The Nigerian National Museum is a national museum of Nigeria, located in the city of Lagos. The museum has a notable collection of Nigerian art, including pieces of statuary and carvings and archaeological and ethnographic exhibits. Of note is a terra-cotta human head known as the Jemaa Head (c. 900 to 200 BC), part of the Nok culture. The piece is named after Jema’a, the village where it was uncovered. It is located at Onikan, Lagos Island. The museum was founded in 1957 by the English archaeologist Kenneth Murray. It also has educated many Nigerians, Englishmen, and tourists on the history and culture of the country Nigeria.
The museum has some amazing artifacts, though honestly the presentation is a little disheveled. The Cycle of Life exhibit explores traditional Nigerian life, from birth to death to afterlife. Exhibits include a clay Yoruba pot to bury an umbilical cord and an Egungun masquerade costume used for dancing during a chief’s funeral; the voluminous orange cape has sequins, coins and beads attached.
A tour guide to the Nigerian National Museum can be hired. The guides can explain the museum very well so that any visitor who comes takes a lot of knowledge. For the local public, the cost of visiting can be around 200 nairas. F
