light on the issues surrounding Nigerian art objects and museums. In October 2020, Dr. Lutz Mükke and Adie Vanessa Offiong sparked a renewed discussion on the “illicit trade in West Africa’s oldest artwork,” specifically addressing the problems related to the Nok culture artifacts. Over the years, German archaeologists have conducted unrestricted archaeological excavations in the Nok Valley, aided by art dealers who sell African art objects and provide tips for unsupervised excavations. Consequently, there has been a surge in Nok cultural objects in foreign museums, primarily driven by the unsupervised export of Nok terracottas.

While the art and academic communities lament the Nok situation, it is crucial to delve into the root causes. What is Nigeria’s responsibility in sustaining…