Thursday, 17 August 2023

PICTURES FROM THE FUNERAL AND BURIAL RITES OF BABA CHIBOK, HON Aimu Foni Ndiryizah (Zanna Gaddamma Damaturu) ASP Rtd

BABA CHIBOK, HON AIMU FONI NDIRYIZAH (ZANNA GADDAMMA DAMATURU) ASP Rtd, INTERRED TO MOTHER EARTH

The resting place of the icon, Baba Chibok

The remains of late Hon Aimu Foni Ndiryizah (Zanna Gaddamma Damaturu) ASP Rtd who slept in the Lord on Aug 3, 2023, have been interred in his country home at Chibok. The internment ceremony which took place on Aug 10, 2023, at his residence after funeral activities, saw the attendance of many people, including family members, other loved ones, the police command and politicians. Others include members of various churches, Grand children, in-laws and their friends who came in large number to pay their last respect to the departed icon, politician, and community leader. He lived for 76 years and was buried Aug 10, 2023.

TOWARDS INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF THE ANCIENT HERITAGE ART OF RAINMAKING IN IGBO LAND: ISSUES THAT CALLS FOR ATTENTION

By EMMANUEL .U. WOOD (National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria)

Abstract

Rain is the source of life for everything here on planet earth. It’s importance in Igbo society can never be over emphasized, considering that the Igbo Society is agrarian in nature, where majority of the population are farmers, whose livelihood are dependent on water which is affected by the rain. There are rainy and dry seasons annually in Igbo land. These seasons determine the community life of the people. Thus the change of seasons is observed with ritual activities.

The gathering cloud

 

These rites are central or crucial in strengthening community consciousness and solidarity. A huge number of Igbo communities practice traditional rainmaking rituals. Although rainmaking processes, materials and participants vary, most communities believe that the tradition enables them to predict, cause, redirect or dispel rainfall. Although some scientists have dismissed the practice as irrelevant, irrational and ineffective, others propose its integration to conventional meteorological approaches.

Monday, 14 August 2023

AYARAYA JI AND ECHICHA: INTRODUCING THE TWO DELICACIES OF THE NSUKKA PEOPLE OF ENUGU STATE AND THROWING LIGHT ON THEIR PREPARATION

 

BY OBINNA EKE AND UGWOKE, JULIANA UCHENNA

(National Commission for Museums and Monuments)

INTRODUCTION:

Food is a substance consisting essentially of protein, carbohydrate, fats and other nutrients used in the body of an organism to sustain growth. Hoy-Rosas, Arrecis and Avila (2010) sees food culture as the practices, attitudes and beliefs as well as the networks and institutions surrounding the production, distribution and consumption of food. It incorporates the cultural heritage and ethnicity but is not limited to it.

Cultural or traditional foods are foods locally sourced and prepared, which represents the traditional beliefs and practices of a geographical region, religious bodies or cross cultural community (Family, 2000).

Nsukka people and their culture are seen portrayed in their identity through their local cuisines. Two of such cuisines are Ayaraya Ji and Echicha, some of the most prized cuisines of the Nsukka people of Enugu State. Ayaraya Ji and Echicha are healthy, full of flavour, and nourishing to the body. They are traditional delicacies of the people that have been passed and consumed from generation to generation (FAO, 2020). They are traditional in nature, have historic precedent in local, regional and national cuisines. 

Ayaraya ji (picture adapted from the internet)

Sunday, 13 August 2023

THE PROPOSED MONTH, ACTIVITIES, DAYS AND PERIOD OF THE IMT AT 50 CELEBRATION PROGRAMME UNVEILED BY IMT ENUGU ALUMNI PRESIDENT

 


The recently elected, amiable and hardworking President of the IMT Enugu Alumni Association, Mazi Dr. Agodi Kanu, is working very hard with fellow elected National Executive Council (NEC) members, Branch Executives, Diaspora Vice President, and the recently constituted committees, and other well meaning leaders of thought of the IMT Enugu Alumni, who have since declared their support and readiness to lend their voice, time, energy and other resources in a deliberate move to make the IMT alumni count as an organic and very significant part of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu community as a dependable partner and reliable stakeholder. 

Friday, 11 August 2023

THE STATE OF NIGERIAN MUSEUMS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT


BY WOOD, EMMANUEL U, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria

The concept of Museums has been viewed by many scholars and in view of this gave rise most likely to the various definitions that abound. However, the commonly accepted definition is one adopted by the International Council of Museums: ICOM 2022, where it defined the Museum as:

A not-for-profit permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing.

The main features that emerged from the above definition are:

  1. The museum is a not-for-profit permanent public institution; and
  2. The main functions are researching, collecting, conserving, interpreting and exhibiting objects of cultural and educational values which are both tangible and intangible heritages.

The Museum in Nigeria is not different from the general museum worldwide. The Nigerian museum has among other functions, the acquisition of museum artifacts or collections through donations by individuals. For instance, the National Museum Jos collections at the early stage were made up of mainly donations of cultural objects by individuals; through purchases and through archeological excavations. This practice which dates back to pre -historic times is a very important means by which most Nigerian museums acquire artifacts.