On today’s episode of my Waka Waka, I took my tourist to a special place that you would like to visit too.
Trust me, when a client pays well, we at Chrisage Travels & Tourism Services go all out to create amazing experiences.
Long story short, immediately after dollars exchanged hands, we zoomed off to B65 Shell Camp, off Orlu Road, Owerri, Imo State, where the National Museum in Owerri is located.
The Museum which commenced operation at its current location in 1988 is a collection of ethnographic resources in its permanent exhibition.
Titled “The Igbo Household Gallery’’ (Ezi na ulo Ndi-Igbo), the museum is richly adorned with varieties of Igbo household items and an architectural collection.
Upon arrival, the staff gave us a warm welcome and immediately handed us over to our amazing guide, Mr Charles, who is also an ethnographer in charge of research for the museum.
Although it was a Monday afternoon, he did a thorough job, generously pointing out and describing each item in the exhibition.
One of the museum resources that captured my interest is the Okpogo. Just today, I found out that it is an item of monetary value just like the cowries and manillas.
This Okpogo was a significant currency in Igbo society, particularly in the Afikpo region of Ebonyi State. It served as a medium of exchange, a store of value, and a symbol of wealth. The Okpogo was made from cowrie shells, which were highly valued in West Africa for their beauty and rarity.
The Okpogo was not only a practical tool for economic transactions, but it also had cultural and social significance. It was used in bride price payments, which were an important part of Igbo marriage customs. The Okpogo was also used in other ceremonial occasions, such as funerals and festivals. In addition, the Okpogo was a symbol of wealth and prestige. People who owned large quantities of Okpogo were considered to be wealthy and successful.
The Okpogo continued to be used as a form of currency in some parts of Igbo society until the early 20th century, when it was gradually replaced by European currencies. However, the Okpogo remains an important part of Igbo cultural heritage. It is a reminder of the rich and complex economic and social systems that existed in pre-colonial Africa.
Ever lived somewhere in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, you would have known it’s a popular word used to refer to money in general up to this day.
Another point of obvious attraction at the museum is the Ezi Na Ulo Ndi-Igbo- An architectural depiction of what a standard Igbo man’s compound looked like in the early days, showcasing the compound Entrance, a shrine, Obi or Obiri, father’s hut, mother’s hut with kitchen attached, animal pens, yam barns as well as a male adolescent hut. Whereas the female children were left to sleep in their mother’s hut until marriageable age.
Other parts of the exhibitions include agricultural processes and produce, iron smelting, poultry and weaving, as well as hunting. Although Colonialism disrupted the traditional Igbo economy, which was based on agriculture, trade, and local crafts. The introduction of cash crops like palm oil and cocoa altered land ownership patterns and labour practices. The museum still exhibits tools and artefacts related to traditional economic activities.
Also found at the museum are cultural adornment and beautification items such as Uri, Jigida, leg beads and traditional money exhibitions.
It was indeed a pleasant experience, very educational, and entertaining. My tourist Obere Chief and I were wowed, and we hope to return many more times with more people.
With as low as 3k, one can access this museum and experience first-hand all the cultural values it preserves.
Between, we missed the audio voice-over experience as part of this particular museum’s updated features due to the lack of electricity, which was being maintained when we stepped in.
But our overall experience was amazing, and we strongly recommend it as a must-visit for anyone looking for things to do in Owerri.
