Jos Museum: The Cradle of Afizere Nation, Now wearing a New Look.
The Famous Jos Museum, Established in the Year 1952 and is one of the Nigeria’s oldest Museums,it was the first Public Museum in the West African Sub-Region.
The Museum was Founded by Bernard Fagg,from 1915 to 14th August, 1987 Fagg was a British Archaeologist and a Museum Curator.
How the Museum was Founded.
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In 1940,Tin mining activities around the Jos Plateau led to the discovery of archaeological findings, which later became the basis of the Museum’s Collection and it is a valuable repository of Nigeria’s Cultural heritage, showcasing it’s pre-historical Culture and rich artistic Traditions.
The Museum attracts visitors and Tourists on daily basis which serves as a reminder of Nigeria’s rich history.
It is on this basis,the Afizere People settled around the Museum before the arrival of the White and other settlers who later arrived the tin city.
These facts and documented History was orally corroborated by Ada(Elder) Agwom Inyam Isha,The Chairman of the Izere Elders Council, According to the Elder Statesman, Their Patriarchs (Grandfathers) migrated from Fobur and settled at the Present Post office at the present Ahmadu Bello Way and the Hills of the Museum and other Surroundings.
He said that they have discovered some artifacts such as clay pots,some economic trees that were planted then, blacksmiths sites and these evidences clearly reaffirm that the Present Museum is the Cradle of the Afizere People and Jos entirely.
At the arrival of the white men for mining activities,they met resistance from the natives and they had to approached Agwom that’s the Traditional ruler at his palace which was located at the present Revenue House.
They were chased with bows and arrows by the natives having met the Adagwom,he explained to him that they only came for mining activities and he should pleaded with his subjects to allow them to continue with their activities.
They were allowed to mined everywhere with the exception of the Museum,the Hills and it’s surroundings which was occupied by the Afizere People.
The tin mining activities continued and the Afizere People were transporting it to the Bukuru River at the Present Bukuru Low Cost Bridge and the Berom people takes over to the other location before moving it to Omosha in Lagos and finally,to London.
The major reason for the migration of the Afizere People to the Museum was for hunting of animals at the place and it was called Agwash,the name still exist up till today,the Hausa man came and pronounced it as Jos and the name stuck and it remained as Jos.
According to him,other people that left Fobur were the Irigwe,Baju,Kagoro,Kataf and many of them, infact,the whole of Southern Kaduna migrated from Fobur to their present locations.
The statement was made during the unveiling of a Sculpture of Binta Abagyer,the first Afizere Woman to work in the Museum,The Sculpture was designed by the Afizere Youth Movement (AYM) National Body to Commemorate the good legacy of the legend.
She was born in the year 1900 to 1990,she is always being referred to as the mother of Jos Museum,the matriarch was born in Federe District of Jos East East Local Government Area in Central Nigeria,she learned pottery which was the primary occupation of the Afizere people. And in 1953,her craft dexterity and ingenuity attracted Bernard Fagg,after encountering with her,the Europeans invited Mama Binta to the Museum,with other Commissioned artisans like weavers, blacksmiths and potters and she was given a shed to practice her trade for the public to see and sell her crafts.
During her employment with the Jos Museum,she was engaged in the production of different types of pots synonymous with the Afizere People as well as pottery stands and she decorated pots which were used to adorn the rooftops of the houses of village heads. Other items produced included floor tiles made from clay and flower pots, cooking pots ,mats and baskets,her works spanned beyond Jos as some of it is seen adorning the roofs of the Lagos Museum Kitchen,Kafin Madaki in Bauchi state,Gidan Makama in Kano and other Nigerian States away well as Canada and other countries of the world.
The Event attracted Traditional rulers,Elders,women and Youths within and outside Afizere Nation.
Speaking separately,the National President of the Afizere Cultural and Community Development Association ACCDA Women Wing Ango Anap Madaki thank the Youth for honoring a woman,she urged other women to be diligent.
The C.E.O of the Tink Tourism Nigeria who doubles as the AYM Secretary General,Azok Agwom gave more explanation about the project and the Uniqueness of late Kaka Binta Abagyer. The AYM President, Azi Luka Itse said the project is parts of the AYM project to promote and preserve the Afizere Cultural heritage.
Delivering his speech, President of ACCDA,Engineer Yakubu Ashom said the Project is significant to the Izere market and the Afizere Nation,it will be a source of history for the Afizere people and beyond.
The District head of Dong, HRH, Adagwom Kaze Inyam said the Youths are the future Generation and should do more to preserve the rich cultural heritage.
The Commissioning of the project was done by the Elders amid Cheers.
