Institut
Nigeria 100 years ago – Through the eyes of Leo Frobenius and his expedition team
Exhibition series with images from the ethnographic picture archive and the photographic archive of the Frobenius Institute, Frankfurt (Germany)
Opening on 9.11.2010 in Abuja, Ife, Makurdi, Minna und Yola (Nigeria) in cooperation with the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments.
All countries have at one time or another been explored by travellers, geographers, anthropologists and other adventurers. The materials collected during such exploratory expeditions have become invaluable records of events and situations taking place at those points in time. Leo Frobenius' travels in Nigeria between 1910 and 1912 fall into this category. On the completion of this expedition, Frobenius and his two colleagues had produced more than 3,000 images (photographs, sketches, oil paintings, aquarelles, etc.).
These images give a rich impression of architecture, art, artisanship, royalty and day-to-day life in Nigeria one hundred years ago, mainly in the areas of the Yoruba, Tiv and Nupe as well as Adamawa. For several reasons, however, the materials collected by Frobenius have not been accessible to the public.With this in mind, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in collaboration with the Frobenius Institute at the Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany have decided, on the occasion of the centenary of Frobenius' expedition andthe 50th anniversary of Nigeria's independence, to exhibit this magnificent archival collection, with a view to stimulating discussion on his legacy. We may have reason to not agree with Frobenius' methods and some of his conclusions; nonetheless, we cannot but appreciate the wealth of knowledge that can be attained from viewing his photographs, drawings and sketches.
See the different exhibition parts (click to open):
1.Introduction (included in all regional parts)
2. Yorubaland (at the National Museum, Ile-Ife, Osun State)
3. Nupeland (at the U.K. Bello Art Theater, Minna, Niger State)
4. Tivland and Jukunland (at the National Museum, Makurdi, Benue State)
5. Adamawa (at the Lamido Zubairu Educational Center, Yola, Adamawa State)
6. Portraits (included in the regional parts)
Press Coverage (selection, click to enlarge):
Opening ceremonies (click to see the pictures):
Exhibition catalogue:
Richard Kuba und Musa Hambolu „Nigeria 100 Years Ago – Through the Eyes of Leo Frobenius and his Expedition Team“.
Frankfurt, Frobenius Institut, 2010. - 82 S.
Contents:
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Karl-Heinz Kohl: The Legacy of Frobenius in Germany
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Olayemi Akinwumi: Germay's Colonial Involvment in Nigeria
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Hans Peter Hahn: Leo Frobenius in West Africa. Some Remarks on the History of Anthropology
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Musa Hambolu: Nigeria 1910-1912. The Context of Leo Frobenius' Exploration
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Richard Kuba: Travelling Frobenius
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Folayemi Famoroti: Leo Frobenius' Contribution to the History of African Art
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Gabriele Weisser: Context and Arrangement. Leo Frobenius' Mask Images from Nigeria
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Editha Platte: Found and Lost in Ife: Leo Frobenius and the Olokun Bronze Head
Sponsors:
Opening ceremony at the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture (FTC Council for Arts and Culture), Abuja, November 9, 2010
Brochure for the opening in Abuja
Speeches delivered (click to open):
- Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Yusuf Abdallah Usman
- Senate Committee Chairman on Culture, Senator Dahiru Bako Gassol
- House Committee Chairman on Culture, Hon. K.G.B. Oguakwa
- Dr. Richard Kuba, Curator at the Frobenius-Institute in Frankfurt (Germany)
Entrance to the exhibition hall
Opening ceremony: the venue
Welcome address by the Director General of the NCMM, Yusuf Abdallah Usman
Exhibition tour guided by NCMMs Director for Research and Training, Dr. Musa Hambolu
Pupils watching the exhibition
Interview of NCMMs Director General, Yusuf Abdallah Usman, for the NTA Evening News
A coss section of the public at the opening. The exhibition was composed of the highlights of the regional parts shown in Ife, Makurdi, Minna and Yola
Opening ceremony at the National Museum, Ile-Ife, Osun State, November 9, 2010
Banner of the occasion
Speeches delivered:
- HRH Oba (Engr) Olayiwola Olalekan Adereti, the Obawara of Iwara Kingdom of Ife
- The Curator, National Museum, Ile-Ife, Mr. Bode Adesina
The Chairman of the occasion, HRH Oba (Engr) Olayiwola Adereti, the Obawara of Iwara kingdom of Ife delivering his opening remarks
Mrs. Ireti George (Deputy Director/Curator, National Museum Ibadan) reading the Director General's welcome address at the occasion
Mr. 'Bode Adesina (Curator, National Museum Ile-Ife) delivering his address at the occasion
The head of Ifa traditional religion worldwide, Chief Adisa Aworeni (Araba-Agbaye), making remarks at the occasion
Entrance to the exhibition hall
A cross section of Royal Fathers and other dignitaries moving towards the exhibition gallery
The curator explaining to the Chairman an aspect of the exhibition
Opening ceremony at the U.K. Bello Art Theater, Minna, Niger State, November 9, 2010
High table of the occasion, chaired by Alhaji Adamu Chika Abubakar, Commissoner of Tourism, Culture and Information, Niger State
Guest of Honour: Muazu Babangida Alyu (OON), Talban Minna
Royal Father of the day: The Etsu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar (CFR)
The curator Justin C. Nwaneri explaining the exhibition
Opening ceremony at the National Museum Makurdi, Benue State, November 9, 2010
Welcome address by the Curator, Mr. Akintunde O. Ige
The Chairman of the occasion Prof. Silas Okita
Mrs Okonkwo, the Director General's representative delivering her welcome address
His Royal Highness, the Ter Makurdi Chief Sule Agbanga
Cultural display at the occasion
Cultural display at the occasion
The curator taking the guests round the gallery
The secretary to the Benue State Government signing the register
The exhibition curators, Mrs. Folayemi Famoroti, Dr. Richard Kuba and Mr. Akintunde O. Ige with collaborators
The curator Mr. Akintunde O. Ige giving explanations
Opening ceremony at the at the Lamido Zubairu Educational Center, Yola, Adamawa State, November 9, 2010
Brief report on the opening of the exhibition
Guest of honour: Alhaji Murtala Aminu (OFR) Galladima Adamawa
Where Women Smoke and Banana Trees Grow No Fruit
–
The Frobenius Expedition of 1950-51 through the Eyes of Elisabeth Pauli
Poster exhibition with images from the picture archive of the Frobenius Institute.
Opening on
21 January 2011: Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa
13 February 2011: South Omo Research Center, Jinka
See the exhibition
