Five Of Nigeria’s Top Museums

Nigeria has over 30 museums and galleries, which are spread across areas of Benin City, Calabar, Kaduna, Kano and Lagos State. These museums help to preserve the culture and history of Nigeria. Many of them focus on archaeology, history, art and transport. Paying a visit to museums in Nigeria is the best way to understand the country’s rich cultural heritage and history. Today, we discuss the beauty and richness of five top museums in Nigeria. Enjoy and learn

National Museum of Lagos

The National Museum of Lagos is one of Nigeria’s finest heritage. Founded in 1957, the National Museum holds some of the most fascinating objects telling the story of Nigerian art and culture. It collects, preserves and promotes Nigeria’s rich heritage to the world. Some must-see masterpieces in the museum include Ekoi Stone Sculpture, Dakakari Grave Sculpture, Life on the Lagoon, Wood and Coconut Carvings, Jollof Pot on Wheels and lots more.

National Museum, Calabar

National Museum, Calabar was founded in 1959.  The museum is home to relics of the Calabar slave trade. Things to explore at the National Museum of Calabar include the slave trade museum and the rich Efik culture.

National Museum, Benin City

The Benin City National Museum is home to Nigeria’s terracotta, bronze, and cast iron artefacts. In the 1940s, the museum was privately located in the Oba’s Palace and was later relocated in the 1970s as a public centre. The museum is regarded as one of the richest among the National Museums in Nigeria based on the amount of history it holds – not just of the Benin Empire, but of surrounding ancient city-states. 

Read Also: The Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art

Esie Museum

Esie Museum is Nigeria’s first, established in 1945. Its most renowned collection is the soapstone figures which is said to be the largest in the world, with about 800 of them. Esiẹ Museum is home to both old and modern galleries with a combined number of about 2,000 artefacts. The modern gallery was built to accommodate other artefacts besides soapstone figures from different regions in Nigeria. Every April, the museum hosts a “monument festival” to celebrate its cultural history.

Badagry Heritage Museum

The most fascinating thing about the Badagry Heritage Museum is how it preserves relics and provides documentation of events from the Transatlantic Slave Trade era, while also showcasing the history and culture of the Badagry people along the coast, before, during, and after the period. The one-story building built in 1863 houses eight galleries, all of which are named after the main periods of the slave era and form an interesting watch for visitors. Both the museum and its immediate surroundings—such as the other family-oriented museums lined up on the street—make for an interesting field trip.

Which of these museums have you visited?