October 26, (THEWILL) – Anthropologists used to joke that if you dig deep enough anywhere in Benin City, you were sure to unearth some buried treasure or rare piece of artwork. To which non-specialists used to counter that you don’t have to dig to find an artifact in the city. Art works and heritage sites abound everywhere in Benin. Their evidence? Look no further than the centuries-old mud wall forming part of the fence of Oba’s palace on Ring Road and then the equally ancient moat built as a protective wall around the ancient kingdom.
Constructed almost five centuries ago, the Benin moat is more than 16, 000 km in length with 37million metric tons of earth moved with over 150, 000 man hours required for the defensive architectural structure. Similar structures in some other parts of world have become heritage sites, preserved as historical places. But the Benin moat has not been given that status. It is at best forgotten. So, it is about time the moat is given its due. “We are talking about protecting what is left, from palaces to shrines, to grooves,” Art historian Prince Patrick Orosanye said during a workshop on Edo state Heritage Protection and Promotion Policy recently in Benin City.
Venue of the workshop was Ogba Zoological Gardens Benin with stakeholders representing a broad spectrum of interests ranging from government officials to scholars, traditional rulers, artisans and entertainers. The draft policy had become necessary because of its potential socio-economic benefits in protecting heritage sites, monuments and traditions and helping them to become drivers of growth and employment.
Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture Dr. Uyi Oduwa-Malaka said the state government has assembled a strong and diverse team, spanning various sectors of the economy to develop a comprehensive policy, adding that her ministry is working in collaboration with relevant stakeholders across the state to guarantee a long-term effectiveness of the policy.
On her part, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Iryn Omorogiuwa praised the historical significance of the policy. “It is very important that we keep our history, our stories and not let people tell us otherwise. For the first time in history, we are going to have a document that focuses on us, our cultural and traditional heritage our tangible and intangible assets.”
The aim of the workshop is to safeguard tangible and intangible cultural assets in Edo state and also prevent them from further deterioration. Eno Louis, a Nigerian musician and convener of Benin Bronze Festival canvassed for collaborative approach to sponsorship. The MTAC, Louis said, should create an enabling environment for businesses within the cultural and creative industries to thrive in the state.
For another participant Aiko Obobaifo of Institute of Benin Studies, the policy has global reach in terms of importance because “every black man in the world is waiting for Edo, for Benin to lead the way. Our heritage is something they cannot replicate.”
At the workshop were representatives of the Guild of Carvers Mr. John O. Igbineweka and Mrs. Elizabeth Hannisdal of Visit Edo all of who endorsed the Edo State Heritage Protection and Promotion Policy. The collaborative spirit of workshop, they said, means well for its successful implementation.
Michael Jimoh is a Nigerian journalist with many years experience in print media. He is currently a Special Correspondent with THEWILL.
